The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-23
PRESIDENT ASKS
MORE SPEED FOR
R. R. WAGE BOARD
Spread of Outlaw Strike Alarms
Brotherhood Heads.
General Tieup Feared Unless
Decision Comes Soon.
LABOR BOARD is BLAMED
Say WOrkmen ThruOut Country
Impatient at Delay.
Demand Immediate Showdown
as Price of Return.

Washington, June 23.-President
Wilson today sent a telegram to
Judge Barton, chairman of the rail-
road labor board now at Chicago, urg-
ing him to expedite the award of the
board in wage controversies now be-
fore it.
Wilson's action was taken following
an increase in the unauthorized strikes
of railroad men in the east and the
expressed far of railroad brotherhood
officials that a general transportation
tieup would result unless the award of
the board was fastened
w. n. Doak, vice president of the
Brotherhood of Railway TT inmen, to-
day talked to Secretary Payne and
later to Secretary Tumulty at the
White House. 1t is understood he told
them that switchmenin the yards It
Brunswick and Cumberland, Md, had
failed to report for work, and that the
Baltimore situation which he believed
settled yesterday had grown worse.
More Switchmen Out.
Switchmen failed to report for work
at Brunswick and Cumberland, Md,
today, according to reports to rail-
road brotherhood officials here today.
The men at Baltimore who were ex-
pected to return to work yesterday
also have remained out, reports from
that city said.
Fear Strike Spread.
Brotherhood officials today ex-
pressed the fear that the unauthorized
strikes would spread and tieup trans
pOrtation thruout the country. They
again blamed the delay of the railroad
labor board in handing down its wage
decision for the unauthorized walk
outs.
W. N. Doak, vice president of the
RTnf harhnnd nf frr
who is acting for the brotherhoods
here, will confer today with Secretary
of the Interior Payne, who is also act
ing as director general of railroads.
Doak. it is understood, will again
urge the necessity of haste by the
board.
Walkout More General.
The sporadic railway strikes which
| have broken out in a half dozen oil
more cities during the past week
spread to Savannah, Ill. today with
fifty Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
and Chicago. Milwaukee & st. Pau
employees out.
i The situation elsewhere in the cen
| trail states showed improvement, ac-
cording to reports to the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen offices here. A
| Burlington. Iowa, where the c. B. &
! Q. switchmen struck last night. mum
ber of men were reported to have re
| turned to work.
| At Benlo, Ill, where Chicago &
Northwestern men have been on trial
normal conditions have been restored
John Grunau. president of the Chicago
/ Yardmen's association, and Harold E
Reading, president of the United En-
! ginemen's association-the two organ
| izations of railway vacationists'', a.
/ the strikers term themselyes-toda!
issued a call for mass meeting Fri
day night.
The purpose, it was explained, is "t'
! lay before the public the true side o
/ the present railroad situation and jus
what means have been employed t.
bring the present controversy to sue
cessful conclusion"
Some Return to Jobs.
Philadelphia, June 23-Pennsyl
vania & Reading officials today re
ported that some of the employees o
are applying for permission to return
to work. While the number is no
large, officials say they believe man,
more will return later
Strike leaders, however, expires
confidence that many more men viii
Join the strike in the next few days
Union leaders are said to be work
ing hard to break the strike.
AT Pottsville two crews of trainmel
are reported to have Joined the strike
Men at the Rutherford yards nea
Harrisburg of the same company
went out last night. Officials say tn
defections have not materially inter
lfered with freight movement.
Volunteers on Jobs.
A statement issued by the Pennsyl
vania road says: This morning in tn
Philadelphia district there are stil
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