New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-08-11
NO AID FOR THE ENGINEERS
OTHER UNIONS WOULDN'T HELP ELE-
VATED EMPLOYEES IN STRIKE
BITTER FEELING AGAINST THE BROTHER
HOOD. WHICH THEY CHAFGE WITH
Ess-cONFERENCE
WITH SKITT TO-DAY

The grievance committee of the motormen en-
gineers and iremen on the elevated roads,
which had daily conferences most of last week,
in the Broadway Central Hotel took day off
yesterday. AT the hotel it was said that neither
Vice-Chief Youngson of the Brotherhood of Lo-
comotive Engineers nor Vice-Chief Wilson of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, who
left the city Saturday evening, was expected
back before to-day.
While no official appointment was made by the
two vice-chiefs with Vice-President Skitt of the
Manhattan Railway Company. both Of them
seemed to take IT as assured thing on Satur-
day night that Mr. Sktt would be willing to
and confer with them. If the programme
arranged for on Saturday is carried out. the
entire grievance committee viii go with the two
vice-chiefs TO Ny. Skitt's office.
Il was learned Yesterday that the labor unions
here are unfriendly to the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers and are not likely 10 join in
my sympathetic movement in case OF a strike
OF the motOrmen and engineers The Brother
hood is charged with being an utterly selfish
organization, which had held aloof from other
unions and allowed railroad strikes to be lost
rather than strike in sympathy with switch
men trainmen. Many members Of the Ec-
centric and Standard Engineers Union are en-
ployed in the Manhattan Railway Company's
power houses Patrick Mcmahon, president of
the union. said yesterday:
You can quote me as saying that If the
motormen and engineers of the Manhattan Rail-
way Company get into any trouble not mem
Der of my union viii make the slightest effort TO
help them. If they strike we will remain at
work in the power houses. They belong to the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers. and that
is enough for ne There is not q labor union in
New-York that has any use for the Brother
hood. It has done nothing but-spoil strikes"
When the swtchmen struck on the New York
Central company's lines a number of years ago
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers re-
fused by a unanimous vote to join in the strike.
This is still remembered against the Brother
hood by -he labor unions all through this State.
As far as could be learned yesterday the ele
vated railroad engineers and motormen can ex-
pect as little sympathy from the surface rail-
road employees. A motoTnlan the Third-ave.
line said regarding working on the elevated
railroad in case strike was declared that he
would have objection TO work for 81 a day
more if the job would be permanent. There is
no orga nization among the employees of the sur
face railroads. but they have a protective and
benevolent association, with no trade union feat
ures. \ number Of years ago President Mcmahon
Of the Amalgamated Association of Street Rail-
way Employees, national organization, came
here to form local union in this city. He re-
malned here for week, during which time there
were all sorts of rumors Of a strike on the
Broadway division. Nothing occurred, however,
no union was formed. and Mcmahon slipped
away again. Another attempt made later
TO organize the surface railroad men into
local union Of the American Federation of La
hor but 1t was also failure A large proper
ton OF the conductors and guards the Man
haitian Railway Company's lines unorgan-
lied The conductors who are organized belong
to the Brotherhood of Railway Firemen.
Labor leaders who were seen yesterday said
that they did not believe the elevated road
motormen and engineers would strike. Their
principal reasons for this belief were that the
Brotherhood was against strikes and that they
were fortunate in holding their places after an
entire change was made in the motive power.
The rnotormen and engineers of the Manhat-
tan have different relation TO their fellow
ployes from that of the engineers on the large
surface steam railways There the members of
the five railroad brotherhoods all work together
As far these railroads are concerned, there is
sort Of affliation among all the five brother
hoods. These are the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers, Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen, Brotherhood Of Railroad Trainmen
Brotherhood of Railroad Conductors and Order
Of Railroad Telegra pliers. On the elevated rail-
roads all the brotherhoOds are not represented