The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-29

those groups agree on the issues 10
be arbitrated.
To the two operating unions-en-
gineers an dtrainmen - he awarded
increases totaling nine cents an
hour - four cents straight time
and five cents overtime All five
operating unions had asked an in
crease of SO day.
The War Department said:
THE Secretary Of War an
nounced today that there will be no
railroad strike. Representatives OF
the order of Railway Conductors,
the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Enginemen, and the
Switchmen's Union of North Amer
lea today assured General Somer-
veil that they and the organizations
they represent will take no action
that vii imperil the successful pros
ecution of the war, and that they
will Immediately cancel the strike
ORDER
Men Who Conferred
The men who conferred with
Somervell were David B. Robertson,
president of the Brotherhood of
Firmen and Enginemen; H. w. Fra
ser, president of the Conductors,
and T. G. Cashen, president of the
Switchmen. Their unions refusal to
accept presidential arbitration of
the raj wage dispute and call off a
strike scheduld to steart at 6 a. m.
tomorrow forcd the government to
seize the roads.
Bfore going into conference with
their executive committees, the union
presidents said they expected to
have a statement shortly"
The three union chiefs appeared
for the conference accompanied by
their attorney, Harold c. Heiss.
Fraser said they were attending the
meeting at Somervells invitation Ito
hear what there Is to be said.'
I'VE have arrived at on decision
as to our future action" Fraser
added. I'VE probably will consult
among ourselves after hearing Gen
eral Somervell"
Secretary of War Henry l.. Slim
son carried his appeal against loss
of even an hours service to "all the
men and women the railroads serv-
ice' in nationwide radio address
last night.
THE armed forces cannot dis
charge their responsibility for the
national safety without the assist
anc of the railroads" Stimson de-
clared. "At this grave moment, with
our greatest and most crucial Of
fenSive close upon us, we cannot af-
ford to lose, even for an hour, ther
full service"
The three union presidents with
their executive committees must de-
eide before anothr dawn whether
they will cancel their strike order
or force the Army to carry out its
threat to use tropS If necessary to
keep tn carriers operating.
Somervell, Stimson and President
Roosevelt have made 1t plain that
theyq will use every means at their
command to prevent an interrupt
ton of rail traffic at a time when
the nation Is preparing for its
mightiest war offensive.
In addition, they intend to invoke
the criminal provisions of the Smith
Connally act, prohibiting strikes in
government operated properties, II
that becomes necessary.
Appeals to Patriotism
Stimson appealed to the patriot
ism of railroad workers in his radio
broadcast. He compared a rail tie
up to a destructive bombing OF
Germany's transportation system.
Suppose that in one single days
gigantic foray with thousands o.
| planes we should succeed completely
in our mission Of destruction" he
said. Suppose we should hopeless
ly paralyze Nazi transportation, i'm
mobili1ng Hitler's troops and guns
and ammunition.
For us, this would be a military
! victory Of tremendous magnitude
But it would be a military catas-
trophe Of staggering proportions tt
Hitler.
Nov this nation has faced a sim
liar military catastrophe Of equa
and crushing magnitude in the
threat to halt the operation Of the
railroads. BY swift and decisive
action it has been avoided. We
shall not hand Germany and Japar
this great military victory. The
| railroads will continue to run"
He voiced confidence In the sup
port Of all railways employees ant
asked for 1.-The full devotion Of al
the men and women in the rail-
roads service"
The three unions precipitatet
President Roosevelts order for thu
Army to take over operation Of thu
roads Monday night by refusing
his request that he be allowed K
arbitrate thier wage dispute. Two
other operating brotherhoods ane
is incorporating unions accepted
his arbitration.
Mr.. Roosevelt told his news con-
ference late yesterday that he saw
no need for continuing government
oneration IL all the employeS stAye(