The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-30

when these facts were brought to
the attention of the men yesterday
morning they felt highly incensed and
declared a strike for tomorrow morn
ing unless Mr.. Silliman accedes to
their demands before then.
I'VE are asking nothing that is not
reasonable. The men agreed unanl-
| mously to abide by the decision OF this
board OF arbitration but they think
1t no more than right that the accused
men be kept Mt their work until final
conclusion is reached. We are simply
acting on the old axiom that a man Is
| innocent until he Is proven guilty.
These men are clamoring to have
| the evidence against them made pub
| lie and are very desirous of having
| their case tested in court. They main
tain that they are absolutely innocent
and the men are inclined to believe
| them. though perfectly willing to ac-
cept them as guilty If the proposed
| board of arbitration should find them
| so.
Not very many weeks ago two con-
ductors were similarly accused and
were discharged. The matter was con-
sidered by the executive committee
ana during n conference with the gen.
eral manager the latter offered TO re-
instate the men If they would submit
to arrest and n criminal prosecution.
This proposition was agreeable to the
| committee. but the accused men
wouldn't agree to it and they quit the
union. Those men we're undoubtedly
guilty
THEY WERE WILLING.
THESE men are willing to be arrest
ed. but the general manager won't
agree to arrest them. We asked him if
the offer he made in the case Of the
other men still held good, and he re-
piled that 1t did not. but gave no rea-
son. We are inclined to believe that
this shows that there is not much
against the two men.
IF we so out on strike tomorrow
morning, 1t will be fight to the finish.
II won't be simply an insistence that
these men be reinstated, If we once
quit work 1t will be a demand for q
thorough understanding with the COM
pany officials as to the agreement
which was signed last winter.
"1f we go out on strike the company
will claim that we are breaking that
agreement. We claim that there isn't
clause in tho agreement that hasn't
already been broken by the company
itself. If we wanted to go into detail
we could point out hundred instances
in which this agreement has been
broken.
The company officials pledged them
selves to keep no extra men on duty at
the main Office after p. m. They are
Keeping them on duty every night until
p. m, despite the fact that their at
tention has been called to this viola
tion time and time again.
The company officials pledged them
selves to discriminate against no men,
ber of the union who might be en-
gagged on committee work. Only this
past week Mr.. Shea, who is the presi-
dent and a member of tho executive
committee. was refused his regular car
one day because he had absented him
self on committee work the day before.
TAKING CARS TO BARN.
"The company officials pledged them
selves to allow the men credit for the
time consumed in taking the cars to
the barn at night. This is not being
done. The last run on most runs is
shortened fifteen minutes, and that
time is counted as the time for the
running to the barn.
THE company officials pledged them
selves to keep no non-union man at
work for period longer than thirty
days before he Joined the union. Only
few weeks ago n non-union man was
kept on for several weeks over the
time limit, despite the complaint and
vigorous objection of the executive
committee. 1t Is useless TO go into any
further details. There isn't clause in
the agreement that hasn't been vio-
lated, as l said before, and some of the
clauses are being violated every day.
THE new men who are being hired
are given the best runs. from finan-
Cial standpoint, and the runs that pan
out the lowest wages are in many in
stances being given to the older hands.
There is no question but that this is
being done to sow dissension in the
ranks of the men.
I'VE hope that the whole affair will
he amicably adjusted tomorrow, but If
1t isn't, we make n fight to the finish.
The men are just as enthusiastic and
just 8 determined as they were when
they struck before, and we are hope
ful of winning out in just about as
short order, if we are forced into a
strike"
The executive committee had a con-
ference with General Manager Sillman
yesterday afternoon, but, according to
statement given out by the commits
tee last night, 1t resulted In practically
nothing. Mr.. Slliman said that he was
not ready to give definite answer to
the proposition submitted to him by
the committee, and did not say
whether he would make reply today
or not.
The men will meet tomorrow morning
at 2SO o'clock, according TO present
plans, and will then receive from the
committee an official announcement OF
Mr.. Silliman's answer. If he agrees to
reinstate the men and submit the ques-
tion to arbitration, there will be no
strike. but If he refuses the demands
or asks for more time, the men will
1nn npTt fnr hni