Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-30
9th SIDES ARE CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS
inginsers and Firemsn Seem to Hold
an Important Key,
BUT THEY ARE RELUCTANT TO INTERFERE
All Men on Trains Are Satisfied with
Their Condition.
SYMPATHETIC STRIKE SEEMS IMPROBABLE
Union MachinIsts and Boiler Makers
Assert that Company Cannot
Get Along without Their
Services Very Long.

Services Very Long.
The Union Pacific machinists' strike
formally begins today. The regular order
authorized Saturday by President James
o'Connell Of the International Association
Of Machlnists at Washington will be issued
early this morning by Vice President T. L.
Wilson. who, with Vice President W. Web
ster of district lodge No. IL OF Cheyenne,
VIII assume direction OF the strike. The
machinists OF Omaha and those from other
places who are In the city will meet this
morning in Labor Temple and hear the
formal declaration read by Mr.. Wilson.
This strike order will, as has been stated,
apply to every machinist and helper
throughout the entire system. There are
500 machinists and between 300 and 400
helpers. Aside from these is a large num-
ber of roundhouse employees who are ex-
! pected TO obey the mandate for a general
| tieup, but the uncertainty OF whose course
makes II impossible to estimate the pro-
portion that Will join the machinlsts. II
all the men in the roundhouses should walk
out as the machinists believe they will,
the total number. including boIlermakers
and moulders in the movement, according
to strike leaders. will be about 1900.
No Definite Figures.
ofhcials Of the road say this is too high,
that the strikers have greatly exaggerated
the figures. Neither side, however, will
make definite statement as to the exact
number idle until tonight or Tuesday
! The machinists and boilermakers, who are
united in this strike. profess to be serenely
confident of victory. The company ofhcials
likewise still maintain their faith In the
success Of the Union Pacihc's cause The
key to the situation seems to be held by
| the trainmen. Their action, whatever It
may be, is regarded as the determining
factor 1t is believed that unless the
strikers can tie up the operating depart
ment of the railroad their fight will be in
vain.
Talks for Engine Men.
A representative of the firemen and en-
gineers was interviewed Sunday by a re-
porter for The Bee upon the attitude of
! the brotherhoods
! so far We have not considered the
matter. In fact have paid little at
tention to the strike movement, as we
have not felt that we were directly con-
cerned, but now things have reached that
stage where we are compelled to view the
situation with seriousness" he said.
There has been no talk among us at
any Of our meetings as to what the hremen
there will be no occasion for any. But OF
course we may have a part to perform
before the strike is settled. II the en-
tire system is tied up in the shops and
the machinists and boilermakers call on
us to cooperate in a sympathetic strike,
it will have a strong influence upon us;
there is no denying that fact. Or II the
shops are emptied of union men and the
company fills in with "scab" boilermakera
and machinists, 1t might be necessary for
the brotherhoods OF both the fremen and
engineers to take action. There is no
question but that these things would have
vital influence upon us, but how great
l cannot and would not say.
Engineers and Firemen Satisfied.
"As said before, we do not want any
trouble and hope 1t will not be necessary
for us to get into this fight. We have no
provocation among ourselves to take the
initiative. We are working under the best
scale we ever had. At our conference
with the officials some months ago we had
everything granted US that we could ask
for. An agreement was drawn up and
signed which was made operative for one
, year beginning the first Of last January,
so OF course are under that agreement
yet and have no desire or inclination to
break faith with our employers. We do
not believe there is anything we could ask
for that would benefit our own interests
and consequently we have nothing to ask
We are perfectly satisfied.
81 really look for something to drop in
this strike matter by Monday night. 1t
may be that within day or two then we
could speak with precision as to our own
position. We would not however, have the
power OF ourselves to Join the other men
in a sympathetic strike even II we had any
such desire, for the provisions OF our con-
stitution make It obligatory upon US to sub
NIT to the order of our grand lodge officers
in such cases.
, Perfect Harmony with Company.
) 81 want to repeat before you go that the
hremen and engineers are in perfect har-
mony with the company, have no cause OF
: their own for discord and hope that they
will not be drawn into this strike"
Asked II the machinists would appeal to
. the engineers and firemen for their CO.
operation in order TO make the strike ef-
fective Vice President Wilson said:
mo railroad can operate without ma
chinists and boilermakers."
Then you mean, do you, that the Union
Pacific will be unable to get machinists and
boilermakers outside OF the unions7" was
asked.
That's exactly the proposition" he re-
piled
well. 40 you think you will call on
the engineers and fremen for help!" he
was again asked
ITO be frank with you, I do not believe
II will be necessary. Those matters will
simply shape themselves by natural conse-
quences. We have nothing to do with the
trainmen nor wish to interfere with their
!, affairs, but repeat that no road can carry
on its trafhc AFFAIRS without boilermakers
or machinists." And then with a meaning
twinkle Of his eye he added:
II think the railroad company will hnd
out that machinists and boilermakers ara
very essential In their business"
. Course of Car Builders.
4 There has been more or less speculation
d among the strikers as 10 the probable
= course OF the car builders. BY some Il is
t maintained that the car builders may be
: depended on to afnliate with the strikers.
that they did not set what tAsx NGnted