The Indianapolis journal., 1893-11-22
President Wilbur Announces that He Is
Willing TO Hear Complaints
from Any Department.
STRIKE MAY BE EXTENDED
Threat that the Reading Men May
Assist Their Brethren.
Appeal from Grand Master Sargent
P0wderly ExOnerated - X. of l..
Headquarters May Be Removed.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 21.-Through traf-
nc on the Reading has been greatly impeded
by the LehiSh Valley complications. No
through trains are being run from here to
either Buffalo or Jersey City. The employ
es of the Lehigh system claim to have
matters all their own way now. Recent
intelligence from the Representatives all
over the system indicate a stronger feeling
in favor of the strike. On the other hand,
the officials of the company say that be-
fore many hours have passed they will be
ready to equip the trains with full forces of
men.
John ]. Mammalian stated tonight that his
advice to the Reading officials would be to
let the Lehigh alone in this fight, as it may
have the effect of tying up that line also.
He says that he does not mean this as a
threat, but organization among the Reading
men is just as strong that on the Lehigh.
A. p. Bedford, Of Scranton, superintend-
eAt of the Farmers Dairy Dispatch, called
on the strike committee for the purpose of
entering a protest against sidetracking a
train loaded with fifteen thousand quarts of
milk consigned to this city. The sidetrack-
ing occurred at Athens, after the
train had been made up and
was ready TO proceed to this
city, when orders were received from the
strike committee. telling them not to haul
anything. Mr.. Bedford says that the train
is owned by the Dairy Dispatch, and that
a crew had volunteered to run it in for
him. and not for the Lehigh Valley. The
committee refused TO do anything for him.
This circumstance and similar ones has
had the effect of creating a milk famine
here. To-day wholesalers were getting 10
be able to demand any price above that
figure.
President Wilbur issued the following
bulletin to-day ito all employees" which is
understood to be the company .ultimatum:
ITO correct any misapprehension regard
ing the position of the officers of this COM
pany, 1 would state that they are at all
times ready and willing to give a patient
hearing to complaints on the part of it's
employees or any number of them in any
department. If dissatisfied with the con-
clusions reached by the division superin-
tendent. the president will hear their cases
and decide. All employees who may fail TO
report for duty on or before tomorrow,
Wednesday noon, Will be regarded as haV-
ing left the service of the company, and all
such will be paid in full as soon as the pay
rolls can be made up. Men failing 10 come
forward and receive their wages will re-
ceive no consideration in reorganizing the
train service"
When the strikers read President VIII
bur's bulletin they looked upon it as a sort
Of olive branch, and the grievance commit
tee, in session at the Bingham House, was
particularly jubilant over it. The men,
bers of the committee announced unofficial
ly that they would not accept Mr.. Wilbur 5
proposition to present their grievances in
the manner suggested by him, and Il. II.
Clarke, grand chief conductor of the Order
of Railroad Conductors, speaking for the
committee, issued counter bulletin of con-
sid 10 long in TaQ he
entire question at issue between the officers
and men