New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-16
PRESIDENT M'L4EOD on THE OUTBREAK.
HE EXPLAINS THE SITUATION AS TO WAGES

PRESIDENT M'L.EOD on THE OUTBREAK.
HE EXPLAINS THE SITUATION AS TO WAGES
TIE COMPANY WILL NOT YIELD.
Philadelphia, Aug. i5-Thc strike on the Len'sn
Valley Railroad while viewed with seriousness Dy inc
Reading MANAGEMENT, occasions no apprehension ~ 10
the outcome Men In numbers more than suindent 70
ill the naees Of the strikers have been secured, they
saw and thus there has been no absolne stoppasc
Of traffic Three fregh. trains were moved this morn
Ing None OF the pelishabe freight has been stoppee
In an interview this afternoon President McLeoo
furnished some interesting Information resh0ins 'ne
strike
aro understand inteHigently the situation 81
Rufr,lo IS he explained you must know that Buhaio
IS the dividing line between the Western roads ana
trunk lines Both concentrate there and that POM
forms the geographical iine between the western ana
Eastern railway systems. II likewise supplies the
line of differing conditions between the Eastern ana
Western roads. The roads west OF Bunalo get higher
rates for traffic the classifcnt!ons are higher; every
thing Is on higher SCALE and the cost Of living to the
railway employees: hence they are paid higher wages
than are paid in the East
"some years ago the labor organizations starting
nj Chicago began movement for higher wages along
the Western lines moving eastward IN their worn OIL
agitation One by one they took In the various rail-
road yards until Buffalo was finally reached Here
the two systems meet, and here as ut Chicago, the
employees Of the Western roads got higher wages be-
cause the Western roads receiving better rates. can
afford TO pay the difference The walking deiegate
Jumped at the opportunity and urged equalization OF
wages Notwithstanding the widely differing condi IONS
When the demand for an advance was MADE 10 the
Eastern roads at Buffalo, all declined to accede except
The Delaware. Lackawanna and Western. which
granted the advance although In so doing It exercised
manifest discrimination against Its other employees IN
Che East.
Although the Leligh Valley declined to meet the
demands OF the men when the road was separate
organizations they renewed them when the ioad was
leased by the Reading personally Investigated the
matter and decided that we could not grant the al
vance without raising the wages of our men In New
York. Philadelphia Reading and everywhere else on
our system, which, under the circumstances, was
unwarrantcd. To have done so would have been un'
Just to the rest Of our people. on our declining ne
strikers held meeting on July % at waverly. What
occurred there may be cleaned from this chapter OF
The proceedings:
"The Worthy Master says that the present occasion
would be good one to decide how tho strike should
be conducted Mcnamara says he vas In favor OF
using force should II become necessary to 40 So Iha
his plan would be to cars oil the track. 20 through
the yard and knock holes into engine tanks, cut hose
etc. 50 as TO disable engines Murray, Smith and
others spoke against too much violence; agreed, how
ever, that little would be good thing
Mcnamara further said the plan OF tho strike was
to have a named Cross big reckless fellow from
Buffalo, and one two Others from there, take charge
Of this end. The strike would be declared mt mid
night. The Buffalo men had given their word that
all arrangements had boon made 10 ln OF the track
and wreck freight and coal enough from II O'CLOCK
midnight up to a. m. to block up the whole rood
for a week. the yard full Of cars. lie (Alc'
Namara) thought there should be something done ut
this end Of the line, that cars should be sent
over the Erie road the Delaware, Lackaw;nna and
Western They had the assurance of the other six
roads running into Bualo that they would not handle
Il car OF the Philadelphia and Reading, and the Erie
had the question of wages before them and
could I've depended upon To stand by the Philadelphia
and Reading switcLmen. Sweeny said he did not
expect TO get the advance without short struggle
but was confident Of winning. Sweeny promised
them that they would receive their wages sink the
organization.
1T Is significant to note" said Mr.. Mcleod,
"that those threats Of July ~ were carried
out yesterday. our were wrecked and
burned. and the worst kind OF hwlessness prevailed
| need only add that there thousands OF competent
rrady TO go 10 work for us IN Buffalo, who
deferred only by threats OF violence. All we ask Is
the protection OF the local authorities and this,
sure. will be furnished. In fact, am Just informed
that the sheriff Of Bradford County, Penn. with fifty
men, Il now IN charge OF our yard ut sayre, Penn.
| have no doubt Of the outcome. We certain TO
win"
When asked whether he would make any concessions
10 the demands Of the strikers, President Mcleod
swered. cmphacaly, mo, SIR"