St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-09-13
READING AND LABOR.
Conference Between the Organ
iZatiOnS and President Nc.
Leod to Come Off Today.
Chief Arthur States the Gr;ey.
ance Which the Engineers
Have.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 12.-President
Mcleod, OF the Reading railroad, was
in New York today, and the conference
with the heads of the different labor
organizations on the system will be put
Off until tomorrow. Z. Nj. Arthur, chief
engineer of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers, who will be one of
the conferrees, said this afternoon that
the brotherhood is prepared to sustain
all of its members who may be dis
charged because of their connection
with the organization. Mr.. Arthur
would not say what the outcome will be
in the event of President Mcleod adj
herring to his stand against organization
of labor. The committee numbers
about twenty-five, and every part of
the Reading system is represented.
Mr.. Arthur quoted from the published
statement of President Mcleod, made
last Friday, as follows: They ask that
we modify our rule or discontinue it al
together with reference to the labor Or
CARNATIONS. We do not now employ
any new men unless they show that
they are not members of the labor or
CARNATIONS and agree that they will not
become connected with any SUCH"
I'VE are willing to concede." said Mr..
Arthur. "the right of the company to
impose such conditions upon us when
we enter its service, and also that we
have the right either TO accept or reject
them. But when the president of the
Reading Railroad company calls
two men into his office who
were not employed under such
conditions, and who had, consequently,
not accepted them and ask them if they
are members of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers, and because
they tell him the truth and admit that
they are, he discharges them--that we
declare is unjust. That is what he has
done and that Is our grievance. Upon
that grievance we will take issue with
any railroad in this country"
Twill the telegraphers support yOu?"
was asked.
Yes" was the reply.
Twill the conductors, switchmen and
brakemen alSo?"
"All the trainmen have promised
their assistance and that is why the
here to join i'll with the conference with
the officials"
PoTTsvILLE, Pa. Sept. 12.-The loco
motive engineers seem to be taking the
leading part in the impending struggle
for the survival of labor organizations
on the Reading railroad system. Regu-
lar meetings were held OH Sunday at
Shamokin, Gordon and TamaQua, while
here at Pottsville an irnpromptu picnic
and base ball game. at which only rail-
| readers were in attendance, was the
means used 10 secure the opinions of
| the men as what the rank and file think
| is best to be done to combat the Read
| ing's declared war against all labor Or
| CARNATIONS.
a local official says that in the event
of strike the railroad has several hun
dred employees ready hereabouts who
will take charge of engines and tele-
| graph offices. 1t is noticeable that the
principal telegraph Offices are all break
ing in female operators of late, who are
depended upon as likely to stay at work
in case of trouble with the men. 1t is
said that emlssaries are working among
the old Knights of Labor engineers in
the West. principally on the Burlington
road, feeling the pulse of the old hands
as to the likelihood of their coming
back here in case of trouble with the
Brotherhood, against which they bear {
strong grudge.