Evening star., 1948-05-06
Railway Union
Chiefs 10 Meet
With Stee|man
Conference Is Called
Tomorrow in Effort
To Avert Strike

Ihe Whlte House made an
other move to head off the
threatened railroad strike today
when Presidential Assistant John
R. Steelman summoned the rail-
road brotherhood chiefs to a
conference at II am. tomorrow
Announcing this step, Charles G
Ross, press secretary, said Mr.
Steelman had received acceptances
from Alvanley Johnston. president
OF the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers; David B. Robertson
president of the Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Firemen and Engine
men, and A.. j. Glover, president of
the SWitchmen's Union of North
America. The strike is set for next
Tuesday.
Would Lay Off Thousands.
Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania
Railroad, the Nations biggest car
rler of passengers and freight said
a strike may cause the lay off of
all its 100000 employees
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
notified all its employees that they
will be furloughed next Wednesday
if the strike takes place.
M w. Clement, Pennsylvania
Railroad president, in a letter to
employees in all departments, said
the strike call is unreasonable and
arbitrary"
If the enginemen and firemen
carry out this reckless intention to
strike" Mr.. Clement wrote, 1T will
become physically impossible to op-
crate the railroad and, although re-
Mctant to do SO, your management
may have no alternative but to shut
down in all departments.
Mr. Clement asked every Penn
svlvania Railroad engineer, fireman
and hostler Ito consider with the
greatest care their obligations to
their country, their families and
their fellow employees and particu-
larly their public responsibility for
railroad service"
A PRR spokesman said no ac-
ton is contemplated at this time
to abolish jobs of employees who
strike.
Railroad to Fire Strikers.
The Boston and Maine Railroad
disclosed earlier that notices were
being sent certain employees that if
the strike comes, their jobs will be
abolished at 6 am, Tuesday, the
time set for the walkout.
Through the Association of
American Railroads. a dozen lines
gave notice today that they would
stop accepting perishable freight
shipments this weekend. Other
roads were taking similar action in
dividually.
The roads want to avoid the pos
sibility that livestock, poultry and
other perishable shipments may be
stranded on their trackage.
Mr.. Ross was asked if any definite
proposal would be presented to the
brotherhood leaders at tomorrow's
meeting
Il can't say any more than l
have" he replied.
Mr. Johnston, who was in Cleve-
land today, said he would leave for
Washington tonight. Mr. Robertson
is already here.
Mr.. Johnston told reporters Mr.
Steelman indicated to him that he
wanted to talk first with the union
men, then call in representative of
railroad management.
Mr.. Steelman has been keeping in
constant touch with the railroad sit
uation and reporting to President
Truman.
Mr.. Ross was asked whether Mr.
Steelman would have similar con-
ference with representatives of the
railroads.
L can't say as yet" MI. Ross said,
"I have told you all that has been
done to date"
Seizure Preparations Denied.
Mr. Ross told reporters there is no
truth to published reports that the
Office of Defense Transportation
has been asked to prepare seizure
orders.
Nothing Of that sort has been
done" MI. Ross said. No orders
have been given the ODT or any
one else to prepare orders for
seizure"
Mr.. Steelman conferred again to-
day with Frank P. Douglass, chair
man OF the National Mediation
Board, and Francis A. ONeill, a
board member. Board efforts to
mediate the dispute collapsed.
The three unions are demanding
more than the 1872 cent hourly pay
increase which the other railroad
(See RAILROADS, Page A-4J