The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-25
MANAGER ASHLEY'S VIEWS
He InSinuates that Chief Engineer
Arthur sNOta Law.Abiding Citlz n,
And Also Says the Employees of the Ana ArbOr
Railway DO Not Receive Grinding Prices"
The Strike May Spread.

TOLEDO. March a.-Gencral Manager H.
North Michigan railroad. makes the fol.
lowing reply to Chief Arthurs statement.
sent out last night:
Since Mr.. Arthur has made the merits of the
differences between the Brotherhood OF LocOmO-
tive Engineers and this road of public interest
1t seems my duty TO state the facts from the
other point OF view. This company Jays all its
freight enginemen So. 90 per hundred miles, and
over time after fourteen hours at 80 cents per
hour. The men are not classified. This is @.
road in Michigan, except the Michigan Central
Ninety per cent of the engnemen run freight
passenger service; of these two remained with
the company, and are still at work They ex-
press themselves as satisfied. The men on thess
runs earn from Isl. ZOO TO $l .4UO per year, for
service of eight hours or less day. on trains of
two or three cars scheduled at twenty-four miles
per hour. This work is considered the most de-
sirable on the road. The freight cnginenen all
earn between 800 and $40 per month. This is
what Mr.. Arthur calls the grinding prices"
We have between 100 and l.200 applications
for the privilege OF being ground" at these
prices but the members of this order, who do
not want to work for these wages, have sought,
by purchase, intimidation and boycott To deprive
others of the right TO do so. Yet he advertises
that the brotherhood is law abiding society-Or-
ganized for the moral and social advantage Of
its membe~
On Sunday. Feb. 20. less than twenty out OF a
total of forty-six members or the brotherhood
u
j0rity OF those present determined To make de-
mands for more pay and new rules. These de-
mands were refused They claim. and members
OF the brotherhood have testified in court that
neither a strike nor "a boycott can he effective
without Mr.. Arthur's order or consent. 1t seems
immaterial by what name he exercises his ar-
thOrity; ii Is not denied that such conspiracy
cannot be made effective except with his APP
prevail The men themselves speak of it
rfhur On Ts nnas
strike and boycott, not only with q knowledge
that both were Illegal. but with the knowledge
that the United States court had issued man
datOry Injunction To his men on connecting lines
not to refuse To handle Ann Arbor cars Yet Mr..
Arthur advertises himself as n law-abiding citi-
pears that he was the chief party to the con-
spiracy. either to force the Ann Arbor company
TO pay the wages and submit to the rules he
thought reasonable or 20 ruin the industry OF
every corporation or private person who was de-
pendent upon its railroad for the transportation
or his goods.
/ do not understand that the desirability or le-
gality OF organized labor is in question. The
discussion raises the question only of the right
OF men to labor not as they may elect. and OF
the right of other men who do not belong TO
organization TO engage in rheir places. The
right OF men to quit the service OF the company,
In any manner and at any time which does not
endanger lives or property, have always been
conceded, but they have denied the right OF
others TO perform the same service at the rate Of
pay refused by them. and have individually and
collectively destroyed property, placed the bust
ness of innocent and outsde persons in jeopardy.
and made themselves TeloDs IL the eyes OF the
law In order to accomplish their purpose. Yet
Mr. Arthur continues to advertise himself as
law-abiding citizen.
This afternoon Manager Ashley offered
81. 200 reward for the apprehension or con-
victlon of the person or persons who caused
the derailment of q passenger train near
Owosso on Wednesday night. switch
lock was broken, the switch thrown and
switch.
report is In circulation here tonight
that President GOmpers of the American
Federation of Labor. will come to Toledo.
and it has greatly encouraged the men.
who have great confidence in him. There
has been talk of the Ann Arbor freight
handlers. even down to the Polish
coal shOvelers going out SO as
strikers think that Mr. r
have something to do with starting such q
movement. They also say that large
number of coal handlers. who were laid Off
for lack of work q few weeks before the
hack to- WORK asked :"
so. Chief Arthur has sent word
that he will be here Sunday afternoon.
There is a possibility of still more trouble
with the men. conductor has been dis
charged. tie says he was let go because he
symDathized too earnestly with the en-
glneers to suit the Ann ArDOr company.
The other conductors are said to be as
heartily in sympathy with them. and I'M
less the company presents more valid reason
for his dismissal they say they will be CON-
PEELED to take notice of the matter.
The strikers have sent a notice to the
Commissioner of Railways OF Michigan al.
leging that the Ann Arbor Is daily break
ing the law which compels all trains to
come 20 q dead stop before crossing at
functions. They say the nonunion en-
kineers know nothing Of the rules OF the
company or the laws of the State.
Regarding the dItching of the train at
Owosso. late Thursday night. the strikers
here insist that it was not participated IN
by any of them, but probably by some of
their hOt-headed sympathiZers. They say
that the Detroit, Grand Haven az Milwan-
kee switch is at the same place. and that it
Is possible that one of that company's
trainmen caused the mischief.