Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-03-18
THE SETTLEMENT REFUSED.
why the Engineers of Ann Arbor Road
Refused Terms offered.


TOLEDO, O., March 17.-Grand Chief
Arthur and Grand Master Sargent have
furnished the following statement to
the Associated Press as TO the reason
why the plan for settlement OF the
Ann Arbor strike agreed upon between
President Ashley and VIM. Kirby State
Railroad Commission was not accepted
by the engineers and firemen.
Mr. Kirby gave US TO distinctly un-
derstand after his first conference with
Mr.. Ashley that the engineers and fire-
men who went out on strike would be
restored TO their former positions with
out prejudice; that he wanted his old
men hack again and that was settled II
we could agree upon the rate OF wages.
After submitting our proposition OF
wages II was rejected by Mr.. Ashley,
Mr.. Kirby returning with the rate
which Mr.. Ashley was willing 10 grant.
We took them up, discussed them and
submitted as our ultlmatum the present
rates embodied in the agreement signed
by Mr.. Kirby and President Ashley.
On reading the document over care
fully we found that Mr.. Kirkby OF his
own volition, without consultation with
Mr.. Ashley, inserted an article reading
as follows:
"Third-Itis is my decision that the
late employees Of the operating depart
ment of the Toledo, Ann Arbor and
North Michigan Railway Company who
NAV desire to re-enter It's service shall
make application in writing to the su-
perintendent OF motive power at
Owosso, Mich; applications to be con-
sidered IN the order received and such
applicants when notified shall be as
signed to duty without prejudice"
This clause was contrary to instfuc-
tions we gave Mr.. Kirkby, as IL would
place our men entirely at the mercy oil
the master mechanic, in whom Mr..
Kirkby stated 70 US be 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 ia lieu
thereof the following:
"Article Sit is my decision that the
late employees Of the operating depart
ment OF the Toledo, Ann Arbor aud
Northern Michigan Railway who went
out on strike shall be reiDstated 70
their former positions without preju-
dice"
In that case we would accept the
agreement and declare the strike of.
He had another conference with Mr..
Ashley and returned, informing US that
Mr.. Ashley would hot make the change;
after which the committee representing
the engineers and fremen had confer.
ence with President Ashley and his son,
the General Manager, at which they re.
ouested them 70 make the change and
they would sign the agreement and end
the strike. They declined TO grant the
request. informing the committee thai
the matter had been thoroughly discuss
ed by Mr. KirkbY and themselves, which
proved concluslyely 70 Us that Mr..
Kirkby had misrepresented the case
TO US.
All honorable efforts having failed "a
effect a settlement. nothing remained
for Us to do. bat TO continue the strike.
We are still ready and willing to leave
that question in dispute 70 any three
general managers 10 Toledo and abide
by the decision. We regret exceedingly
the necessity OF continuing the strug'
gle, but 10 justice TO the men we rep
resent we could not do otherwise.