Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1920-04-16
Vote Stands 81 to a. After
-Four Hours Discussion Be.
hind Closed Doors-RoII Call
Taken on Wallace W. Hangen
U. S. OFFICERS ARREST
MANY STRIKE LEADERS
Department Of Justice to Ask
List of Insurgents on Each
Road, With View Of Possible
Prosecution of Agitators.

Washington, April l5-The rail-
road labor board was confirmed
today by the senate.
The vote on the nominations
came after four hours discussion
behind closed doors. Only one roll
call, on the name of Wallace w.
Hanger of the public group, was
demanded. 1t was reported to have
resulted. 81 to "a, in favor Of con-
firmation, with some democrats as
well as republicans voting in opposi-
sition. A few republicans. were said
to have favored his confirmation.
The action of the senate in con-
firming the members of the, labor
board will permit an early test Of the
theory that the boards considera-
ton of railroad labor's wage de-
nands would ease the strike situ-
alton and work generally to ai1evi-
ate unrest in that class of workers.
Situation Imposing.
Attorney General Palmer said he
believed that the chaotic condition
created by the walkout was improv-
ing. but he declared that the De-
partment of Justice was not relax
ing its efforts in any direction.
United States district attorneys in
every strike area have made local
arrests of agitators and strikers, but.
these, it was said, were cases where
specific law violations have occurred.
Mr.. Palmer declared such matters
were not for headquarters consid-
Grafton" reiterating that the govern
ment expected the district attorneys
to act on their own initiative with
respect TO prosecution of violators
of laws, -
Canvass All Lists.
Department officials have practi-
cally decided to canvass the lists of
all strikers and was expected to ask
officials of all railroad lines affected
by the striketo furnish the same in.
formation as was requested of the
PENNSYLVANIA and New York Central
lines Tuesday. Assistant Attorney
General .Garvin said he expected
these lists of names to divulge the
identity of the "borers from within"
IN the recognized labor organiza-
tions.
The department has card indexed
the records of more. than 10000 radi-
Gals and the names of strike leaders
and agitators will be traced through
these records in an effort to estab-
hsh connections with previous activi-
ties.
Break in East.
khe fipst sign of Willingness on
the part of the eastern strikers to.
negotiate came last night when Ed
ward McHugh, chairman of the
strike committee. sent message to
the railroad labor board stating that
the men would welcome an oppor-
tunity to lay their grievances before
the board. He asserted however,
that. the men would not return to
work pending hearing. The
transportation act, under which the
board functions, provides that no
consideration shall be given to
claims Of men actually on strike.
Chicago Situation Good.
Strikers were, reported to be re-
turning to work in number of
cities and in Chicago, where the
unauthorized walkout had its origin,
and brotherhood officials said the
backbone of the strike was broken.
The insurgent leaders, however,
continued their claims that the po-
sition of the strikers remained In-
shaken and denied charges of Attor-
sey General Palmer that radical in
iuences were behind the strike.
In Michigan the industrial ticup
serious, with estimates
hat 10000 workers, the largest
lumber IN Detroit, were idle. Add
tional passenger trains were an
lulled because of the coal shortage.
Ohio cities reported industrial
plants and coal mines closed at
many centers, throwing 100000
workers out Of employment.
Brotherhood officials announced
It Cleveland that 500 men voted TO
eturn today and that all the strikers
Employed by the Eric railroad and
y per cent of the men employed in
ne Collinswood yard of the New
ork Central were at work. Brother
'ood of Railroad Trainmen officers
famed more than 50 cities in which
trikerS had resumed work