The New York herald., 1921-10-17
RAIL STRIKE WOULD
NOT KILL INDUSTRY
Only Small Manufacturer
Would Suffer, Largely From
Lack Of Fuel.
PACKERS HARDEST HIT
Would Be Closed in Three
Weeks-Meat Supply Now
Shortest in Years.
Bv tho Associated Press.


CHICAGO, Oct ia railroad strike
would have little effect on the average
large industry of the middle West but
would result in closing down all Of the
packing plants within three weeks and
undoubtedly would force many small
factories to close. representatives of
some of the chief industries of this
region said tonight
Tentative plans were being drawn up
through which 1t was said Chicago and
the larger cities could be kept supplied
with most food commodities. although
1t was believed that meat supplies would
run short quickly. the packers assert
Ing their stocks on hand are smaller
than In many years.
An official of one packing concern
said the meat packers had been operat-
ing at only 35 per cent. normal strength
for more than a year and that as they
were entirely dependent on the trans
portation systems, they could not OPP
crate during an effective railroad strike
Approximately $4,000 men would be
thrown out of work through closing OF
the Big Five packing plants, officials
said, although in normal times the num-
Der would have been much larger.
George r. Meyercord, president OF the
reportss he had received indicated that
larger industries would have no trouble
in operating in spite Of railroad strike.
There would be no general tie-up of
Industry" he said. Most of the larger
industries have been operating. on a
greatly reduced scale and have an abun-
dance of raw material on hand. / have
received many reports to-day from fac
tories saying that they would go right
ahead with their work and store their
output.
"Oniy the small hand-to-mouth manu-
facturer would be hurt. Most Of them
would have to close their plants
John W. OLeary. former head of the
Chicago Chamber of Commerce and a
member of the board of directors Of half
dozen Of the larger central Western
industries, also predicted that strike
would not seriously hamper the big In
dustries.
John NJ. Glenn. secretary OF the III
nois Manufacturers Association, said he
would Immediately warn all manufactur-
ers to start storing supplies OF coal. as
8. coal shortage was the only real danger
to industry that he could see In the pro-
posed strike.
"Coal supplies In this section are con-
siderably lower than they were at this
time last year." said Mr.. Glenn. "Oniy
shortage Of coal could force a ma
jority of our industries to close, and we
will Immediately start laying IN supplies
in preparation for a railroad strike"
Automobile dealers said their business
might even be increased by a strike
through consequent increased demand
for cars. Machines would be trans
ported by their own power. 1t was said
r;t,, off,cials decla red. they would take
action to conserve the city's food sup
plies the minute the strike STARTED. Ten
| tative plans. as arranged by Health
| Commissioner John Dill Robertson ant
| other officials, cali for mobilization ol
2.5Oo trucks. in which to bring supplies
to Chicago. Or. Robertson said tha'
most Of Chicagos food either was manu-
factured here or brought In from near.
by sections and that trucks easily couio
keep the food stocks virtually at normal
The food supplies in the packing piah'
storehouses. however. were said 10 Of
sufficient to last Chicago only apou'
three weeks