Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-15
STRIKE
ATECK|NGT0N YARD
Of B. & Q. ROAD
Reaction From Recent t'0ut-
law" WaIkout Not Ex-
pected to Spread.

A bareback Of the recent OUTLAW
strike of railroad workers in Wash
inRton came at o'clock this morning
when the entire day shift of switch
men employed in the Baltimore and
Ohio freight yards at lexington
walked out. Consequently the hand
ling Of the small shipments Of freight
coming into the yards has been par
alyzed.
The strike, 1t Is said. was caused by
a Misunderstanding between the
switchmen and officials OF the rail-
road. Immediately after the men
failed to report for work Vice Prest-
dent Doak Of the Brotherhood OF
Railway Trainmen and local officials
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
went to Baltimore to confer with Of
ficials there in an effort to stralghten
out the differences.
Strikers Meet in Private.
Notwithstanding the belief Of local
officials Of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad that the differences would
be settled today and the night shift OF
switchmen would report for work as
usual at o'clock this afternoon. the
strikers met behind closed doors at
O'Clock this afternoon In Northeast
Temple to vote on the question. 1t
is expected that the vote will be
taken before O'Clock.
The switchmen at the lexington
yards did not go on strike with others
employed at the Washington terminal
and Potomac yeards on Iuesoay. Ihe
day shift of the switchmen at these
wards which failed to report for work
this morning is composed of three
crews.
The strike of the switchmen at Eek
ington today. it is believed. will not
have a tendency to cause switchmen
employees in other Washington yards to
walk out in sympathy with them. Ac-
cording to reports today. workers in all
the other yards have returned to work
and the handling of freight Is rapidly
being restored to normal.
Food Crisis Ii Passed.
The return to work Of the striking
switchmen and yardmen has alleviated
the imminent danger Of a food shortage
in Washington, food merchants declared
TODAY. Conditions are gradually be-
coming more normal. according to the
helief of the food dealers. However,
they stated that it will be several days
before the effect of the strike has been
fully lssened.
Reports from the freight yards to-
day ShO" tndl SIIidit OIL
perishable foodstuffs are arriving
from the south. but that only a few
shipments are coming in from the
north. This is due to the present
in Philadelphia and New
York, it is said, where the, strike is
still effective.
There were a large number of cars
of perishable foodstuffs in Potomac
yards this morning, but most of this
has been consigned to New York and
Philadelphia All freight consigned to
Washington arriving in these yards is
being promptly handled.
A canvass of produce and food deal
ers today showed that there is virtu-
ally supplies enough to meet the nor
NAL demands. except in sugar. lamb
and, potatoes. Arrangements are be-
ing made by several large dealers.
however. to bring on their normal
supplies of sugar by motor trucks, SO
as to relieve the temporary shortage
The temporary shortage of fresh
meats. however, is not expected to
be relieved until embargoes are lifted
in the north and west.