The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-27
SETTLEMENT
BY COMPROMISE.
Grand Chief Ramsey in Confer.
ence With A. N. TOwne.
The Operators Will Probably Abolish the
Student Clause, and the Company Will
Kill" the Affidavit.

D. G. Ramsey, Grand Chief of the Tele-
graphers' Union, who arrived here a few
days since from the East to assist in adjust
ing the trouble existing between the South
ern Pacific Company and its telegraph
operators, called upon General Manager A.
n. Towne yesterday forenoon.
Mr.. Ramsey was accompanied by one OF
his lieutenants, and the conference lasted
for two hours. but at its close neither would
vouchsafe any information as to the result,
further than to say that another meeting
would be held on Tuesday afternoon.
At that time many delegates from the
various train organizations, who are now
gathering here from all parts of the system,
will be present, and some definite results
must be the outcome of the meeting, which
will be an important one to both the tele-
graphers and the company.
At present there are about thirty dele
gates here. representing the telegraphers,
the engineers, the machinists, the conduc-
tors and the fremen of five divisions as fol-
lows: Tucson. Los Angeles, Sacramento ,
Humboldt and Western.
Ramsey and the telegraphers are stout in
the assertion that these men have been or
dered here by the respective orders to which
they belong, and that their coming means
b
scheme, so long talked of by Southern Pa
clfic employees.
A FLAT CONTRADICTION
The Southern Pacific officials, however,
fatty contradict the statement. They deny
that federation has been effected. and say
| that the delegates are here on their own re-
| Sponsibility and as individuals. without the
| credentials Of any labor or other Urganiza-
! ton, and wholly without authority to rep
resent any body of men In or out OF the
| Southern Pacific service.
In speaking of the matter of authorized
| representation, high official of the COM
| pany said Yesterday: 1--WE do not recognize
| these delegates as coming from the orders
which they claim to represent. They are
here as individuals. and for the purpose Of
| lending moral support to a cause which IN
my opinion they have not looked into.
Their coming will in no measure affect
| the situation, and a settlement will not be
| eithrr retarded or FASTENED by their pres
| ence. do not think that there will be any
| trouble, and in my opinion the messing OF
| Tuesday will result in an amicable adjust
ment.
I'VE have objected to our mer Joining the
| ordetbecause of the student clause In the
constitution. If this is abolished / think
| that the affidavit would be called in, and
until it is abolished the company has right
to object.
ITS GREATEST OBJECTION.
"Our greatest objection TO the Order of
| Photographers has always been based on the
| clause in their constitution which prohibits
| the presence Of students in our offices, eX-
| cept when allowed by the Grand Chief, and
! If that is annuled we can make no further
| objection TO them til 1t can see.
"All the other orders have refraiDed from
| endeavOrng to bind lis down with such an
| arbitrary rule, aud no trouble with them
| has ever occurred over the question of stu
| dents. For instance. we have young men at
| all times on our road learning to fire engines
| and TO become brakemen, and neither the
| train nor engine men have ever question I'd
| our right TO do this.
| you can see yourself that a rule such as
| the operators want to enforce would work
| serious injury to our business, and is a viz
| tual declaration that we are not to be
allowed to sayl hem we shall or shall not
| employ. This, of course, we could not
| tolerate, and there are other reasons as vel
| for objectn to the clause referred to.
| "As an eX ample, there are a great many
men in our employ who are not earning
| large salaries, and who have families to
/ may be put into offices to learn telegraphy,
and if bright and apt are often enabled at
| the end of three or four months study to
| assist in the support Of the family. To
| arbitrarily shut them out OF this privilege
| would be to work them 4 great injustice"
| Mr.. Ramsey says that withdrawal of the
| manifesto recently issued by the company.
| prohibiting its employees from Joining the or
/ der, would settle the whole difficulty ant
put the corporation once more IN harmo
| nious relations with It's operators. u niles
| 1t calls in this order continued Mr.. Ram
sey, there will be trhubl'.