The Washington herald., 1922-07-16
100000 RAILWAY
MAINTENANCE MEN
STRAIN AT LEASH
Unauthorized Walkout
Feared Despite Plea
Of Leaders.
BIG FOUR WARNING
State Troops Modified in
Three Ohio Cities-More
Marshals Sworn.
BIG FOUR WARNING

CHICAGO. July 15.-will the
400. 900 railway maintenance of way
shopmen of the country break the
control of their international union
officers to join the army OF strik-
ing shopmen
Upon the answer of this question,
II seemed generally conceded to-
night, depends peace in the near
future or continued warfare in the
railroad industry of the nation.
E. F. Cradle. president of the
brotherhood of Maintenance of
Way Employees and Railroad Shop
Laborers, is definitely pledged to
peace, pending further negotiations
with the carriers. but the evident
danger of an unauthorized walkout
of his men has occasioned much
apprehension in some quarters.
Chairman Urge Meeting.
Following announcement last
night by Ben w. Hooper. chair
man of the United States Railroad
Labor Board. that his separate con-
ferences with railway executives
and leaders of the shop crafts had
developed no hope for immediate
peace. all negotiations looking TO
a settlement seemed to be at a
standstill.
The first responsible warning
that the maintenance of way men
were likely to strike. officers or no
officers. came Thursday night from
T. N Carroll, general chairman of
the Association of the Maintenance
Brotherhood. Carroll said a ma
jority of nearly 200 general chair
men had requested him to call a
meeting at which strike plans
which might be perfected.
Others Plan to Go Out.
And from New York came word
that a maintenance general chair
man there, William Parker, was
predicting that President Cradle
would be coerced into issuing a
strike order at any hour.
Regardless of what this angle
develops, the striking shopmen will
gain 10000 recruits to their ranks
at 8 o'clock Monday morning when
stationary firemen and oilers leave
their jobs, in accordance with the
order issued today by their union
chief. Timothy Healy.
1t has been repeatedly predicted
that more than $4,000 railway
telegraphers and 10000 clerks and
freight handlers would follow the
maintenance men In any strike
movement.
The railway clerks have been
out several days on the Norfolk
& Western Railroad.
Rrofherhooa NJ w.
Leaders of the train service, in
cluding the Big Four brotherhoods
chiefs, have said they would not
Join the strike unless their men
were forced to do strikers work,
or discharged for failure to do SO.
They have, however. warned that
their men will not ride out on roll
ling stock in any state of disre-
pair, making the work more than
normally hazardous.
Who Is to say when the equip
ment usually cared for by striking
men is dangerously in need of re-
pair? How long will it be.
A strike of 1000 members of the
American Federation of Railroad
Workers in Cleveland has been
called for Monday This organi-
zation, not affiliated with the Am
erican Federation of Labor, has
10000. The members ordered out
in Cleveland are pipe fitters, coach
repairers, painters, freight car re-
pairers and inspectors.
Four Mysterious Fires.
While no serious strike disorders
were reported today, local, state
and federal authorities were on
the alert throughout the country.
From Columbus II was reported
that state troops were modified
in three Ohio cities and were being
held under orders to be ready for