The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-05-29
ARBITRATION LETTERS.
President Whitaker Replies 10 La
bor Commissioner.

Labor Commissioner T. Z. RIxey sent
copies OF the following letter yesterday
morning TO President Edwards whitaker
OF the 81. Louis Transit Company and T.
i. Edwards, chairman OF the Grievance
Committee Of the railway employees union:
Dear SiT-four attention is respectfully direct
cd 20 chapter II. article =. sections Sa.. si3s.
slS9 STAG. slE OF the Revised Statutes Of Nils
souri, as applicable 10 the present dispute exist
ing between the 81. Louis Transit Company and
its employees.
In accordance with said law YOU are hereby
requested To suggest the of two suitable
persons 10 act as arhitIa,ors proyi..ed IN said
section sl53. Failing 10 comply with this request
within tw-nty-rour hours. shall make the ap-
pointments a. provided by law.
The statutes referred to- said Ny
RiNey, provide that in case OF = strike
in which not less than ten persons are con-
cerned the Labor Commissioned SHALL with
IN thfte days. put himself in communiCa-
tion with the employer and employees and
tndtaVor by mediation to effect an AMIGA
Bile sett!, between them OF 10 persuade
them Ia submit the matter In dispute to Il
Board of Arbitration for adjustment The
employer shall choose two a:bitratorS en-
gagged in the same line Of business him
SEX. the employees two arbiirators and the
Labor Commissioner vii! act chairman
OF the Arbir ration Board.
The object of these meetings Is 10 IN
qulre into the matter in dispute, and the
Labor Commissioner Will make public th-,
evidence gathered. II either party refuse 20
s'llt .Et GFnilf3tOrS WltnlH twertN-fDUr
hours after being notified, the Labor Com
missioner has power 10 make the appoint
merits
Chairman OF the Grievance Committee T.
Il. Edwards said that the strikers have al!
along been willing To submit their differ
CnccS with the company Ia arbitration. hut
that Pres dent Whitaker and his attorneys
have always refused to consider the prop
osit on. saying that there WAS nothing 10
arbitrate.
In response 10 Mr. Rixey's letter Presi-
,i,,,, t,.lf, LOTT.
the Labor Commissioner:
Dear sir-Your favor Of the 18th inst is at
icn direct my attention TO chapter ~. article
s, e9ens siS' to s,tl both inclusive OF the Re,
present dispute ex:sting between the 81. Louis
beg 70 say iha, there is no such dispute
istns; Ever employe ef the company is con;
asks only that The pghe au.horitIes Protect him
he II his s,, natural h az aEd m right to earn
We are ,sving some trouble in operating our
estS' but uis IS .cass the cars wAen not urd-r
attacked by lawess persons. and both employees
End passengers are opposed 10 Ieril Of their
lis. I. hoTeyer. I, not a subject Of arbitration
ne violence only as thing TO he sl- pressed
1t is true that May some men then in the
employ OF the transit company dema"c:ed that
IN Amalga mated Association Of street Railway
They also demanded that thereafter no one shSuIi
he employed wno was not member OF that
sociation.
70 these demands the q rec,ors Of the com
pany refused to sccede. believing that the mat
ter was one which employees had righ. to deter
straint upon any man insisting that he forfeited
nothing Of bis natural rights or liberty by fea-
Of entt.ins into the service Of the transit
Eecause these demands wor. refused. tie men
who made them quit the service OF the company.
We recognize their right TO quit for any reason.
or for no reason at all. Having quit of their own
free will. they are not emp!oyts OF the transit
company. Other men have taken their places,
and are performing faithful and efficient service
under circumstances Of great difficulty and dan
ger
now that these men shat! be discharged; but
this question ls not made the sun,egt Of asbitra-
mar. % pursue lawful calling s. an absolute
one II he and It's emnloysr are agreed there, is
The work Of movine street cars has not been
r'ef in It's employ sufficient to move ali It's cars
seG G b and M vacr We nfsced b
i.,rsons not In the employ OF the company. Rut
ron % the Dnbiic auth@rios not upon fi Ii" transit @
1gr&any st, an We ,esTet as. as much as YOU can that
trust that the sentiment in favor Of law and
Urier all tn" circumstances We feel constrained
t. ask you TO name the PARTIES to the other side
s!lrp. the Gu. stiors of Dispute difference 10
.l , ,tfd III f. r;, u. .rhtratGrs b Enon yoar d?ng
ton and rsturn proinpt answer: ,,
~ a he r,ri,.ers o, o.. t'f rNaGu,.'c S4Uniee
Hall for the purpose of considering the
letter sent them by Labor Commissioner
Rixey and deciding upon the arbitra tors
called for by his letter.
The conference lasted about an hour and
then adjourned until o'clock this morning
1t was stated that the union was perfectly
willing to comply with the directions con-
tanned in the Commissioners letter and
would do so to-day if other action was
suggested. The adjournment was taken for
the purpose of enabling the union to OBJ
tain men who would be qualified TO act un-
der the law under which Mr.. Rlxey proposes
TO proceed.