Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-07-26
LOCAL SHOPMEN
WANT SEC. DAVIS
TO HANDLE STRIKE
Continued from page 1.


90 striking shopmen are out ana the
interests OF the city. State and nation
re involved. II surely does seem that
he Secretary OF Labor In tho Presi-
lent's Cabinet IL the proper man TO
levise the ways and means OF erect
ng n settlement"
II was pointed out that this was es-
true In the present strike be-
,ause OF the differences OF opinion ex-
sting between the Labor Board. the
shipments leaders and the railway
as made evident on several
Inherent occasions. This in Itself, II
vas claimed. should obviate the neces-
sity of the Presldent's decision, as an
yesterday. 10 let the Labor
Board take charge Of the whole matter
as the Federal governments represen-
tatlve In the premises, Secretary
Davis. it was asserted. occupies a neu-
trail position, from which he could
very easily bring the contending par
ties together and insist upon an agree
meht.
Labor men here point out that
Secretary Davis brought about a set
tlement of the Pullman Company
with its employees last year
a plan which originated In Whining
ton. and they point out that II tho
interest resulted In bring
ing about harmony with one large
group of railroad workers. why could
not the Secretory's interest t9day in
sure further Industrial peace and
barp,opv7
Just what developments there may
be In this connection are not known
but II Is understood efforts will b.
made at once to set in motion th'
proper machinery which will at leas
bring the subject TO the attention o
the proper authorities for the pur
pose Of having Secretary Davis TAX
charge OF the situation and possibl,
endeavor TO effect a settlement
Should such efforts be successful vii
mington labor men undoubtedly vii
he given credit for having inaugu
rated this move. as they did in tn
Pullman case.
Local Deadlock Continues.
So far as the local situation is con
between tho two sides. with no dc
velopments Of any consequence re
ported by either The union lead
ers claim their strike registration sti
stands at more than l,400 men OF
and that their ranks remain unbrokel
They deny that any Of the shopme
are drifting back 10 work and the
stand is based on the results Of a
investigation made In an effort
combat tho effects Of tho visitation
Of the shipments committee. II
members Of which have INTERVENE
/ several of the strikers and attemptc
/ to persuade them 10 return 10 wor
/ This committee insists IL is acting
authority Of the Pennsylvania Raj
road officials. while the latter declal
| they are acting on their own initlati'
and even without a suggestion fro
! the company.
Railroad officials today did not sui
stantiate statements made yesterda
at the shipments mass meeting thu
/ the roads would soon have 10 ste
running trains because it's equipmer
/ was IN such por repair. An offict
/ Of the Pennsylvania Railroad state
/ this morning that their equipment ar
| rolling stock IS in good shape ar
/ he pointed out that the fact that the
are now, have been and expect
continue 10 run their trains. freigl
and passenger. without delays. is
their minds sufficient evidence hi
there is nothing 10 the allegation
that their equipment Is in poor shar
Our trains and engines do not lea
our shops without having been prope
ly inspected" one official declared III
morning, and IL any engine or car
found 10 be in an unsafe conditii
Il Is not permitted TO leave the sho
or roundhouse until it has been ma
absolutely safe as skilled mechani
and competent and expert inspecto
can make IT,"
In this same connection it was q
serted by the company that so far
this city is concerned the PennsyIvaI
Railroad has not felt the necessity
calling upon the boat yards 10 ~
out by doing some of the car and {
CINE repair work, as has been sugge
ed elsewhere might be tried in otf
places where boat yards are availat
Il was further stated that the offici
here have not felt the necessity
calling for any outside help on its
pair work.
Whether any Of the shopmen g.;
going back to work or insisting on {
strike. the employment chart OF {
Pennsylvania Railroad so far as
shops at Todd's Cut are concern
shows that the number Of men "
, are working there is now increasi
, rapidly each day. This morning
the shift reporting at o'clock a to
of Az men were reported at work.
compared with 3S5 reported yesterC
morning. In the roundhouse the to
number working today was reported
. be SO. as against 81 Tor yesterd
These totals show gains for the &C
pany in both departments. The Oh
shows no change in the total mum
: on strike which has remained the sa
. for several days, SIS in the back sh
" and LA in the roundhouse.
The railroad officials stated
morning that they are employing m
men every day, the average be
. about 90. Yesterday 80 were brou
here from Philadelphia and 90 9th
: were taken on from this city and poi
as far south as Cape Charles.
. company officials stated there is an
evidence of increasing numbers
~ very satisfactory men and they
having no trouble getting them.
The railroad officials appear rel
;" tant to discuss the striking shopr
as strikers, for when asked about
return OF any Of these men il
stated they are not keeping any CHI