Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19
WANT MORE PAY, NOT STRIKE
Are Contemplating Trouble
over Wages.

Now that the Union Pacific has taken
the lead in giving it's switchmen the raise
in wages contained in the Chicago scale,
other lines converging in Omaha will be
called upon for similar action. The Burl-
ington. Missouri Pacific and any other line
which has not yet made this concession
will be asked to do so. The switchmen
on the Missouri Pacific have already ar
ranged to present their demand and those
on the Burlington west of the Missouri
river are shaping their plans for the same
purpose.
W. E. Bowen, secretary of the switch
mems general grievance committee on the
Burlington, held a conference with Gen
ersl Manager Holdrege Monday. but 1t
was given out that the matter Of an in
crease in wages was not the subject OF
discussion. However. a conference OF the
Burlington switchmen was held in Omaha
last Sunday and IL was definitely decided
to make a request, mot a demand" as
the head OF the order here expressed it,
for the Chicago scale. The Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy was one OF the
roads which gave its men this scale in
Chicago last week, and, Notwithstanding
the fact that the B. G. NJ. had recently
granted its men a small advance, it is not
questioned for a moment by the trainmen
that it will reject the new request.
A story printed in an evening paper yes
terday to the effect that eighteen Illinois
Central s~witchmen, presumably in Omaha,
had given notice Of their intention to
strike unless given the Chicago scale
within twenty-four hours created no little
amusement among some of the switchmen
last night. inasmuch as there is not q
| ufnCla arffnhrnpn m The TDN,1Ep rarF-nl
working in Omaha. and, furthermore. in
asmueh as the switchmen on this or any
other line would not have any authority
10 strike without the sanction of their
central organization, which. according 10
an ofhcial OF the local switchmen, could
rot be obtained in this case, since there is
no occasion for striking.
DR.. NJ. J. Ford, jr., who has been head
OF the local switchmen for many years,
said last night:
ut is all wrong to say that any OF the
switchmen are contemplating a strike. That
is entirely out OF the question. No
switehmen have planned any such action
II would seem. inasmuch as every road
in the west to which the switchmen have
presented their demand had aeeeded "a
them. that it would be utter folly 10 tab
Of striking. That is precisely the thing We
want to avoid. II has been my impression
ell along that the Illinois Central waf
among the roads which granted this scale
al Chicago"
Confirming What has already beer
printed in The Bee regarding toe origin
OF the general demand for higher wages
among the trainmen throughout the coun.
try. Doctor Ford said:
Engines are pulling twice the loads
they used to. thus cutting this cost o.
railroading in two, and the roads arr
earning about double what they we're 4
few years ago, whereas wages have re
manned ct the old figures. This. and no.
a desire for strikes, has given rise to tn
general movement for more money. Tn,
fairness and reasonableness Of the prop
osition have appealed to even the ~railroa,
magnstes, else they would not have so read
lily granted the demands which have al
ready been made"