The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-05-27
Coal Deorth Hits Trains
 M0y Force Cut In Schedules
By United Press

The railroads returned to normal today but a threatened coal short age may force them to reduce service.
 The worst labor crisis in the na- tion's history, however, had ended, and freight trains loaded with raw materials for industry and food for cities with short supplies were roll ing once more.
 Most roads reported normal or neer-normal service. The Penn sylvania reported that normal freight and passenger schedules were restored at 6 A. M, EDT, IA hours after the strike ended.
 ODT May Force EmbargOes
 Pennsylvania officials said prior ity had been given to the movement of coal, and that all loaded coal cars which had stood idle on mine sidings during the rail strike were enroute to destinations. The road also was speeding ernpties to the mines for newly dug coal, but with the miners on strike again the empEieS were doomed to stay that way.
 The railroads themselves probably will be the first to suffer from the effects of the renewed coal strike. Their coal Stockpiles already had been reduced to dangerously low levels by the previous six-week mine walko1t, Office of Defense Trans Iportation officials warned that rail freight enabargoes would be ordered again and passenger traffic reduced if the coal shortage becomes worse.
 Trains began moving almost i1n- mediately after the strike ended at Is P. M. ED!T Saturday. Striking engineers and trainmen hurried back to work with unexpected speed. But there was big job to be done. Freight, including perish able food, had piled up in the yards, and some roads will work for 8 week before they clear 1t.
 When work was resumed, food stuffs began moving first. About 4, 900 carloads had been left in rail yards. at switching points and in warehouses. Railroad officials said the food would be moved wherever possible to cities and lo- calities which had felt the pinch of short rations.
 Traffic Jam UnsnarIed
 In the great metropolitan centers suburban traffic was restored to normal today and commuters cut off from their jobs went back to work at the greatest traffic jam in history was unSnarled.
 The Government returned the roads to private ownership and the Office of Defense Transportation lifted its embargo on unessential freight and express shipments. The strike was over, but the re- percussions fingered. Industry had suffered devastating setback in it's attempt to hit 8 reconversion stride. And although the trains were running, the issues of the strike remained unsettled, at least from the viewpoint of the strikers.
 President A. F. Whitney of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen charged President Truman with an attempt to ''cruSh labor" and pre- dicted that he would be repudiated at the next Democratic convention. Whitney in a statement filled with bitterness, pledged $2,500, 900 po- litical war chest to be raised by his union for MT. Truman's defeat.
 To Work With Lewis
 He was asked if he would work with President John L. Lewis of the A.F.L., United Mine Workers to de- feat MT. Truman, if he seeks return to office.
 "I'll work with anybody who's got votes, money and 8 desire to elect progressives," Whitney replied. As he boarded his train at Wash ington for the trip to his head quarters at Cleveland, group of railroad workers shook his hand and said:
 We're 100 percent behind you"
 Statements of other labor leaders, however, voiced support of the brotherhoods and criticism of MT. Truman. It appeared that 8 split of some extent had developed be- tween labor and the administration.