The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-07-25
TONNES CALLERS.
They Wanted to Call the
Strike Off.
Railway Union Men and Citizens of
Oakland Intercede for the Strilk-
ing Workmen.

Yesterday might have appropriately been
termed committee day at the Offices Of the
Southern Pacific, as the board officials of the
road spent a good portion OF their time IN
listening to propositions and suggestions from
two different delegations from across the bay.
The first TO call was a committee represent
ing the merican Railway Union, consisting of
MesSTS. Elliott. WatknsOn, Fair, Forester and
BaIeman. The officials of the railroad pre- >ent
were Vice President Croker, General Manager
TOwne, General superintendent Fillmore, and
MIR. ToWne'S assistant, w. 5. Curtis.
"WeH, MI. T0Wne," said the committeeman.
1--WE have called 10 see you this morning with
regard To the matter OF declaring OF the strike,
about the matter. We are ready 10 meet the
thing half way"
Mr.. Towne replied that there is no half way
about il.
There isn't, eh ?" said the other. "Well, these
gentlemen could probably give you more infor-
nation than [ cOud.a
In response 10 a question, the committee
man said: "My name is Forester. |
represent with Watkinson and Fair the Oak
land union; the other TWO gentlemen, Elliott
and Bateman, represent the san francisco
union. The proposition we were sent here TO
make is that we are in a position to declare this
strike off on the entire system If the employees
who were such previous to his strike will be
reinsIated without prejudice, excepting those
who may be convicted of crime i'll connection
with this strike. That Is the proposition we
have TO make, and that is ALL We await any
answer you may see fit 10 make with pleasure"
Have you not seen the statements I'D The
newspapers showing under what conditions the
men could 90 20 woIk?" asked Mr.. Towne.
1--WE have seen them from time TO time but
we thought it better 10 have something differ
ent from the heaas OF this division or this de-
partment in relation to this matter; something
definite. OF course we cannot place reliance
on everything we see In the papers"
IL don't know that there is any objection
TO you boys seeing what we have already said
to the public" said Mr.. Towne. 1--WE have no
objection to repeating what has already been
said, which is as follows:
The company Will employ, in addition to
those now i'll the service and the few who are
coming TO us under engagement. such men as
we may need in train and other service, who
have not during tue strike, Willfully damaged
railroad property, or fOrciby prevented our
employees from performing their usual and
regular duties. each case to be considered
separately and upon individual application,
and 10 be disposed OF according to the merits
of the applicant. The company VIII b. careful
that 40 individual suffers wrong or injustice at
its hands. Beyond this the men must trust 10
the leniency of the company
"Since you are all here, however, boys, l
want to ask you one question. AS you have all
trouble, or no grievance against the Southern
Pacific Company, would like to ask why you
went out on a strike? Why did you leave our
company
Il will try to state, Mr.. Towne," said the COM
mitteemaD, ''our reasons for going out as near as
can. OF course, when man joins an organiZa-
ton of any kind, either labor organization or
fraternal organization, 1t is natural enough
to suppose that he must live up to the ODliga-
tons he takes. No doubt in the world you may
say that this is very unfortunate, but in going
out in this organization we did not think we
were on the eve of such serious affair. How
ever, being in il, we were compelled, as mem
bers and as men, 10 live up TO those obligations;
we had 10 60 out. That is as near as can
think of so far as L KNOW"
'Were you not in any way obligated to Us,
under whom you had worked for so many
years. and always being so well paid and fairly
treated Pr
"Undoubtedy we were."
"Oh, but l suppose that was a secondary
consideration 2" said the general manager.
mo, not entirely. But Mr.. Towne. we did
not expect to have any such trouble as this.
In other words, We did not join this organiza-
for the Southern Pacific Company"
'In other words, you expected that the COM
pany would yield TO your demands?"
mo; no such thing as that. That was
farthest from our thoughts. We simply joined
that organization for The purpose of redressne
any wrongs tnsd may come up in The near
future"
After this interview the representatives of
the A. r. U. retired. ana large delegation of
Oakland's citizens, headed by Mayor Pardee.
was uShered in.
The Mayor acted as spokesman, and stated
that they bad called to try 10 effect settle
ment between the railroad and its employees in
the city mentioned, by which the men could
once more resume ther work.
The only reply these gentlemen received was
In the form of a copy Of the terms outlined
above, from which, they were assured, the
company would not devlate.
One OF The committee stated afterward that
he had given up all hope of doing anything for
the men, and that he thought they would simply
have TO take their chances as individuals In
h