The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-13
MAY Be TIED UP
Chicago Yardmen Rsadyto Strike
Unless Pay Is Increased.

Chicago, Nov. B.-Practically unani-
nous In favor OF strike is tho vote OF
the Chicago yardmen. who are demand
ing from 10 railroads oentering In Chicago
an increase In pay OF Ave cents an hour.
This statement does not come officially
from any OF the representatives or the
men. but from a reliable source. Only
four votes were cast against the PROPOSE
ton, which is the beginning or a general
campaign for higher wages on Western
roads
This vote does not mean that a strike
Is sure 10 be called" said one OF the
leaders or the Brotherhood OF Railroad
Tralnmen. ION the contrary, every
means will be used to prevent a strike
While the trainmen are disposed 10 go
out II reasonable concessions are not
made TO them. at the same time they will
regret resorting 10 that method of obtain
Ing their demands
Representatives OF the trainmen will
call again upon the management OF the
railroads and lay before them the result
or The. vote that has just been taken"
Final action on the question OF accept
ing or rejecting the offer of 2h cents an
hour for helpers and 3ia cents an hour for
foremen above the present scale will be
taken tomorrow night at a meeting OF
delegates OF the unions. This meeting
will be presided over by w. G.. Lee first
vice grand master OF the Brotherhood OF
Trainmen The business I'm hand will be
the question OF formaltty ratifylng the
views OF the yardmen.
Some OF the committeeman of the
trainmen held a conference at the Sher-
man house yesterday. They seemed TO be
OF the opinion that the railroads would
a q nd 81
rather than face strike which would be
most disastrous to both freight and pas
senger transportation facilities in q large
portion OF the country
The wording OF the cards sent out by
the committee OF trainmea for the vote
Just taken indicates that the men will
not hold out stubbornly for the full In
crease demanded. These cards simply ex-
press a demand for a higher scale than
the one offered.
It is believed that the railroads will
make an offer TO increase the pay of
helpers three cents an hour and of fore
men four cents an hour, and that the
men will accept those terms. These
figures would bring the scale in the Chi
,ago district slightly higher than the St
Paul Minneapolis scale.
The history OF the movement Is briefly
his; Two weeks ago the yard men in the
Chicago switching district presented a
demand to the is roads for an increase
N wages OF five cents an hour. The
OF these roads replied to this
demand, offering 10 give the helpers an
ldNanca- at IA --eeffts- -af4a-tife- -foreffert an
ADVANCE OF 80 cents an hour
Committees of the yard men considered
The offers of the roads, rejected them,
and sent out cards for a referendum vote
rom every one of the 5000 members OF the
union affected. The last OF the ballots
we're In today. A count showed tnat
he judgment of the committees had been
sustained
The present scale of twenty cents |
IN hour for day foremen. twenty nine
cents for night foremen, twenty-five
cents for day swtchmen and twenty
seven cents for night switchmen, has |
been in force for more than ten years
RI was framed when the engines on the
road were small. the cars in train few
and the work IN the yards light. The
present movement is the first OF It's Kind
in the West