Show RAILROADS Strikes Close Steel The brotherhood of 01 railroad trainmen trainmen trainmen train train- men and order of railway conductors conductors conductors tors went on strike against three terminal railroads disrupting several several several sev sev- sev- sev eral of ot the country's steel arteries in the midst of the Korean war However with the steel Industry pressed to capacity to meet the needs of ot the stepped up munitions program and the booming civilian economy many sources predicted that President Truman would seize the lines Unes The unions singled out key termInals terminals terminals nals in Louisville St. St Paul and Chicago Chicago Chicago Chi Chi- Chi Chi- cago and Republic Steels Steel's switching terminal at Cleveland for the first display of pressure About 1000 men walked out for five days Approximately Approximately Approximately workers including steelworkers were made Idle Negotiations ns between management management management manage manage- ment and a n d union representatives with presidential assistant John R. R Steelman taking part produced no progress in the first 24 hours Observers believed the government government government govern govern- ment would take drastic action before before be be- fore the situation deteriorated and crippled the nations nation's vital steel pro pro- |