The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-18
THE ~ENGINMMks, SIDE
OF tho Ann Arbor strIko-ChieF Arthur
Issues astatement of the Matter.

OF tho Ann Arbor strIke-ChieF Arthur
Issues statement of the Matter,
TOLEDO, ONO, March lz-Grand Chief
Arthur and Grand Master Sargent have
furnished the following statement to the
Associated Press as TO tho reason why
tho plan for u settlement of the Ann
Arbor strike agreed upon between
President Ashley and William Kirby
OF the state railroad commission, was
not accepted by the engineers and fire.
men:
"Mr. Kirby gave us to distinctly
understand after his first conference
with Mr.. Ashley that the engineers and
firemen who went out on strike would
be restored TO their former positions
without prejudice; that he wanted his
old men back again and that was settled
if we could agree upon the rate OF
wages. After submitting Il propo-
sition of wages, it was rejected by Mr..
Ashley. Mr.. Kirby returning with the
rate which Mr.. Ashley was willing to
grant, we took them up, discussed them
and submitted as our ultimatum the
present rates embodied in the agree
ment signed by Mr.. Kirby and Presi-
dent Ashley,
"On reading the document over care
fully we found that Mr.. Kirby, Of his
own volition, without consultation with
Mr., Ashley, inserted an article reading
us follows;
"EThird-It is my decision that the
late employees OF tho operating depart
ment OF the Toledo, Ann Arbor Il North
Michigan Railway Company who may
desire to re-enter its service shall make
application in writing to the superin-
tendent Of motive power at Owosso,
Mich. applications to be considered in
the order received and such applicants
when notified shall be assigned to duty
without prejudice
"This clause was contrary to instruc-
tons we gave Mr.. Kirkby as it would
place our men entirely at the mercy Of
the master mechanic in whom Mr..
Kirkby stated % us he had no conf.
dence whatever and intended TO have
him removed. We urged Mr.. Kirkby as.
he had inserted the foregoing of his own
vOlition and without consultation with
Mr.. Ashley to insert in lieu thereof the
following:
"'Article 8. 1t is my decision that
the late employees of the operating de-
partment OF the Toledo, Ann Arbor
& Northern Michigan railway company
who who went out on n strike shall be
reinstAted to their former positions
ithou p~raiu1innI
'Iu that case wo would accept the
agreement and declare the strike off.
He had another conference with Mr..
Ashley and returned informing us that
Mr.. Ashley would not make the change.
After which the committee represent
ing the engineers aud iremen had n
conference with President Ashley and
his son, the general manager, at which
they requested themto make the change
and they would sign the agreement and
end the strike. They declined to grant
the request, informing tile committee
that the matter had been thoroughly
discussed by Mr.. Kirkby and them
selves, which proved cOnClusively TO us
that Mr.. Kirkby had misrepresented
the case to lis.
"All honorable efforts having failed
to effect n settlement, nothing remained
for us to do but to continue the strike.
VIZ are stiil ready and willing to leave
that question in dispute to any three
general managers in Toledo and abide
by tho decision. We regret exceeding
ly the necessity OF continuing the
struggle, but, in justice to the men who
represent, we could not do otherwise"