Omaha daily bee., 1893-11-19
TO FORCE A RECOGNITION
Employees Of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
Go Out on a Strike.
IT is GENERAL ALONG THE ENTIRE LINE
Futile Attempts of Committees from the
Men to Gain an Audience with
the Roads Umcials Results
In the walkout.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. lS.-A general strike
was ordered on the Lohigh Valley road
tonight. The reason is the company's
refusal to recognize any committee or body
OF men as the representatives of employees of
the road. After repeated attempts maze by
the grand officers of several railway organ
izations to gain audience with the officials of
the road, after u subcommittee from the
general committee sitting at the Bingham
house in this city, composed OF bona fide
employees of the road, had failed TO secure
recognition from the roads highest repre-
sentative in this city-tirst Vice President
Voorhees, further consultation was held
among the grand officers of the organized
train workers, and the order to quit work
was telegraphed to all employees along tEo
line of the road.
Declared n General Strike.
The result was q general strike was de-
clared. The road had begun to get tied up
at 1880 o'clock, and by daylight not n wheel
is expected to BIO moving on any part of the
entire system. Eighteen hundred and ten
men, employed in all the mechanical part of
running a railroad, will be idle at daybreak.
The result of the strike was not unlocked
for by any of the employees, and from the
manner in which the officers of the company
talked today it was not hard to understand
their feelings in the matter, They are not
surprised. Vice President Voorhees, sat in
his office tonight patiently awaiting the in
telligence he knew would come. He ex-
pressed the belief that the men would strike
at Z o'clock, but when that hour passed and
no intelligence was received he made an
other guess and said 12 o'clock. He was not
so well pleased when he got word at 10
o'clock that the strike was on. He accepted
the situation as gracefully as the clrcum-
stances would permit, and used the tele-
graph key in the most vigorous manner pos
sible.
Chairman wilkin Talks.
Chairman wilkins of the strikers commit
tee, when seen tonight relative to the
trouble, said that since the strike had been
declared he was not prepared to make any
statement as to the probable outcome. He
said they had only one point to gain and
this movement was the first step toward
convincing the railroad company that they
intend to make q determined stand upon the
point at issue.
1--WE hope TO succeed" he continued, 'and
it lies with the men themselves whether
they are in earnest or not. We believe they
are. The have volunteered to stop work.
The company has abrogated its agreement
with us made last August. If the the officers
will simply live up to what they have agreed,
no further trouble will ensue. What the
development will be / can not say, as things
must shape their course in this matter.
we will not see any tram abandoned
until it reaches its destination, nor will
we countenance any destruction of any of
the company's property. 1t was the desire
of the men to make u strong fight and win
by all fair means.
Vice President voorhees, Statement.
After the strike had been declared First
Vice President Voorhees, made The follow
ing statement:
Two employees of the Lehigh Valley railroad
called at my house early this morning and
Committee which is in session in the Bingl ann
wheshsr mere could rs ssI" the '" %%ois
M as representing the employees
of the road. l. told them the matter
should be practically taken out my hands by
reason of the correspondence with President
Wilber, and that understood the position of
the company to be that, while the officers
were ready to meet any employees at any time
have to offer. they would not receive them
other than rs employees: urged them re-
or complaints among any employees of the
road and promised them in the name
dismissed without a full and patient investi-
gator. and full hearing. L received assur-
ances that they, knew of but a few, II any,
cases of so-calleu grievances ON the road. The
sole point at issue, so far as can be gathered,
was a demand on the part of the employees
that the company should recognize them as a
representative committee and treat with them
as such. AS this would put questions of dis
cipline out OF the control OF the officers OF the
road it is impossible such a request should be
granted.
Case of the Employees.
The grievance committee issued a long
statement of its side OF the case. 1t recites
the negotiations which have taken place
between the men and the officials, aud in.
sists that Vice President Voorhees, agreed
prior to the %abrogation of the lease of the
Lehigh Valley to the Reading road to give
them all they now ask and that this agree.
ment was subsequently recognized by the
Lehigh Valley officials.
"The complete change of front on the part
Of MIR. Voorhees, the statement goes on, 81:
not, in the minds of the men, accounted fol
in any other way than by the fact tina
higher authority has decreed it should no,
be-
1t is stated by persons who have had al
inkling of what is going on between the mel
and their employers that the whole troubl,
was occasioned by the discharge of Chair
man Hughes Of the Railway Photographers
association. Mr.. Hughes said tonight hi
discharge was but II minor question com
pared with the refusal of recognition bV thu