Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-11
TROUBLE is INEVITABLE
If the President of the Reading Sys-
TEN Cannot Be Induced
TO ONEET HIS EMPLOYEES HALFWAY
Brotherhood Chiefs Furry to Philsdslphia
for Consultation.
EVEN MR.. ARTHUR is INTERESTED NOW
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE prsPArcH.l 7

pected has happened In the progress OF the
negotiation between the committee of the
Federated Order of Residing Railway EN-
ployes and President Mcleod, and it is
more than probable now that there will be
some trouble on the road or its leased lines
this month. The mission of the committee,
declared by its own members and by the
railroad officials to be of a peaceful
and friendly nature, was possibly
all of that at the start but
President McLeod's square stand against
the existence OF labor organizations among
the company's employees has put an entire
ly new face on the matter, and the commit
tee has temporarily abandoned all other
matters which would have come before it at
its annual meeting, and is graphing with
the labor issue alone.
To-day and yesterday kilograms were
sent East and West summoning the leaders
of the railroad mems brotherhdods to this
city, and by this evening enough replies
had been received by Chairman Clapp to
indicate that a number of prominent labor
leaders will arrive in town tomorrow to
take a hand in the controversy. The peo-
ple sent for include Chief P. NJ. Arthur,
OF the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi-
neers; F. P. Sargent, of the fremen; P.
H. Morrissev, of the brakemen; S. A.
Wilkinson, of the trainmen; John Ramsey,
of the telegraphers, and Chief Clark, of the
conductors
Three of the Chiefs on this Way.
The only person who has thus far de-
clined to come is Chief Sargent, who is de-
tanned in Cincinnati during the National
~ there
on Monday. Chiefs Arthur, Ramsey and
Clark are already on their way.
The leaders in the big committee are very
reticent, but Chairman Clapp said frankly
tonight that the situation was SO serious as
to make necessary the presence OF all the
brotherhood officials who could get here
The actions of the committee have been
very conservative so far and this
has been due largely to the fact that they
stirred up yesterday, during their call on
President Mcleod, much bigger contest
than they anticipated. They went there to
ask Mr.. Mcleod to amend two of his rules
affecting new employees on the road, and
came away with the knowledge, emphatic
ally given them, that in future the Reading
would recognize no labor organization
whatsoever on its lines, and that it pro-
posed to stamp them out altogether by pro-
hibiting all new employees from becoming
members. in sense or sympathy, by an iron
bound contract.
After the President, the Stockholders
The committee decided, after its visit to
President Mcleod, to issue a prompt call
for assistance and advice, and the railroad
labor leaders sent for to-day will accompany
the committee on a second visit to the Read
ing Railroad on Monday or possibly on
Tuesday. They will make an earnest effort
to induce President Mcleod to change his
attitude toward labor organizations, and, if
they tail IN this, there are good grounds for
predicting that they will issue an appeal to
the stockholders ~G
The committee is said to place much con-
fdence in this latter appeal 1t is pretty
well known that the Dre1el and Wander
bilt interests are backing the Reading, and
it is also known that these interests are by
no means opposed to organized labor.
Such stockholders as Thomas Dolan,
George ". Childs, W. W. Gibbs and 9TH
ers, who employ hundreds of workmen
will be appealed to- and the
committee will go as far as possible in the
effort to adjust the matter peaceablv. If
everything tails there is no doubt that ag-
gressive tactics will be pursued, for the
leader of the Federated order, controlling
% 600 employees, is fiatfooted in saying that
they will not give up their existence with
out the sternest kind of fight
The Organizations to Stick Together.
Chairman Clapp said to-day that if this
conflict should be precipitated by President
McLeod's stand the Federation would have
the assistance of every labor organization
in the land, for the very principle of the
" hole labor system would be at stake, and
everything would be lost or won in the
result
1t was called to the attention of Mr..
Clapp that President Mcleod had been
quoted as saving that in case of a strike of
locomotive engineers he could replace them
by iremen, and 200 of the latter were per-
Iectly trained for the positions The Chair
man answered: "That is certainly untrue,
Tor the closest sympathy exists between the
engineers aud firemen, and one would not |
under any circumstances take the place of
the other. 1t may be presumptuous for me
TO say so, but in the conversation we had
with President Mcleod the other day, 1 |
that knew a great deal more |
about the engineers and fremen than he |
did. The two will always work together."
Discharged for Being Union Men.
To-day the committee talked only of the |
injustice which they say the Reading Com
Dany IS trying to impose upon them in its
Effort TO break up the labor organizations
They complain of the compulsion which the
company intends to exercise in forcing
them TO become members of the Reading
Relief Association. One of the committee
men said:
This relief fund gives us a death benefit of
3, 900, ana only provides 81 weeks of dis
ABILITY resulting from accidents on the road.
In the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
-ineere we can get 81, 500 insurance and no
limit of time during which we can. draw
accident benefits. In the relief ASSOCIATION
,he withdrawal of a man from the COM
oany's service or his discharge therefrom
Ieprives him absolutely from receiving any
benefit from the fund. This is not onlv an
injustice, but probably illegal
John A. Bowman, who with William b.
Schaetfer and William Craklow, were dis
charged from the Bound Brook Division of
he Philadelphia and Reading Railroad on
recount of their membership, it is alleged.
IA the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engiu-
,ers, said:
] was one OF the committee that visited
General Manager Sweigard Thursday at the
leading Office, and he told me that there was
10 complaint against anyone o; US exceDt
hat We were members of the Brotherhood |
md that he would cheerfulIy give us letters
u recommendation at any time. He said we
we're three Of the best engineers in the en-
10y of the company, and he offered to re- |
nstate us upon condition that we would
cave the Brotherhood.