Evening star., 1921-10-16
General Walkout
May Bring Total
to 100000. 80.
MAILTOSUFFER
ORDERS SHOW
Workers Are Told
1t Will Rank
. -
With Freight.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, October l5.-More than
half a. million American railroad
, men were today ordered to initiate
i strike October so. while other
unions whose membership brings
the total to about two million an
nounced unofficially that they were
tonight preparing to follow suit and
make the walkout general on the
same dates.
Under this program the tie-up
would be complete, according to
union predictions. by November 2.
The hour was fixed for s a.m., Oe-
tober so, except for one Texas line.
whose trainmen were authorized to
go out October e.
The railroads listed in the first
group on which the strike is to be-
come effective touch forty-two Of
the forty-eight states with track
age of 5000 miles out of the total
United States trackage of approxi-
mately 100000.
East Escapes First Call.
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. otdeSt and,
most powerful of the railway unions.
and they specifically include mail
trains in the walkout. Their pro-
visions instructed strikers to keep
away from railroad property. with q
warming that violence Of any nature
will not be tolerated by the organi-
zations"
The strike was announced follow
ing an overwhelming vote, said to be
upwards of 80 per cent, favoring
strike because of a IL per cent wage
reduction authorized by the United
States Railroad Labor Board of July
!, 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. 1t was said that the strike
decision was made before the an
nouncement of this further intended
cut. Printed instructions as to con-
duct Of the strike. issued in Chicago,
were dated yesterday. october II.
II fear It will be one Of the most seri-
Gus strikes In American transportation
history" said W. G. Lee. president Of
the Railroad Trainmen, who during re-
cent weeks has sent circulars to his
men warning them Of the critical nature
Of the steps they contemplated.
The country was divided into four
groups, In which the men were
authorized to walk out progressively.
ono group every twenty-four hours.
The names of the groups were not
made public. but unofficially the
identity Of the roads in the first
group to go was learned. subject to
changes. which union officials said
would be few. This first group Included
some Of the country's greatest rail sys-
TENS. from coast to coast and from
Canada to the Gulf These were:
Chicago and Northwestern. Texas
and Pacific, Kansas City Southern,
Pennsylvania, Missouri Pacific. In
ternational and Great Northern,
Southern Pacific (Atlantic and Pacific
lines), Southern railway. Louisville
and Nashville. St Louis Southwest
ern whether Texas lines included
not stately. Chicago. Milwaukee and
st. Paul Oines east and west), North
ern Pacific, Chicago. Rock Island and
Pacific. Seaboxrd Air Line. Erie. CHI
caso Great Western. and Virginian
railway.
Unions Issuing Call.
The unions issuing the strike call
today were:
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.
brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Engineers. Order Of Railway Con-
ductors, brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers. Switchmen's Union Of
North America
The eleven other organizations,
whose chiefs have been in session
here and who said unoficially that
they will Join the strike. are: Sheet
Metal Workers International AL
lance, International Association Of
Machinists. Brotherhood Of Railway
and Steamship Clerks. Freight Han
dlers. Express and Station Employees,
brotherhood Of Stationary Firemen
and Oilers, Brotherhood Of Railway
Signalmen Of America, United Broth
erhood of Maintenance Of Way EN-
ployes and Railroad Shop Laborers.
Order OF Railroad Telegraphers.
brotherhood of Boilermakers. Iron
America, International Brotherhood
of Electrical WORKERS International
SContinued on Page 3. Column 81