Evening star., 1922-08-10
Thousands of Letters Reach
"Big Four" Leaders, CON-
planning of Abuses.
STONE SAYS CONDITIONS
SERIOUS IN FIFTY PLACES
Men Declare Assaults Started
With Calling of Shopmen's
Strike.
Hy the Associated Press.

by the Associated Press
CLEVELAND, August 1O.-Sporadic
walkouts of men of the big four"
transportation brotherhoods were ex-
pected today following permission
given by their chief to remain away
from their posts until the danger of
being shot or beaten" by armed
guards on railroads passes.
Thousands of letters received at the
brotherhood headquarters here evil
IDENTIFY have undermined neutrality
of those organizations
Permission for the men to remain
from work was given yesterday fol-
lowing the walkout of 1900 engi-
neers. firemen. trainmen conductors
and switchmen on the Elsin. Joliet
and Eastern railroad yesterday at
Joliet. Ill. where the men quit work
because state troops are on guard.
Many Complaints Received.
Although officers of the brother
hoods We're sent to Joliet to endeavor
to straighten out the trouble. it was
pointed out here by Warren s. Stone
president of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers. that conditions
are as serious in fifty other places"
Complaints have been received by the
heads of the engineers. brotherhood of
railroad trainmen and brotherhood of
locomotive f1remen and engineers. whose
headquarters are here. that since the
shopmen's strike was called the men
have been abused and assaulted by the
armed guards
Alleged cases OF shootings by guards
have been received from various places
including Wilmington, n c. and Te.re
Haute. Ind. At Wilmington an engineer
is reported to have been shot as he dis
mounted from his cab.
See PiecemeaI Wnlkouts.
Brotherhood leaders make no secret
of their belief that The "piecemeal"
walkout would spread as the result of
their virtual notice to the men that they
may decide for themselves whether con-
ditions justify their remaining away
from work.
When the men cannot go to work
without having irresponsible armed
guards endangering their lives they may
go home and stay there until the condi-
tion is removed" Mr.. Stone said, IN an
nouncing the notice has been served.
Local brotherhood chiefs continued
to receive reports today from their men
in many parts OF the country COM
planning OF working in railroad shops
and yards, both as to armed guards and
defective equipment.
Protest From Rock Island.
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen, said he received a tele-
gram from Chicago this morning COM
planning Of conditions on the Rock
Island railroad. Firemen and engine
men protested against running into the
Joliet. H., zone. where one hun
dred brotherhood members quit work
as protest against the alleged abuses
and insults of armed guards. The
telegram said the Rock Island firemen
protested against running into the
Joliet section and asked permission to
stay out of that zone.
Mr.. Robertson instructed his repre-
sentative in Chicago to take the mat
ter up with Rock Island Railroad
Company officials in an effort to settle
the matter, and if unable to reach an
agreement the men would not be
required or requested to operate in
that section.
Trafnmen Complaining.
kilograms were also received, Mr.
Robertson said, from secretaries of
locals complaining of working condi-
tions at Louisville. KY, and Howell,
Ind, both as to guards and working
equipment.
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
officials this morning received dozen
complaints from different parts of the
country regarding guards and equip
ment. Among theme were kilograms
from Nashville. Tenn, referring to
conditions on the Nashville. Chatta.
nooga and st. Louis railroad and the
Tennessee Central railroad; Boone.
Iowa. on the Chicago and Northwest
ern; Eldon, Mo-. on the Rock Island
lines, and st. Louis Mo-, on the Mis-
souri, Pacific.
President Robertson of the fremen
has also received complaints from his
members regarding working condi-
tions on the Illinois Central, saying
that trains operated by members had
been attacked by coal strike sym
pathizers along the line of Kentucky
coal mines to Chicago. A reply was
sent today stating that if their lives
Rere endangered they should not
continue at work.