The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-19


must know we'll that could not ii We would
comply with such request Ii made
Second-By the terms OF the written CONTRACT
between this company and your Brotherhood,
by which. according to the rules of your society.
you are each individually bound. it is provided
that no of you shall be discharged without
cause, and that where charges preferred
you shall in all cases be entitled to hearing. be-
fore an impartial board. and in consideration or
this and other valuable privileges secured TO you
by such contract, You therein agree not to quit
the service without giving US thirty days notice.
ssThird-NotwithsIand these facts. re-
celveds on the 18th inst, at 300 p. NJ, my nrss
notice that you would quit work at o'clock
p. ~ OF the same day. so that instead or thirty
days notice, as required by Your agreement,
your committee saw fis to give exactly ten min
utes. We have been assured oy your com mlttee
that none of you would be ordered to quit the
service, and that each man would be left
free to act according to his own Judg-
ment. / do believe you ought to
regard binding upon you any order
from any committee any organization reQuir-
ing you 10 violate your solemn contract With
this company and to commit great wrong,
striking an employer which you know has not
wronged you IN the slightest measure. If, there
fore. such order had been issued, / should
not, trust appeal to you in vain to resist such
tyranny; but am glad to be informed that
your leaders disclaim any purpose to deprive
you of that freedom which of right belongs TO
every citizen
IF as a body you quit our service yon will
do the company, the public. yourselves, and
many of your co-empoyes great harm. IL Will
take time TO I'LL your places with cOmpetenE
men, and we shall operate the road with none
other. The operation of our lines may be, in a
measure stopped. for time. The company
will suffer heavy pecuniary losses; the public
will suffer also. and will, in my judgment, insist
upon your giving satisfactory reason for hav-
ing caused so much wrong and injury If the
s'nt the time s6e BEING we no nssd of shs .erU
ices OF a large number of employees who are
engaged in connection with the operating and
mechanical departments; they will have TO be
I'D h.x.sr hcp adj frf fha
greatest evil will fall upon yourselves LII you
force us to fill your places with other competent
men, it will be impossible for us hereafter TO re-
move those men without cause In order to take
You back. We shall treat them we have
treated you, and remove no man without cause
so that You may permanently lose your places
These serious evils, and beg you TO remem-
her that it is small matter to stand before
the community responsible for them without
being able TO show that an overwhelming neces-
slty prompted your action. Your only pre-
text will be that you did il to
help your comrades in their contest with
the Chicago, Burlington g. Quincy; but that
will not DO sufficient. It is excuse, IL is
worse than none; for the plain reason that your
action will help, not hurt. the Chicago. Burline-
ton & Quincy That company and this are busi-
ness rivals We operate competing lines con-
nectng at many points. If you cripple US and
make il impossible for us to handle freight, you
will increase ths business of the Chicago, BurlInR-
ton & Quincy By throwing into its hands the
freight which would otherwise come to us How
you we're ever persuaded to believe that you could
burt the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy by strik-
ing down of its principal competitors passes
my understanding. Moreover, even If your action
would in5ure the Chicago, Burlington 81 Quincy.
it would afford you justification, because it Is
never either lawful or right to strike a friend
and benefactor in ordsr TO injuFe enemy.
Our company must place itself in position to
perform it's whole duty a common carrier as
soon as possible. / appeal to you 60 reconsider,
on or before o'clock p NJ, OK Thursday, the
I'D. At the expiration of that time, limited as
above. the agreement between you and the
Atchison. Topeka g. Santa Fe Railroad Com
pany will terminals, unless, in the meantime
you have resumed your customary runs; and We
will proceed to reorganize our forces by employ
ing new men wherever the can be found to take
the places of such of you remain off duty.
&C w SMITH, First Vice-president.
-. F. GODDARD. General Manager"