Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-18
DISCREDlT NEW YORK STORY
Strikers Do Not Believe Mr.. Hartman is
Opposing President Burt,
SUSPECT SCHEME To FORCE COMPROMISE
Union Men Say They VIII Never Con-
sent 60 Any Degree Of PiecewOrk
and Must Have Advance
in wages.

I'VE take no stock whatever In the re-
port that Mr.. Hartman is sntagonizins
President Burt IN a plan OF the latter to
settle this strike" said a prominent strike
leader in reference to the special dispatch
from New York to the effect that President
Burt was anxious TO effect some kind OF
terms OF settlement, but was opposed by
Mr.. Hartman, who was averse to settling
with the strikers. Several representative
Of the machinists, boiler makers and black
smiths expressed similar views to the one
quoted.
TT looks mighty strange" said one,
that Mr.. Hartman and Mr.. Burt would
exchange places on this proposition in so
short a time. 1t lie q notable fact. with us
who have indisputable evidence, that Pres
ident Burt was the obstinate one and that
Mr.. Hartman favored some sort OF settle
ment. We also know, as has been published,
that the only steps ever taken looking to
a possible settlement-the conference be-
tween our men and Mr.. Burt last Saturday
were taken at the special request OF Mr..
Hartman. Mr.. Hartman plainly signihed
his desire to have matters Strengthened up
by requesting that conference. In all MIR.
Harriman's communications over the en-
gine controversy he has manifested an un-
m~istakable aversion to %prolonging this
strike or having IT spread to the Southern
Pacific system, as he seems convinced IT
will do II he does not withdraw his en-
gines from the Union Pacific, as demanded
by US. II looks 20 us aa II This story Of
Hartman opposing Burt in the latter's effort
to bring matters TO an end Is a premedi-
tated scheme Of throwing us of the track
and giving prestige to President Burt when
he returns to Omaha, no doubt to resume
negotiations with us. There is no doubt
in our minds that 1t has been decided in
New York to effect a settlement II possible
for the protection Of the company's inter-
ests, but to hold out for a compromise just
as long as possible. We believe that is the
program"
No PiecewOrk and More Wages.
Regarding a compromise. representatives
Of the three crafts we're asked what would
be their attitude toward such a PROPOSE
tlon. The answer was unanimous.
There will be no compromise. We will
have nothing to do with piecework. That
decision is irrevocable. We suppose the
plan will be to compromise by securing our
agreement to the partial introduction Of
the piecework system, and then making
some concessions and withholding others
on the wage scale, but II this is the scheme
It must fail. We will not listen to any
compromise TO do piecework."
Asked II they would return to work at
their old rate OF pay with the understand
ing that piecework was not to be adopted,
leaders Of the strike said:
mo. Roads all over the country have
been increasing the wages Of their EN-.
ployes since We were locked out and we
would not agree to 60 back to work for
the same wages we were getting when we
quit. For that matter, President Burt has
given us his word that he wants to pay
just as much as other roads aud would not
ask the men to work for less than they
could get elsewhere. That locks like pretty
good assurance that we would not have to
content ourselves with our old wages"