Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-25
JUDGE RE|NSTATES
THREE RAIL LODGES
Branches Of Brotherhood Par
ticipating in Walkout Given
Rights by Court
SITUATION NOW QUIET HERE

Three lodges Of the brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmcn. expelled from that
order for alleged participation in the
strike Of last April. were temporarily
rcinstated today by order Of Judge Pat
terson in Common Pleas Court No. l..
The fight Of the lodges to get back
their brotherhood rights held the center
Of interest today among the particI-
pants in the present strike. The court
room was crowded with mon who are
now out on strike. The usual morning
and afternoon meetings at strike mead
quarters were suspended.
Though there were no strike meet
ings in Philadelphia. thrrc was big
meeting. attended by many Of tho Phil
adclpha mcn. held at Fifth end Pine
streets, Camden. There will be n meet
ing in this city tonight. when ladies
night" will be observed by tho strikers
in the Turner's Hall.
The decision by Judge Patterson,
given shortly before noon. ended n suit
in equity brought by three lodges of
tho brotherhood Of Railroad Trainmen.
4. The lodges were Liberty Bell Lodge.
No. lST; Reading Lodge. No. 49,. and
Ncnsington Lodge, No. 1l3. all Of this
city. Their charters were revoked last
May by the parent organization, and
they were ordered to turn over their
property and disband.
Three Bring Suit
Daniel 4. Ahprn. Jacob Carson and
Frank l.. Caine. members Of the Read
ing lodge. brought the suit for that
organization. The charges were the
same in the suits Of all three lodges. 10
tho bill Of equity filed before Judge
Patterson. il was explained that the
brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.
through th"tr president and deputy
president. tho lattcr George II. Thomas.
who is in charge Of tho orders affairs
in Philadelphia. had notified the lodges
that their charters were revoked for
violation Of General Rule No. II Of the
orders constitution and book of general
rules. This rule provides that If any
lodge "incite or participate In strike.
except as provided in the rules. that
the lodge under whose jurisdiction as
unauthorized strike occurs. shall within
ten days thereafter cause charges to be
preferred against any and all members
engaged in such strike.
Tho lodges denied that they hnd
violated this general order. The action
cxpclling these three lodges had been
taken, it was contcnded. before they had
been givcu q chance to make answer
to the charges against them.
.Ludgc Patterson. after partial
hearing. ordered that all thrre lodges
De rrimStatcd in .hc brotherhood. with
all rights under their respective char
ters. This order of the court. however.
is to continue only until there can be
final hearing in the case. The order.
specifies that the grand lodge may pre-
fer charges against these individunl
lodges. the charges to be answered for
nlally BY the respective lodges.
situation Quiet Here
Th" strike situation itself Wa quiet
in Philadelphia, though strikers and
railroads were alert to await develop.
ments. The most important changes in
the situation took place at points out
side the city.
Coatesvillc. Pa. was the storm center
today. when twenty four freight crews,
tOtaling 12J men. went on strike with
out warning and completely tied up the
headings line between Wilmington.
cl., and Reading. Pa. Passenger serv-
ice was maintained in spite of the strike
on the freight lines. Que of tho effects
of the tie up at this point was to delay
shipments from the Midvale and Lukcns
steel mills at CoatesvillP.
The Pennsylvania Railroad also was
in difficulties at Orangcvillc freight
center north of Baltimore. There all
but twelve Of the 1O4 machinists EN-
ployed at the roundhousp went out.
! In and around Philadelphia both the
I Pennsylvania and tho Reading were
maintaining fairly good freight service,
and'all over both lines normal passenger
service.