The Washington times., 1922-07-18
MEN HIRED To
BREAK STRIKE
bALk At JOBS
Workers Imported to Roanoke
Desert When They Learn Ma
ture Of Employment
BY A. CLOYD GILL,
'Times staff Corresponden

ROANOKE, Va, July 49,
Strikebreakers imported by the
Norfolk and Western railroad
from distant points are deserting
as soon as they reach this city.
Thirty-two men brought here
Sunday for new construction
work learned on arrival that hey
were to be put to work as sti Ike
breakers. Only five stuck to the
company. The others refused to
work. Some of them reported to
union headquarters and were sent
back to their homes in Arizona.
Five thousand Men Out.
The strike Of the 5000 local men
goes merrtly on in spite Of the fact
that two score OF Deputy United
States Marshals are on duty here.
and the further fact that a restrain.
ing order signed by Federal Judge
Henry c. Mcdowell hangs over their
heads.
It's a great life for the deputy
marshals. They have nothing to DO
but loaf and make reports Of quiet
and order on their beats. The police
court records show. fewer arrests
since the strike began than in normal
times.
United States Marshal L. C. Prof.
fitt declared today that his big force
Of deputies had so far reported no
trouble whatever. The first report
sent out from Roanoke was that dis.
order was prevalent on every hand
There was no foundation whatever
for the report.
Mr.. Profit is still waiting for the
court to construe the text of the re-
straining order. The strike leaders
passed resolutions to the effect that
they would take no steps to fight IL,
have II modified or construed. They
feel that none Of the strikebreakers
have violated the law; that they will
maintain that record and that 70
long as the law is obeyed there can
be no fear Of restraining orders.
The order Of the court states that
only one picket will be allowed At
each gate or entrance to the rail.
road company's property. The ques-
ton raised 10 Does this mean one
or one picket FROM the whole body
Of strikebreakers?'
The union men construe II TO
mean one picket from each craft and
have governed themselves according.
ly. since no other construction has
been placed on 1t by the federal au-
thorities.
Marshal Proffitt admits that he Is
at a loss to know what construction
to place on the order.
Some Back at Work.
II was stated at the company of.
fices today that several men on
strike had returned to work. The
union leaders admit that a few re-
turned to work, but point out that
more men left the job than were put
to work by the railroad.
Hard put to 1t to keep their trains
moving the company today was
forced to put four Of its emergency
locomotives In service here. Forty
big engines have been held in re-
serve against the breaking down Of
the regular engines. Dining car
service is being taken off Of most
of the passenger trains and proba bly,
will be abandoned entirely, II was
announced. r. D. Laudermann.
chairman Of the machinists, and
Charles B. Lane, Of the clerks. were
called to Lynchburg yesterday to
address a meeting Of the chamber OF
commerce which was called to con-
slider the strike and its relations to
that city.
Mass Meeting Planned.
A mass meeting for business and
professional men Of Roanoke will be
held here this week Local business
men are already feeling the effects
of the strike and it's continuance for
another month will come near spell
ing ruin and bankruptcy for some
of them.
Movement Of coal. the main in
dustry Of the section traversed by
the Norfolk and Western, continues
to slow UP and scores Of nonunion
mines having been forced to either
curtail their production to a mini
mum or close down entirely because
OF their inability TO get cars for
movement of their output.
Today's report from Norton, an
important coal center, shows that
the Norton Coal Company Is OPP
Grating about so per cent normal;
the Toms. Creek mines are so per
cent NORMAL tue "loe Hhnee hro
closed down: Ramsey mines are
idle; Stonesa is dumping coal on
the ground because cars are not
available: Josephine mines are
loading only three, cars per week.
Tho only operations that have
been doing good business are
the Dorchester and Southern mines.
Local railroad men agree with
the union leaders that even though
the strike were to be sett ed with
dispatch, II would be several weeks
before the normal number OF cars
could be furnished to the mInesI
Storage facilities at the mines
are limited and miners and op-
orators object to handling coal more
than once. They will close down
their mines before they will con.