Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-13
ELKINS TALKS BACK.
BE Replies to the. Resolutions Passed
by the Trades Council.
WHY TIE MEN WERE DISCHARGED.
Says the Meetings Prevented Them From
Being on Their Cars.
THE OAKLAND LOOP ALMOST READY

Colonel George W. Elkins, President of
the Pittsbure Traction Company, was called
upon at his home in East Liberty last night
by DISPATCH reporter, for the purpose of
interviewing him in regard to the resolu-
tions passed at the meeting OF the Trades
Council Saturday evening. In the resolu-
tions the company was denounced for its ac-
ton in the recent strike and allegations
made against Colonel Elkins. The latter,
when asked by the reporter If he had any
statement to make, said:
''Since the strike began have carefully
avoided any newspaper controversy with the
men whom we discharged, and who COM
PEELED others to throw up good positions In
the hope of crippling US, and then get their
jobs again. l have no desire to figure IN
print, and as the strike was settled the
same day it began, there is no use of saying
anything. do not see why the resolutions
you mentioned should make an attack upon
me personally, but what does it matter?
'To get to the origin of the trouble, will
say that it dates back between four and
five weeks ago. Our dispatcher made COM
plants that the men did not report prompt
ly in the morning for work, and this caused
us considerable delay and annoyance. 1t
got to be so bad that man had to be sent
after them at their boarding houses.
There was some reason for their tardiness,
and we put man on to find out
why the men could not report promptly in
the mornings to take out their cars. The
man reported that our employees were at
tending meetings until 8 and O'Clock in
the mornings and barely got into bed until
it was time Tor them to be on their cars.
''The thing got so monotonous that we
concluded that the only thing to be done was
to discharge them. The statement that they
were discharged because they were Knights
of Labor is untrue. Upon employing man
we never asked him if he belonged to any
labor organization, society or anything else.
What did care how many labor organiza-
tions the men belonged to as long as it did
not interfere with their duties to the COM
pany? 1t made no difference to us what
man was if he suited US and did his work.
The only cause of their dismissal was be-
cause they were behind IN their duties. We
ask the men no questions. II they suit, we
keep them; if they don't we discharge them.
This is the privilege every employer of labor
should have.
SIT has always been our pride to raise
wages, and it is well known that our men
got better pay and fairer treatment than on
any other line in this city. The strikers
know that, and do not see how they can
say otherwise. If the men who went out
thought they could dictate to US, they have
since found out that they were mistaken.
We want the privilege of running our road
to suit ourselves, and will employ any man
who suits US. Whether he is a union man
or not does not make particle Of differ
ence."
The branch electric line of the company
in Oakland Yill be ready in about six
weeks. The electric apparatus is now being
put up and the motor cars will arrive some
time this month. The line will be operated
by the Short system-a Cleveland invention.
Overhead wires will be used and a trolley
will connect the car with the wires. Two
motor cars will be used to begin with. They
will be about ten feet long and will have
the old Oakland horse cars which are now
used as ''trailers'' on the cable road The
route of the feeder is down Atwood to Bates
street, to Frazier street. to the bluff, where |
it will circle to Boquet streeE, and thence to |
Atwood street and Fifth avenue. It has |
not yet been decided whether the cars will |
be put on the end of cable car and run to |
town or not. 1t is not at all likely that this |
will be done until some time after the road |
is in operation. A switch will be put in at |
Atwood street connecting the cable with the |
electric line tracks. The round trip will be |
made in ten minutes.