New-York tribune., 1902-12-31
TO END L. p. STRIKE.
Conferences Held IN the Office Of
President Burt.

Notwithstanding the ignorance professed for
the last two days at the office Of the Union I'd
cific Railroad. No. 120 Broadway, of any I'M
pending conference with labor men over the
strike in the shops of the railroad at Omaha
Neb a preliminary conference took place be-
tween Horace @. Burt president OF the COM
pany and committee of labor men yesterday.
II was learned further that this conference had
f,aen arranged for by the officials of the railroad
and the officers of the unions involved in the
strike several days ago and that it was called
with view if possible, to bring about settle
ment of the strike. which in spite OF assertions
If tho cornnanv to the contrary is likely to Grip
ple its resources if it is not speedily settled
The conference took place in the Office OF
Mr. Burt at No. 40 Broadway, and WAS con-
Quoted in a friendly spirit. The labor commit
tee consisted of James oConnell, president OF
the international Association Of Machinists
John Mcneil president Of the International
brotherhood OF Boilernlakers; John Slocum
president of the International Brotherhood of
Y5lacksmiths: T. L. Wilson, fourth vice-presi-
dent Of the machinis1s' organiza ton; District
President Kennedy, of the Boilermakers' Union,
Of Omaha and the district president Of the
Boilerrnakers' Helpers Union, of the same city
The trades represented by these unions are at
present involved in the strike.
The strike took place on June IL, owing TO
the introduction of piecework by president
Burt The effect on the roads was very marked
in a few months. and delays in freights TO the
Pacific Coast occurred. sometimes as long as
from fifteen TO twenty-five days, on account OF
locomotives going without repairs. Attempts to
fill the places of the strikers failed, most of
the new were cajoled away by the unions
day or two after they were employed.
After the strike had been on for some time
demands for higher wages were made, but at
yesterdays conference the only demand con-
sidered was the abolition Of piecework The
labor committee took the stand that under a
piecework system the work turned out in a day
by man who is exceptionally swift is set as a
standard. Sometimes standard practically I'M
POSSIBLE for most workers TO follow in day is
adopted the committee held, and therefore only
exceptionally fast workers can have any guaran-
tee Of good wages. Pay by the week or the
day the. committee considered the fairest.
Nothing was decided on at the conference,
which was adjourned to Friday. when, it is the
belief Of the labor men, an amicable settlement
will be reached. James O'Connell, who is chair
man of the committee, returned to his head
quarters in Washington after the conference,
and will be here again tomorrow evening or
early Friday morning. Committeeman Wilson
was seen later, but declined to talk for publ
cation. An officer of one Of the unions involved
in the trouble said:
We have every hope that the trouble will
he settled If not, the strike will be extended
TO the other roads in the system Of which the
railroad is part. We think that will not be
necessary, as the conference was friendly in
tone. and latterly some of the railroad
panies, by voluntarily increasing the wages of
the men in the trains, have shown disposition
10 be friendly 10 the unions"
As to the calling Of the conference he said:
This conference duly arranged before
hand by the officials Of the company and the
representatives Of the strikers It would hardly
be likely that men would come over a thousand
miles, as some members of the committee have
done unless a conference had been arranged"
The only one who could be seen at the offices
of the railroad representative Of Z. H.
Harriman's secretary. who said he had been
instructed 10 say that there was no news TO
give out Mr.. Hartman is understood TO be
the real power behind the throne