Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-18
Railroads
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wartime procedure could be used to
augment interstate trunking facil-
tiles with vehicles not usually en-
gagged in such operations.
Government Plans in Doubt.
There was no word from the White
House today as to how the Govern
ment expected to keep the trahs,
running if the trainmen and en-
gineers chose to ignore the presi-
Dental appeal to keep on working
Asked how the trains could run il
the strike went in effect, Charles G
Ross, presidential press secretary
told reporters:
Il have no further information or
that"
Col. johnson had told reporters
yesterday that he would continue tc
operate the trains in event of g
walkout, but was not clear how this
could be done. Charles H. Buford
Federal manager of the Govern
ment-operated lines, said he did not
contemplate using the military fol
this purpose.
There was no sign that the heads
of the two brotherhoodS, A. F. Whit.
ney of the trainmen and Alvanley
Johnston of the engineers. had any
plans for calling off the strike.
Asked on their return to Cleve-
land from futile Washington nego-
tiations what was now to be ex-
pected, Mr.. Whitney replied:
Talk with Col. johnson tof the
ODT. He's running the country.
Rail Leader mot Too Hopeful
Five hours before the scheduled
strike, spokesman for the Associ'
alton of American Railroads said he
was mot too hopeful that thu
union leaders would call off theil
Walkout.
Even II thye decide to rescin'
the strike order, they would hav
to move fast now to get the wore
/ to the men running the trains" tn
spokesman said. None of the rail
roads know what is going to hap
pen"
The next move is up to the boy
on the trains this afternoon
Headquarters for Mr.. Buford a
the Federal rail boss were set VI
hastily at ODT quarters in the In
! terState Commerce Commission
Building. He conferred there will
Army and other Government au
thorities.
The strike is scheduled to star
on local standard time, which mean
the tieup first will hit the East, thel
spread westward by one-hour stage
until the movement is completed b,
shutdown on the Pacific Coast.
For Protection of Citizens.
In last-ditch effort to avoid thi
blow to the country'S economy, MI
Truman took over the carriers a
pm. yesterday, explaining in ,
statement that governmental seiz
ure is imperative for the protection
of the rights of our citizens"
The President signed the seizur
order in the presence of Mr.. Whit
ney and Mr.. Johnston.
Emerging from Mr.. Humans offic
a few minutes later, the union chief
made no mention of impendln
seizure, but in response to question
of reporters, said that the strik
would go through. 1t was called 3
days ago in accordance with tn
cooling off" provision of the Rail
way Labor Act when the union
turned down a wage award by a
emergency board.
The trainmens chief was reporte
to have telegraphed his subordinat
officers just before the Government
took over that the strike order stooe
The other three of the big five
operating brotherhoods - Order c
Railway Conductors, Brotherhoo
of Firemen and Enginemen. an
Switchmen's Union of North Amer
lea, are not going on strike.
Representatives of these VIII
called at the White House yester
day afternoon made it clear t
newsmen that they would not d
the work of strikers. From Cleve
land. however. the Associated Pres
quoted David B. Robertson, presi
dent Of the firemen and engineme
brotherhood as saying that $500