Norwich bulletin., 1920-04-12

Chicago, April 1.-The first impor- tant break in the unauthorized strike cf railroad employees which started m inc Chicago terminal district nearly two weeks ago occurred tonight at Columbus, when 500 switchmen on the Pennsylvania railroad voted to return 10 work tomorrow. In addition, 300 engineers and firemen, forced out of work by the strike, will return. Although there was no general movement back to work among the 70. 900 men reported on strike through out the country, defections from the ranks of the insurgents were reported yesterday and today in Chicago, Kan sas City, in California. and several other places. and brotherhood oxcers were confident that the peak of the strike movement was past.
 Leaders of the rebel walkout. how ever, maintained that the strike was eaining momentum and that their ranks were daily augmenting.
 A statement issued by railroads in the Chicago area declared that the situation was steadily improving and tha tthe movement of livestock, coal and other commodities into Chicago vas increasing. Passenger train ser vice was being maintained at 100 per gent, 1t was announced.
 In Chicago freight embargoes have been lifted by the New York Central .and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroads. In a number of inn portant rail centers railroad employees have voted not to strike. Large sec lions of the country still were virtual y unaffected by the walkout, notably New England, the southeastern. the northwestern and mountain states
 In Columbus, where about 5000 men were idle, the return to work of one third was exrected to relieve the food and fuel situation.
 Passenger traffic was affected very little. except in the New York area, where service was reported below 50 per cent. of normal. Fears of a food famine in New York city were allayed by the arrival of supplies over the New York Central and the New Haven railroads. Aithough the Hudson and Manhatten tubes were still shut down today. ferry service between New York and New Jersey was improved. ev- eral thousand were reported on strike eastern New Jersey and freight traffic was considerably hampered
 The crew of the Chicago express or he Erie railroad abandoned the trair at Port Jervis.. N. Y. 90 miles from New York. tonight. Two hundred and 1fty passengers were on the train.
 It was announced from Washington that the Question of governmental ac. ton in the strike would be taken up by Attorney General Palmer upon his re turn to Washington tomorrow. Re ports from the strike districts wer, being assembled by the department O justice.
 Action could be taken by the gov ernment under the Lever act, it wa Indicated.
 Seven hundred striking switchme, at Milwaukee vote dtoday not to re kurn to work. The Chicago. Milwau kee and St. Paul road declared an em cargo on perishable freight. At Welles vile. O.. 250 yardmen and roadme went on strike today. More men wen put In the Pittsburgh region and 50 quit at Peoria.
 In the Cleveland district. wher z,eoo were reported on strike. bias mills and steel mills began laying O men. Eleven hundred men wer thrown out of work in Newburgh. Tn normal movement of freight in Cleve land was cut to one-fifth today. A terminals. with the exception of tt Collinwood switching yards. where 5C cara of freight were handled, were rt ported tied up.
 Samuel Gompers, president of II American Federation of Labor. wi arrived in Cleveland today, declare the walkout mistake and said u federation would support the brothe, hoods in their struggle with the insu, gent strikers. He will confer wit brotherhood chiefs tomorrow.
 w. c. Lee. president of the Brothe hood of Railroad Trainmen, said l had received many reports fro Brotherhood chairmen throughout u country announcing improved cond tions.
 Loyalty to the union was pledged Cincinnati switchmen in a telegram s. E. Heberiing. president of il Switchmens union of North Americ Cincinnati was the only large Oh city unaffected by the strike
 NO change was reported in the gtril situation in Kansas City, where abo .5eo were reported out. Two hundr, strikers returned to work yesterda Four warrants for strike leaders. i sued at Kansas City. Kas., on redue of Attorney General Richard Hopkir vili be issued tomorrow.
 Demands of 1000 striking vardm at Detroit were presented to the raj road officers today. No progress W reported toward a settlement of fl strfke. Nearly 2.o0o men were out Niles, Jackson. Battle Creek. KaIam zee Saginaw. Flint and Pontiac. Mic
 Freight traf1ic on several railroa entering Pittsburgh were reported standstill. and many through pa Serger trains on the Pennsylvar were annulled. On the Pittsburrh a' Lake Erie railroad 2,690 men were T ported out. They were Joined by 4 conductors.