New-York tribune., 1920-04-15
Back -tO-Work
Feeling Splits
Strikers'Ranks
Gloom at Their Headquar-
ters Emphasized by Broth
erhood Leaders, Who Say
Tie-Up Backbone Broken
Musser Appeals to Men
Mayor Hague and Gov. Ed
wards Confer; Erie MAY
Ask u. S. Troops at Jervis

Yesterday was Gloomy Wednesday for
the strikers. Conferences from which
much had been expected failed to ma
teriaize. Trains which they had been
led to believe could not move without
their aid rumbled back and forth be-
meath their eyes, and before night the
rank and file of the movement, focused
on the New Jersey headquarters at
Grand View Hall. Jersey City, was
split asunder py back to work" sem
timent which grew like an Alpine ava
ianche.
Brotherhood leaders who are work
ing on the New York end of the strike
unanimously expressed the opinion that
the : rike was breaking. 1T is burning
itself out" P. l. Dodge, vice president
of the Brotherhood of Railway Train
men, said.
L. C. Grifing, assistant grand chief
oi tNe engineers said: The strike in
Jersey has passed it's crisis. The worst
Is over"
C. NJ. Haight and Timothy Shea. of
the fremen and enginemen, both said
the men were beginning to realize thew
easy TO get them to talk things over
than it was at first" Shea said, sicnif-
cantly. At meeting in New JERSEY on
Monday Shea was refused hearing.
Strikers Split Into Two Groups
Men who attended the all-dav meet
ing in Grand View Hall Yesterday ad-
mitted that the strikers had split into
two groups-radicals who urged that
the men stay out whatever happens, as
opposed to the rapidly growing sec
ton which favors the brotherhood
plan tc return to work and submit the
real grievances which undoubtedly ex-
ist, to arbitration.
Inc long trains which operate in and
out of the Lackawanna yards immedi-
ately below the hall where the strik-
ers are meeting are helping to infu-
ence the decision of the waverers.
They see before them the concrete
evidence that the strike has failed to
tie up the roads.
In the Grand View Hall meeting yes
terday one man, whose name was kept
secret, talked to the men for over an
hour and advised them to go back to
work. He told them that without pub
ic support they were bound to lose.
Musser Letter Is Read
The meeting also listened attentively
to letter from c. E. Musser, general
chairman Of the Brotherhood of Rail-
way Trainmen. The letter was ad-
dressed to "all local chairmen and
members Of the Brotherhood of Rail-
way Trainmen employed by the Penn
said:
THE situation at Buffalo, where I
have been for few days, has suf-
hciently improved to enable me to come
to New York to advise with you as to
the proper means Of carrying out our
contracts with the Pennsylvania Rail-
road as provided in our ru es.
THE men at Buffalo as we'll as the
men at Chicago fully recognize the
mistake made in leaving the service of
the company in violation OF the laws
of the brotherhood
In these moments Of stress, may I
not charge you with your responsibility
60 your government, to your organiza-'
ton and to the company by which you
are employed?
''No doubt you will be told that this
is sub rosa strike which it is
claimed the organization has sane
,ioned. In all sincerity l desire TO say
TO you on my word Of honor that the
present strike is unauthorized; that
the brotherhood will not in anv way
lend its support to the strikers, but
rather lend it's purpose in an endeavor
to maintain regularity of service.
LHUSc VI you VINO nave Deen IN
the service of the company for
great number of years / advise you
not to permit the agitator, at this crit
!cal moment, to influence your good
judgment and induce you to leave your
tobs, as after the agitator has carried
out his purpose of disruption you, per-
haps, may be without job"
Says 13 Lackawanna Crews Quit
Thomas B. Healey, president of the
Port and Terminal Workers, who is
conducting the harbor strike, spent the
greater part OF the day in the Grand
View Hall meeting AS he left, he an
rounced to reporters that thirteen
crews had been taken off Delaware &
Lackavanna trains. He added that the
reason why others did not quit was
: that the companies were paying enor-
nous emergency" wages. Engineers,
ne said, were receiving $50 8 day
Irving G. Hunt, president Of the train
mems local which operates the Hudson
tubes, made statement after the meet.
ing emphatically denying that the men
on The tubes were returning to work.
A telegram received by w J. Welsh,
general chairman Of the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen at Hoboken, from