Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-12-22
The Telegraphers VS.. the
Southern Pacific.
Grand Chief Ramsey Arrives
From the East.
All the Train Service Men Backing
the Operators.
The Southern Pacific Will Have to Back
Down or Stand Long, Bitter
Fight-The Photographers
Very Confident.

The Hon. ID. g. Ramsey, acting gram
chief of the Order of Railroad Telep
raphers, arrived here last night from tn
east. He is on his way to San Francisc
in the expectation of settling the diff
Guilty between the order and the South
ern Pacific company. r. w. McGarvin
deputy grand chief from this part of tn,
state, and G. +. Hart met Mr.. Ramse,
at Cotton, and quite delegation o
members of labor unions welcomed th,
head of the Order of Railroad Teleg
raphers at the Arcade depot and escort
ed him to the Hollenbeck hotel. Mr.
Ramsey is a very young man, bein1
only 81 years old. He commenced rail
reading when but boy, upon the Van
dalia line, as messenger. and at the age
of II was placed in charge OF an office
He followed railroading for about nine
years, during which time he worked in
nearly all the larger Offices on that road
His entire experience was with the
"Van," showing that he was believer
in the maxim that 1.-The rolling stone
gathers no moss" While filling the
position of clerk in one of the offices OF
The Vapdslia line, in East st. Louis, he
attended night school and began the
study of law. .Aiterward he resigned
his position with the Vandaiia and ac-
cepted a position in the. law and real
estate Offices of the late ex-mayor
of East st. Louis, John B. Bowman.
He also served two years as assistant
cashier of the East st. Louis bank, and
meanwhile attended school at McKind-
rell college, where he graduated with
honors. He practced law for five years,
during which time he distinguished
himself, and built up an enviable repu-
tation as an attorney. He was elected
representative to the thirty-seventh
general assembly of the Illinois legisla-
ture from st. Clair county, and although
one of the junior members OF the house,
he soon succeeded in making a reputa-
ton as fearless debater and fine parlia-
mentarian, and was recognized as one
of the leaders.
At the sixth annual session OF the
grand division OF the O.. R. T. he be.
came candidate for the Office of assist
ant grand chief telegrapher, and was
elected.
Mr. Ramsey did not come to California
alone. He was accompanied by COM
mittee representing the entire train
service, and if the Southern Pacific COM
pany does not come to time and annul
the offensive affidavit, there will be a
strike all along the line.
The committee which met Mr.. Ram
sey at Tucson and came through with
him is as follows: j. G. Clancy (engin-
eers). Robert Gale (fremen), w. H.
Prince (trainmen), l.. Davis Conduct
ors), j. T.. Mclean (machinists) and w.
w. Winter (operators). This commit
tee will go to San Francisco with Mr..
Ramsey today and will doubtless help
him convince the general manager that
a mistake has been made in the COM
pany's treatment OF the order.
A HERALD reporter had an interview
with Mr.. Ramsey last evening. He is
bright young man, and the telegraph
operators pin their faith to him to gain
a victory, especially as every other
railroad organization is nov at the back
of the telegraphers.
"We claim that the Southern Pacific
company" said Mr.. Ramsey, "has as
much right to say that we must not be
Methodsts, Catholics or Presbyterians,
or that we must not be Odd Fellows,
Masons,ssor belong to any iraternal or
ganization, as to say that we shall not
belong to the Order of Railroad Tele-
graphers. We demand the annulment
of the affidavit required by the company
from all operators to the effect that they
are not and will not become members
OF our order.
"The Order OF Railroad Telegraphers
has membership OF $4,000, and the
railroad company will find it a difficult
matter to wreck our organization. do
not think that they will be able to find
men enough to debase themselves by
signing away their manhood. 1t is an
un-American demand, and cannot win.
"We go to San Francisco to endeavor
to settle the difficulty. Every man is
with US on the Galveston Houston
system between Ell Paso and New Or
leans, and now that we have the sup
port OF every branch of the raiaoad SER
vice, there will be no faltering, and
many who are not even members will
throw down their Keys. There has been
a little trepidation among some Of our
members who feared the result of
strike to the weakness of our organiza-
ton. but every one is now confident.
"The Order of Railroad Telegraphers,
at the annual convention at St. Louis
last June, became protective organiza-
ton. This incurred the displeasure OF
the railroads, and they are now making
a concerted effort to destroy our organ
ization. The Southern Pacific first
opened fire. They were followed by the
Atlantic and Pacific. We have just won
the day from the latter, and the result
is that they not only Withdrew the OBJ
jectionable request, but were obliged to
raise the salaries all along the line.
"The Southern Pacific will come to
time. Their business is not running
smoothly. Operators are out all along
the line, and many Offices are closed.
l was told yesterday that one OF the en-
gineers hesitated about taking orders,
as he feared one of the new operators
was too drunk 70 know what he was
doing"
An important meeting will be held
this morning, and plan will be formu-
lated for future action.
1t was rumored last night that gen.
eral strike would be ordered this morn
ing on the Southern Picific linas, but it
could not be authenticated. 1t seems
probable that nothing will be done until
Mr.. Ramsey goes to San Francisco and
confern with the railroad officials.
WHAT WILL HE Dor
The Supervisors Appear to Have