The log cabin Democrat., 1921-10-17
(By the Associated PressD

Chicago, Oct. 17.-More than a half million American railroad men were late Saturday ordered to initiate a strike October 30, while other unions, whose memberships brings the total to about 2,000,000, announced unof- flclally that they were tonight prepar- ing to follow suit and make the walk out general on the same date. Under this program the tie-up would be complete, according to union pre- dictions, by November ?.
 The hour fixed is for 6 a. m. Oc- tober 30, except for one Texas line, whose trainmen were authorized to go out October P.
 The railroads listed in the first group on which the strike is to be- come effective. touch 42 of the 48 states with trackage of 73,000 miles out of the total United States track age of approximately 100000.
 The New England states comprise the group that is virtually untouched in the first walkout.
 The strike orders were issued to the big five brotherhoods, oldest and most powerful of the railway unions, an dthey specifically included mail trains in the walkout: Their publi- cations instruct workers to keep away from railway property, with a warn ing that violence of any nature will not be tolerated by the organiza- tions."
 The strike was announced following an overwhelming vote, said to be up- ward of 90 per cent, favoring strike because of 12 per cent wage reduc- tlon authorized by the United States labor board on July l, and after 1t was declared by the Association of Railway Executives. in session here yesterday, that a further reduction would be sought by the railroads. It was said that the strike decision was made before the announcement of this further intenned but Printed in- structions as to conduct of the strike, issued in Chicago, were dated Friday, | October H.
 "I fear it will be one of the most serious strikes in American transpor- tation history" said w. G. Lee, presi- dent of the railroad trainmen, who during recent weeks has sent circulars to his men warning them of the cr,ti- cal nature of the steps they contem- plated. The country was divided into four groups in which the men were authorized to walk out progressively, one group ever 24 hours. The names of the groups were not made public, but unofficially the identity of roads in the first group to go was learned, subject to changes, which union of ficials said would be few. This first group included some of the country's greatest rail systems, from coast to coast and from Canada to the Gulf. They were:
 Chicago and Northwestern, Tevas and Pacific, Kansas City Southern, Pennsylvania, Missouri Pacific, In- ternational and Great Northern, Southern Pacific (Atlantic and Pa clflc lines), Atlantic and Pacific lines, Southern railway, Louisville and Nashville, St. Louis Southwestern (whether Texas lines included not stated), Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Zines east and vest, Northern Pacific, Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, Seaboard Air Line. Erie, Chicago Great Western, an dVirginia railway.
 The unions issuing the strike call today are:
 Brotherhood of Railroad Tainmen; Brotherhood of Locomotive Bremen and Enginemen; Order of Railway Conductors; Brotherhood of Locomo- tive Engineers; Switchmens Union of