The Wilmington morning star., 1946-05-18
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WALKOUT
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II 1lldlldSGl VI GlC SSlASo iAA'Sos
The ODT said both executives
and employees of the rail lines hao
been reminded that rail opera
tons now r a governmental
undertaking and requested to fully
and faithfully discharge their
duties"
No Military
Johnson said he had asked the
Secretary of War anu the Attorney
General for such assistance as
may be needed, but Buford said
he contemplates no use of the
military for running the trains.
Previously johnson had said the
decision whether soldiers would be
used depends on Developments
Asked what would happen If the
unions did not rescind their strike
call, johnson said the next step
would depend on how the men be-
have.
PeriI0us Time
eff they quit there will be a very
perilous time in transportation"
he said. Il would continue to run
the roads but very much reduced
He said "firemen can run the
trains" but newsmen told him
heads of those unions had said
their men would not do other mems
work.
Did they?" Johnson asked.
Asked if he had any expectation
that the engineers and trainmen
would remain at work, johnson
replied:
Has Great Hopes
81 have great hopes that they
will"
The strike, if it materializes.
raises the prospect of a complete
tie-up of the nations biggest trans
%portation agencies, on the heels OF
a soft coal walkout that already
has thrown the reconversion eff
fort out of gear.
The seizure order was signed
by Mr.. Truman at 2:5 P. M. in
the presence of A. F. Whitney.
president of the Brotherhood OF
Trainmen, and Alvanley Johnstc
chief Of hte Engineers Brother
hood, the two unions directly in
volved in the strike threat.
Zero Hour 4 P. M.
Then as thew left the White
House after a visit of only three or
four minutes, the two union lead
ers told reporters the strike would
go IN. The time for it is 4 p. m.
local standard time in all zones.
Eyes, SIR" Johnston replied tc
a reporter who asked him whether
the strike would go on as SEIZED
uled.
At that time it was not known
that Whitney and Johnston had
been definitely informed of the
seizure order. However, only a
few minutes later Charles G. Ross,
White House press secretary, an
nounced the seizure and said il
was signed while they were with
Mr.. Truman.
Million Affected
While only the $50 600 engineers
and trainmen are directly involved
in the strike call, some 1,400, 900
employees of the nations rail sys-
tenn will be affected, since the two
brotharbooIe ora oo~rocaJ ~ Eox
men who run the trains on the
227, 1886 miles of American railroad.
The seizure order, effective al
4 P. M, EST, Friday named 337
carriers specifically. Twenty
seven small systems, mostly ter.
minal and belt lines, ere exempt
from the strike order under stand
by agreements which guarantee
their workers any benefits the un-
ions win from the bigger carriers.
Keep Mouths Shut
Before the union leaders con-
ferred with Mr.. Truman, Whitney
told reporters:
well keep our mouths shut il
the roads are taken over by the
government.
We'll abide by the Smith-Con-
nally Labor Disputes) act, and all
you've got to do is keep your
mouth closed. The Smith-C onnal.
ly act is not in effect now"
Late Call
Whitney argued that the Smith
Connaly acts penalties for en-.
%couraging a strike against a gov
ernment-seized facility do mo-
operate unless the call is issued
after the property is seized. The
current strike call came out q
mnnfh aon