Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-25
CONTEMPLATES No VIOLENCE
President Kennedy Assures Police Chief
that Order will Be Maintained.
STRIKERS DESIRE TO WIN PEAcEAslY
Engineers and FIremen Not Expected
to Take Hand in strike Mt
This Time, but May
Act Later On.

Chief OF Police Donahue has become in
terested in the pending strike OF Union
Pacific employees. In response to a rumor
OF contemplated violence by the strikers
the chief yesterday called into his office
President Kennedy Of the Boilermakers'
union and others Of that organization and
held a conference with the men upon the
report which reached him the evening be-
fore.
This conference failed TO develop any
evidence upon which to base such a re-
port. The Information which first reached
Chief Donahue was that President Kennedy
himself had made certain threats against
any "scab" who would attempt to take the
place OF a striking boilermaker at the Union
Pacific shops. and then this report was mod
fled by the chiefs informant to say that
the threat was not made by President Ken
NEEDY himself. but by one OF his associates
In Kennedy's presence.
There is no syllable of truth in the re-
port and whoever is the author Of 1t has
either deliberately misrepresented facts or
has been imposed on by some unreliable
party" said President Kennedy after his
conference with Chief Donahue.
Want to Win on Merit.
1--WE intend to win this strike on It's
merits" he continued, land II We cannot
win It that way then we will submit to de-
feat, for one thing IS certain, we have never
threatened, contemplated or suggested re-
sorting to violence in any form TO gain the
struggle. There has not been the remotest
Intention or thought Of any forcible or I'M
lawful means on the part Of the boilermak-
.ers, l can assure you, and l told the chief
the same. 1 am sure he was thoroughly
convinced that our sentiment had been
Yalaply represented TO him.
The boilermakers regret exceedingly
that any such report should have been cir
culated, for they have from the first tried
to conduct themselves In a manner to incur
the least criticism and give the impression
to none that they wanted anything but
what they believed was Just and fair. We
would a thousand times rather lose our
contest with the Union Pacific company
after a peaceable struggle than to win 1t by
violent means. This is our position, and in
all our councils we have urged against any
departure from 1t. / am positive that the
rumor which was carried TO the chief OF
police had no foundation in fact and was a
gross injustice to u.s."
A large contingent OF Chief Donahue's
blue coats assembled at the police station
at 2 yesterday afternoon in compliance
with an order, and after brief communica-
tion with Captain Her, left for their re-
spective beats. Among the policemen
present were some Of the Oldest and most
prominent on the force.
Asked II he had ordered the men 20 as
semble to receive instructions to guard
against violence by the strikers, Chief Dona-
hue declared he had not.
Position of Engineers and Firemen.
The strike situation proceeds slowly and
quietly. All the men interested are main
tanning s%trictest secrecy of any plans they
may have. The engineers and hremen,
Whose meeting Monday night aroused some
suspicion OF their intention to bolt the
Union Pacihc's operations by refusing tc
take out engines not repaired by union
iboilermakers, are still at work and, accord
dng to Master Mechanic Barnum. there is
mo disposition on their part to strike.
AS a matter of fact, the engineers and
tiremen would be acting prematurely to de-
eide to strike at this stage of the proceed
dngs, for they have had no occasion as YET
NO run engines that are repaired by non
union boilermakers, since there is but one
such individual in the employ Of the COM
.pany and It would be impossible for this
lone workman to repair the engines tina
ARE now in service. The truth is, as hal
been stated, the company fortunately had
enough engines in good repair to meet III
needs for a limited period when the unioI
iboilermakers went out and this period hal
not yet expired.
No engineer or fireman can be found Wit
will accredit the alleged intention Of eitheI
union to strike, yet there is reason to be
'lieve tina both these brotherhoods may CO
operate with the and ma
chinists, should the strike reach a stag
where full cooperation was demanded.
Expect an Early Settlement.
I According to the opinion OF prominen
boilermakers themselves, this stage will
never be reached. II is their belief tina
the strike will be ended and all question
settled within a week. They are still
convinced, however, that this settlement
win be made favorable to their demand
and that all their number will be restore
TO work. The boilermakers resolutely af
drm that they will never submit to tn
partial reinstatement Of their union; a.
Ahe men, old and young. must be take
back or none at all. IF the railroad ca
get along without part OF our lumber,
can do so without any" was the way on
boilermaker expressed It.
The local boilermakers received wor
yesterday from Armstrong. where 1t
said that sons OF the members Of thei
innion had returned to work. that all ar
out. and they assert that this is the cas-
pVer the entire system, with the exceptio
tof the lone non-union boilermaker at Wor
here.
The company claims to have all II
D~oilermakers necessary for present de
apands
The machinists are not yet ready to d.
Glare a strike order and those Of their nun
Der who were not let out by the retrenel
ment order Saturday night are still at worl
OmcIaIE in Consultation.
Lonheials OF the operating and motiN
hover departments of thu Union Pacific he