Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-07-01
OF EVEN DATE:


CH1cAGo. April Il. 1856. w. l.. STAHL.
j.. O'KEEFE. Committee Gentlemen; l
am in receipt of your communication OF
the 10th inst, replying TO mine of the
same date, asking that you state speclii-
cally wherein the conduct of the men IN
question has been Objectionable.
In your reply you say that they are
"scabs" by which l understand you to
mean that they are not members Of an
organization TO which you belong
am instructed TO say, in reply, that
the men in question have been in the EN-
ploy of this company, with one exception
for periods ranging from 10 to 10 years.
During that time they have discharged
their duties faithfully and served the
company with fidelity. They have been
and are men of temperate and industrious
habits reputable citizens of good standing
in the community, Most of them have
families dependent ON them for support.
Their removal is asked not for any reason
which impugns their character as clu-
zens or trustworthy employees or which
marks them unfit in any way to associate
with honorable men, but for the single
reason that they do not belong TO your
organization. For no other reason you
ask that they be removed from positions
with whose duties they are familiar, ana
placed in others whose duties they may
have to learn or which may require the
removal of themselves and families from
a locality which has been their home for
years.
The officers of this company are always
readv to confer with employees concerning
their mutual relations with view TO
prompting the interests of either or both
The company has no desire to interfere
with their relations TO any association
But when the company Is asked TO remove
from their positions men whose character
MS employees and citizens of the commun
itv has always been above reproach, and
whose services are valuable 70 It, for nc
other reason than that they have refused
fo become members of certain assocla-
ton. inasmuch as il disclaims any right
TO interfere with the personal liberty 81
its employees in such matters II can not
consistently concede TO such request. Inc
officers of the company must further.
more be the judges of whom 1t should
employ in the various departments o. me
service. | am therefore instructed tc
DENY the request of your petition. Very
.r,,l, ,oprs l.. JOINS,
General Yardmaster
This letter. Mr.. Jones. they say, now
declares to have been signed by him
through motives of policy, and does
not represent their grievance. The pres
emit strike is of course because the elgh'
obiectionables were not removed withln
the sixty DAYS of Sheriff Hanchett's guar
ontv Int the men declare that the letter
Inisstates their case when il Is said tina
they object to the men because they ar'
are non-unionists. The real cause 4
because they refused 70 join IN the STRIKE
&c 1881. and hence have incurred the en-
NIFTY of ali the svitchmen and are un
pleasant companions 70 work with Wnei
forming part Of a crew TO make up Uranus
i'm 4 foreign yard.
Two Of the leaders of the SWlichluTH
union declared in the Times office las
evening. that their organization Woui'
hack IN the Lake Shore men IN lhel
nresent fight. You can say. they s8lo
atbat If the railroad cpmpany does NO
rive in. and this strike continues. that VI
viii
NOT oNLY EXTEND II
10 every road entering into Chlcago, "a
that we will call of the men IN Buua!'
Datroit Cleveland and Toledo and max
Il. -t.-.,,...- ,ra can The union ,