Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-07-19
Future Back Shops.

Future Back Shops.
The rumor current that the back
shops at Wilmington would be closed
and tho work performed at this point
taken away. was somewhat clarified
today upon Investigation of this sub
ject. when il was developed that no
definite and permanent policy along
this line has actually been determined
by the Pennsylvania Railroad Co.
The important feature in connection
with operation at Wilmington shops
and -enginehouse Is 70 take care OF the
usual daily running repairs 70 loco
motives. which work Is performed at
the roundhouse. The work done at
the back shops Is he~avy-running and
classified repairs, in which a time ele-
ment Is involved and such work could
DO discontinued for some time and still
not interfere with the daily operation
of the railroad. Should tho entire
working force leave tho back shops,
tho supervisory forces, consisting OF
foremen, sub-foremen and gang lead
ers would still be employed and re-
tanned as there is much work that
could be and ie performed by such
forces and under no circumstances
would such employees be aid off. No
such condition 10 anticipated. as re-
cru!ts are being taken On each day
and in time the back shops will
naturally be recruited 20 normal, ac-
cording 10 explanations as made today
relative 20 the widely circulated ru-
mors Of the local shops being closed.
The railroad officials admitted and
the union leaders stated they had re-
ceived reports that a large number oil
men were being brought here from
other points and put TO work in the
shops at Todd's Cut. The railroad OF.
fcials say these men are being brought
from Philadelphia and other point.
along the Maryland Division. 4
union headquarters q was stated Z
train load OF these men arrived a
Todd's Cut shortly after noon yester
day and were sent to the shops to z,
20 work.
It was further reported by the srtik
ers that some OF the men who hav,
remained in the shops nave sent mes
sengers TO union headquarters tina the,
would quit their Jobs and leave tn,
shops If the union men would guaran
tee them rrotection II they did so. Tn
question had 10 been determined b,
the unions up 10 noon. but IL wa
stated that the subject will be givel
consideration by the craftsmen an,
that an answer will be sent TO IN
workers later, but JUST when was no
stated.
, In addition to the numbers OF strik
, ers registered yesterday morn.n
large numbers Of shopmen went t
headquarters after getting throug
l work yesterday afternoon and las
evening and signed up. This orough
the total registrations up to last nigh
. TO 1850. There were new additions ,
= the ranks Of the men this morning, bu
!, just how many could not be learned.
i" Yesterday morning at 10 o;cloc
: was the time limit fixed by the union
: within which all the shopmen eoul
quit and Join the ranks of the striker
4 and be accepted into their ranks III
;, same as those men who went out .
the first day nearly three weeks ag,
At that time. union leaders learnei
Master Mechanic E. B. Whitman
Toddis Cut called a meeting Of thos
men who We're still at work and ac
= dressed them. urging their loyalty
!, the company. He is said TO have tol
them those who remained were n
G real Americans.
A short time after this meeting mo.
OF the men who had attended il au
9 work and walked out from the shop
The union officials stated this morn
ing that they have learned that a b
: baking concern in this city has is
d sued orders that none of it's brea
d Is TO be sold to the railroad shops f
!: the feeding OF the men who are
v work there and further that none
their bread is to be sold to the famili,
OF h men who are still on the je
s and who 10 date have refused to 20,
IN the strike. This company, II
V union men We're told, has given o.
ders h a any of it's drivers who di,
u obey this rule will be dismissed.
d The unicn picketc yesterday r,
ported that a delivery truck OF
wholesale ice cream company and al
other delivery truck of a big pr
8. vision house were on their way to Il
shops with food for the men the
when the pickets stopped them. Tht