Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-26

increased cost OF living. This was the POSI-
tion OF the company when the strike began;
It Is the position Of the company nov and
will so continue to be-"
VIII Not Receive Strikers.
Asked II he would treat with any Of the
strikers, boiler makers. machinists or black
smiths as long as they we're on a strike,
President Burt said with emphasis:
"No, indeed. We will not meet them I'M
Gil they take up their tools and return TO
their work. Then. as l have said, II they
have any grievances we will hear them"
Asked IL all the men would be taken back
II they desired to 60, he said;
I'VE will never take back any who have
provoked or promoted violence. The others
may return II they wish"
President Burt said hat there are now
more machinists in the Omaha shops than
there have ever been since his ineumbeney
Of the presidents office. He said that
when the strike broke out there we're lo5
m~achinists and that now the humble ex-
present force are highly skilled men and
that the work was being satisfactorily
done and the motive power being we'll
maintained. As to the permanent estab-
lishment Of the piecework system, he
said IL would require several years, as Il
was an experiment that had to be thor
oughly tested before definitely and finally
adopted. He stated that II during the
trial Of this project or after the adoption
OF the plan the wages OF any employe
were cut the man cutting them would be-
summarily discharged by the company.
Mr.. Burt insisted that the public had
been deceived by the strike agitators as to
the real issues and merits OF this fight and
declared that the company had no desire
and could not afford to hold out any false
impressions. The ~oflcials all wanted to be
fair and honest and could not be otherwise.
They we're interested in the welfare Of the
strikers. the community and the company.
Will Get New Engines.
Now, here is another thing want to
speak Of" said President Burt. "The
story has been going the rounds that the
Union Pacific cannot get its seventy-one
new engines ordered from the east because
Of the influence OF this strike. That is not
true"
To prove the fallaoy Of this story he pro-
duced a letter from the Baldwin Locomotive
works which informed the Union Pacific that
the first installment OF these engines would
be sent on the latter part OF August. Two
would arrive then or at least during the
first week In September and the remainder
would be sent, three each week, until all
were on hand. Work has been delayed for
reasons entirely foreign from the strike.
After meeting the president Of the com
mittee Of car men reported It's visit to It's
lodge, which body appointed another COM
mittee to convey the result Of the confer
ence with Mr.. Burt to all other unions in
volved in the strike.
Letter from Machinists' President.
This letter was received by District Sec
rotary Grace Of the machinists yesterday,
from James 0'Connell, president Of the In
ternational Association OF Machinists;
want to take this opportunity Of COM
pimenting our entire membership on the
Union Pacific system f0T ths splendid man !
ner in which our strike Is being carried on
and the splendid struggle our members are \
putting up against the introduction Of the
formation received from Vice President |
Wilson, who is handling the strike, 1t is |
our own with the company, and that II our
members continue their active and ener-
getic work in connection with the strike.
in the very near future we will have forced
the Union Pacific 10 abandon its intention
reinstate our members to their former posi-
tons have made atrangements whereby
gu nrst vice pTssidspS r. y cSnlon will
~ 6SAl Oh III OiiOH GaCtllC bybtCIH dOOuI /
September ], to aid in carrying on the
strike. Owing to the fact that he has
several engagements at the present time
success of our association In the west de-
Ponds very largely upon the winning of
a favorable settlement OF the trouble would
be of great benefit to us In organizing the
railroads in the east. All Of our %oficers
In fact, our whole organization is watching
every move that Is made, with the hope
your trouble Will be reached. Again, let
me extend the congratulations of the grand
lodge 70 you all for your splendid work so
have every confidence in your executive
committee and the officers who are hand
ling the strike for you. do not allow the
you to cause dissention, be sober and at
t%entive to every duty assigned to you and
In the end we will add one more great
victory to our association.
swItchmen Fail to Get Quorum.
The strikers efforts to enlist the active
cooperation of the men who run the trains
are proceeding slowly. A meeting Of the
switchmen was to have been held last night
at Sixth and Pierce streets, when 1t was
designed to enlist them with the trainmen
in refusing to handle trains bearing non
union employees, but the meeting failed on
account OF nc quorum.
A committee Of strikers that was at the
switchmen's hall proceeded to the engi-
neers' meeting, which was in progress at the
Ancient order Of United Workmen hall, to
lay their case before them with a view Of
securing cooperation. II is we'll known, |
however. that none OF the four organiEa-
tions embracing the men who run the trains
can act in a matter of this kind unless every
union is agreeable. They must act in har-
mony or not at all. The constitutions of
some of these organizations are decidedly
conservative on such matters.
nInKETc ABE IlMnEp ADDICT