Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-09-13
4 READING CRISIS NIGH.
The Whole System May Be
Tied Up in a Gigantic Strike.
BOTH gIDBg APPEAR DETERMINEn

president Mcleod Says Ho VIII Not Yield
to the Labor Organizations Demands
aud Chief Engineer Arthur Says IL lie
Does Not All the AIen win stop.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. l3.-More Of the
railroad labor leaders have reached town,
and the biggest aud most powerful repre-.
sentniion Of organized labor that ever
gathered in Philadelphia is quarterod at the
ST. Charles hotel. Besides the committee Of
thirty-eight from the Federated Order Of
Reading Railway Employees, which came
here week ago, there have arrived six out
Of the seven chief executives Of the national
railroad labor organizations and the heads
Of the two national unions-General Master
Workman Powderly, Of the Knights OF La
Dor and President Gompers, Of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor.
All these mon win call on President Nc
Leod on Wednesday, and with =. NJ. Ar
thur, chief of the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Engineers, as spokesman, win present
their ultimatum TO the Readings executive
head. In direct terms they will say to him
that unless be does away altogether with
the rule forbdding the employees member
ship in labor organizations they win call
out every ono Of the %, 600 men on the road
engineers, firemen, conductors, trainmen,
brakomen, switchmen and telegraphers.
This course was finally decided upon at a
conference Of the labor men.
Mcleod Won't Bulge.
This condition of affairs makes It more
than likely that a strike win be ordered, for
President Mcleod has reiterated that he
would not amend a single one of Che COM
pany's rules, and that la his position in the
matter he was backed up by every stock
holder Of the road.
p NJ Arthur, chief engineer Of the Broth
erhood of Locomotive Engineers, who will
be one Of the conferoes, said that the
brotherhood is prepared to sustain all Of 10.
members who may be discharged because
Of their connection with the organization
lir. Arthur quoted from the published
statement OF President Mcleod, made lGal
Friday as follows:
"They ask that We modify our rule OF
discontinue It altogether with reference &,
the labor organizations. We do not now
employ any new men unless they show that
they are not members Of labor organiza
] tionsi ana agree that they VIII not DecomC
connected with any such.p
The vital Issue.
1--WE are willing TO concedo," said Mr.
Arthur ''the right OF the company to i'm
pose such conditions upon MS when we enter
their service, and also that we have tn.
right either TO accept or reject them, bui
when the president Of the Reading Railroad
company calls two men into his oiiic,
who were not employed under such con
ditions, and who had consequently no
accepted them, asks them if they
are members OF the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers, and because they tell Ga,
truth and admit that they are, he dis
charges them, that we declare is unjust
That is what he has done, and that is oul
grievance, Upon that grievance we vii
take issue with any railroad in this coun
try.n
"wn the teiographers support your wa
asked
eyes" was tho reply.
"Will the conductors, switchmen an,
hrakomen alson
"All the trainmen have promised thei
assistance, and that is why the chiefs O
their organizations are coming here to join
In the conference with the railroad OH
ciulsn