Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-03-15
SETTLING LABOR DIFFICULTIES.
From Chicago Record.


From Chicago Record.
Vice President Baldwin Of the
Southern railway has furnished an ex-
cellent example for the other railway
managers Of the country 10 dealing
with employees concerning wages and
hours Of work. When the trainmen
Of that road asked an increase Of pay
he did not refuse TO consider their re-
quest or reject it peremptorlly, but
asked two months time to answer it,
which they granted. Then he pro-
ceeded to make an Investigation OF the
condition and compensation Of the
men Of bis road 10 comparison with
the employees OF other roads, WHICH
resulted in the preparation Of an elab-
crate report and the arrangement of a
new schedule equallzing the wages
and hours of work of all the tralnmen
on the system. And when the time
came to give his answer the, commit
tee received it in the form ola priuted
pamphlet, giving also the new sched-
ulc, which he asked them to accept,
aud a statement of the financial con-
dltion Of the road, showing its earn
lngs and expenditures, and n candid
explanation of the reasons why 1t was
impossible to give any incrtaso of pay
in this year.
A copy of this pamphlet was sent to
every employee of the road, and after
they had had time to read and reflect
upon it their committee was invited
to a personal conference which lasted
two or three days, and the whole sub
ject was gone over. The members Of
the committee representing the high
priced men were ready to accept the
schedule at once, but the freight train
crews and the tiremen objected and
the chiefs OF the different brother
hoods were called here for advice.
Mr.. Baldwin did not decline to dis
cuss the affairs OF his road with out
siders, as so many railway managers
have done, but invited them to a CON
ference and went over the whole sub
ject with them at meetings that lasted
two days. They pointed out some de-
fects in the schedule, which he prompt
ly corrected, and asked some modiG-
cations 10 meet the wishes of certain
classes of men, which were made; but
there was no suggestion from any
source that were not carefully consid-
sidered and anwered in a most cour-
teous and candid manner, and before
the conferences ended the new cched-
ules we're accepted and signed by the
authorized representatives OF all the
different brotherhoods
Representative McGann has had the
brotherhood chiefs and several mem
bers of the committee Of employees in
his committee-room today. They re-
lated to him their experience and as
sured him Of their entire satisfaction
with the s6sulte Of the conferences.
"ThiS little incident" said Mr.. Nc
Gam this afternoon, "these negotia-
tlons between MIR. Baldwin and his
employees have lifted the relations
between capital and labor to a higher
plane than has ever been reached be-
fore in such a controversy. The vice
president and the brakemen and fire.
men of the railroad met on an equality
each acknowledging the rights and
the respect due to the other, and con-
sidered the differences between them
as business men discuss propositions
concerning each ether, and not from
the old traditional standpoint of the
boss and the hired man. The methods
that the officers of the Southern rail-
way have adopted in this matter ought
to be commended for imitation by
other corporations and fully appre-
ciated by those who are trying to
elevate the condition of labor in this
country