The Washington times., 1922-08-03
GIRL STRIKERS
. IN RICHMOND.
: COMING HERE
Young Woman Makes Very e.
fective Speech at Mass
Meeting of Unionists.
By A. CLOYD GILL,
staff Correspondent.

Staff COffospOuoeut.
RICHMOND, Va. Aug. 3'--"on
to Washington" IL the slogan OF
a group Of pretty girl railroad
strikers here, who are planning
to hike to washington and lay
their cause before President Hard.
ing at the White House.
"I'n be q slim princess by the
time I get there" remarked one
Of the ieaiers who has a tendency
TO be stout. But I'm willing to
give few pounds to get our
position before the President"
Take Strike Seriously.
The striking Virginia beauties are
beginning to take very seriously their
connection With the strike. Most Of
the picketing II now being done by
the women and the most stirring ad-
dress at yesterdays mass meeting Of
the strikers was by girl striker.
The attractive young speaker "bawl.
ed out" some of the striking shop
men for permitting their relatives,
some being members Of immediate
families, acting "a strikebreakers.
She told how she In buying q home
even II the railroad does say that
railroad clerk has no right 10 own
her own home" She declared that
she would 60 hungry before she
would consent to returning TO work
for less than a settlement that was
Just and fair.
picket duty daily in front OF the
aff NA q a
they have had more influence on
keeping the men intact In their
organization than the men them.
selves. II they can hike to Wash
ington, the girls say. they can put
their case squarely TO President
Harding and camp right on the
White House steps until they get
action.
Refusal Expected.
The union leaders here express
no surprise at the action OF the rail
executives in New York. II was
lust what they expected and their
warning to striking employees Is:
Keep your fighting clothes on
until December, II necessary.
The first strike benefits to the
1000 local strikers viii be paid to-
day. Only 81 per day will be paid
for the time being. The benefit.
however, will be increased should
the strike be prolonged. Hundreds
OF nonunion men and women. who
walked out with the union forces,
viii also receive the strike. benefit
and most Of them have taken steps
to join the union to which they are
eligible. At one point, 233 nom
union men are on strike.
Union leaders and strikers in
general ridiculed the announcement
made by President w. J. Harahan,
Of the Chesapeake and Ohio. that
he was prepared to I'LL all vacanies
in his system. Mr.. Haraham re.
turned yesterday afternoon from the
meeting of rail heads in New York.
and shortly afterward issued a
statement. which follows: THE
action taken at that meeting was
fully announced In this mornings q
! mediately press the filling up Of it's
various shops to the number Of
men necessary to obtain the full
complement Of forces for running
repairs and back shop work"
1T is thought that a great number
Of old men will Immediately return,
as we have been assured by many Of
them that they desire to return.
The management will be very glad TO
have that occur, as II feels very
close to these men. and II they can
| be taken care OF In q way which
will not materially affect their inter.
ests, but the management desires to
state most emphatically that II has
in sight an abundant number OF men
to fill all vacancies"
Just Chairwarmers.
the position Of the strikers Is that
even though the company may have
a sufficient number Of men to fill all
vacancies, they will a mere chair.
warmers and not skilled men"
Sure, let the railroad put some Of
those available men and women in
our jobs. II they want to-" said
Charles Purdy, of the clerks, they
know and we know that the type Of
people they plan to use will get their
business worse confused than the
strike ever did. They will not dare
try it."
Hundreds Of members Of train
crews are feeling the pinch of the
strike here. With dozens Of freight
trains out Of service, this means
| l1dl LlNt VII tdCu Vi IUOSt
trains are out of work 80 long as the
strike is in force. II also means
that those handling trains are in
| jeopardy because Of inadequate
shopmen to keep the engines and
rolling stock in condition.
big Four" Backs EN- Up.
An officer Of one OF the big
Four" brotherhood told the mass
meeting Of $4,000 strikers yesterday
that I'VE are with YOU until the