The record-union., 1894-07-02
REPLY FROM MIR. TowNE.
To Resolutions nf Oakland American
Railway Union Members.

REPLY FROM MR.. TOWNE.
To Resolutions nf Oakland American
Railway Union Members.
SAN FRANcIsCo. July IA. n. Towne,
General Manager of the Southern Pacific
Company. yesterday replied a follows to
the address sent to him by the Oakland
members of the American Railway
Union:
SAN FRANCISCO, June 80, 1894.
G. ID. Bishop, Secretary, Local Union
No. $40, 4. r. o., Oakland, Cdt.-DEAR
SIR: Your communications of the 29th, re-
citing causes and reasons, from your
standpoint, which led up to the present
strike, is duly received, and | note par
ticularly that portion of your resolution,
which no doubt was made in good faith,
wherein you say:
''We will endeavor to conduct our fight
SO as not to conflict with the rights of
others"
In the preamble preceding the resolu-
ton you announce that the employees of
the Pullman Company, having suffered
from unjust and oppressive treatment at
the hands OF the Pullman Company, you
had therefore declared boycott on all
Pullman cars.
Now, whom you stop to consider that
the Southern Pacific Company owns by
cars in its service, and the members of
your organization arbitrarily refuse to
move these cars i'll our trains, by what
system OF sound reasoning can IL be con-
| tended that you are not dong exactly
| what you have publicly resolved not to
do-that is, conducting yourselves in
manner that most emphatically conflicts
with the rights of others? Are our rights
not to be respected in this matter? Are
n n nt
our business just as any good bus
ness man would desire to conduct
his? Are we not TO be permitted
to carry out the terms of our contracts
which we have solemnly entered into, or
must we ignore our sacred legal obliga-
tions and be drawn into controversy
with which we have no concern and
which we cannot adjust, and be forced to
take issue with Mr.. Pullman by joining
with your organization in an endeavor to
convince him that he has been wrong in
handling his workmen, 5000 miles away
and that you are right, when we know
absolutely nothing about the matter
Yet, even if we did, manifestly it would
be none of our business. 1t might with
equal consistency be urged by Mr.. Pull
man that not member ofyour organiza-
ton should form part of one of our train
| crews. under penalty of his depriving us
of the privilege of his service. The alb
surdity Of such demand needs no COM
ment.
| When you say you wish to conduct
| yOar fght as not to conflict with the rights
Of others, we earnestly hope you are sim
cere in this resolve, although we are at a
loss to know just why there should be
any fight, as we are quite sure that our
employees have always been treated with
kind indulgence, most literally at all
times and with the utmost consideration.
In fact if it were within our power to ad-
just the differences bringing about the
present controversy, we know our en-
ployes sincerely believe that there would
not be moments delay in disposing of
the question, just as we have repeatedly
done, when committees of your estab-
| lished organizations have heretofore called
upon us, and in no case have they been
sent away empty-handed, for whenever
! any difference has arisen between our
men and ourselves, it has been adjusted
amicably.
| Now, in the name of all that is right
and fair between man and man, we ask
of you why we should be forced into the
breach in this controversy and COM
PEELED to sacrifice hundreds of thousands
| of dollars; the public made to suffer un-
necessary hardship, simply because your
organization claims to be fighting for
principle. though just what principle Of
right is sought to be established that will
interfere with our conducting our busi-
ness in our own way and just as it has
always been conducted, for the public
comfort and convenience. is difficult to
imagine.
In conclusion, will say that your or
ganization is attempting to do that which
it certainly has no right to do, and is
doing that which it publicly resolves not
to do, when it attempts to deprive us of
the right to operate our railroad in a way
that best subserves the requirements of
the travelling public, and when it at
tempts to force US to take sides in a con-
troversy in which we have no part and
no interest," therefore, permit me to sug-
gest in answer TO your communication.
which you say will be furnished to all
San Francisco papers, that the members
OF your organization should consider
calmly this serious matter in all its as
poets, TO the end that justice may be done
10 you and to ourselves. letting other
people fight their own battles and letting
us take care of our own. Yours very
truly, A. n. TowNE.