Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-10
ILLEGAL STRIKES
UP TO CONGRESS
Union Officials Admit Inability
to Control Walkout of
Trainmen.
ASK LAW INTERPRETATION
Brotherhood Head w ould
Apply Present Legislation
to Renegades.
SIX LAW INTERPRETATION
Iny Assocla,ch rrcml

"aSiilNfTON, April 9.-Nirtualiy
admitting that the strike OF railroad
trainmen and switchmcn over the
country had gotten beyond thh con-
troll o' union officials. ". q. Ice.
president of the brotherhood Of
Tra!nmen. telegraphed Representative
Cooper. kepublican ohio. TO-DAY.
asking whether present laws amply
to renegade ORGANIZATIONS or those
melting illegal strikes"
Nj. Cooper. who is a member ot the
trainmen's union. took the matter m
with acting Attovney-Gcncral Ames
and MAS told that while the Depart
mcnt OF Justice was watching the
situation II had no statement 10
make al this time
i.ce Forwards Telegram.
Mr.. Lees telegram follows:
Illegal strike .of sw:tchmen
spreading all over country rega-d.
less OF efforts Of officers brotherhood
ana s"i;chmen's union. only bona
hhc organizations entitled to repre-.
sent yardmen. II seems strange that
present laws against strikes Of rail-
road employees can be Threatened
or used only against bona fide labor
organizations that have supported
government at all times and made
good their contracts with railroads
Must We understand that such laws
do not apply to renegade organ!za-
ti"ns or those inciting illegal
strikes
Before this telegram was received.
the Senate had adoptcd wi,hou, a
record vote Senator McLormick's reg
olution directing the Interstate Com
mcrce Committee 10 invcstig1tc all
strikes of railroad employees not
sanctioned by the responsible Of
accrs OF the railroad unions Chair
man Cummins, OF she Interstate Com
mcrcc Committee. announced late to-
day that the investigation would
begin next Tuesday. but that he had
not decided whether it would he
conducted by fun committee or
subcommittee.
Mccormick Stnrtn liberalization.
Meantime, the Senator has tclc-
Eraphed 20 Mr.. Lee asking FOR the
namcS and addresses OF the labor
leaders in Chicago connected with
the strike. with view az summoning
''-'''' ''''' z tHt III II
ing up his resolutiuE. Senator Nc
cormick said President Wilson's
failure TO appoint the members of tho
railroad labor board, which is TO
handle wage and other disputes un-
der the provisions OF the transpor-
tation act, made the Senate investi-
CATION necessary. for in no other way
could the Hous? he given the facts.
White House officials said today tho
President was selecting the members
of the board and that the nomina-.
iions could be looked for al any time.
VIII Not Intervene Now.
Administration officers arc giving
close attention TO the strike, hut they
Indicated that the government would
not intervene a: this time. leaving
the matter to the union officials to
handle. They would not indicate in
what manner tho government could
proceed should final decision hc
reached that tho situation was one
calling for Federal action.
1t was suggested. however. that
before any other step was taken an
appeal probably would be made to
the men to return to work pending
settlement OF their wage demands
through the machinery provided by
the transportation act.