The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-16
Struck for Higher Wages and
Carried Off Call Book.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC FREIGHT
Yards Become Congestsd sad Ships
Waited for Cargoss, and The Boys
Won the Strike.

Houston. Tex, Oct. 16.-Two lads Ralph
Emerson. is years old. and James Murphy,
Is. have come out victorious in a battle
with the Great Southern Pacific Railway
company.
For four days the freight transportation
department OF the system was tied up.
the yards blocaded at Houston, steamers
delayed at Galveston and New Orleans
and the officials OF the road driven 10
desperation by conditions which cost the
management more money than the two
lads who caused the trouble would have
received In wages In as many years.
Driven to an acknowledgment of their
defeat the company took the lads back
into the service with the increased nav
they demanded
Emerson and Murphy were and still
are call boys in the office OF superin-
tendent George j. Hartman. OF the Texas
and New Orleans, and Galveston. Houston
and Northern divisions of the Southern
Pacific.
One worked at night for $40 a month,
the other worked during the day at $50
This month their checks are made out for
700 and $40 respectively.
Recently the shopmen OF the company
struck and obtained an increase OF wages.
few days after the boys met and or
ganized union OF their own with a com
plete membership Of two.
Then the entire union waited upon su-
perintendent Hartman and demanded n
raise In pay. IL was refused Upon the
spot the union voted TO go or strike. Arm,
IN arm the lads walked out TO the street
With them disappeared the address book
containing the name and residence Of
every trainman employed by the company
Tn Houston.
COULDN'T FIND MEN
Houston is the junction point of all !
southern Pacific roads branching out TO |
the north and west. An immense quantity |
Oh freight passes through this city des- |
tined Tor Galveston. At the same time al, |
from the west and northwest destined for |
New Orleans passes through this citv |
Even when things are working smooth |
~ the management finds difficulty in |
keeping the yards clear.
WITHIN less than an hour the train 1
oispatcher was notified that freight was
ready TO leave the yard for Galveston
II had been the duty OF the lads TO notify
train crews one hour before their service
would be required These men are paid
by the hour and are likely to be called
at any moment
A crew was needed at once An assist
ant volunteered TO summon the men and
then II was discovered that the book
was gone. No other list existed except
q general roster OF employees
Then the railroad company met 81.
waterloo. Assistants In the office were
sont out over that section OF tho city
where the railraod employees reside Clerks
were put TO work on the records in n
vain attempt to bring order out OF chaos
1t was all for nothing. An appeal was
made TO the striking boys
Give us that raise" said young Muir
ply. president OF the union
Superintendent Hartman refused.
Then there's nothin' doin'," came the
uirmatum OF the labor organization.
,, rhat night not a freight train was run
eastward toward New Orleans
Inc next morning II was decided to en-
vacant es bT sG the places made
book had been partially complied during
the worry of the night. and IL was turned
ordered out TO summon crews enough 10
handle the trains held in the yards The | {,
new boy duckeddow the stairs for the
street.
KNEW THE ROPES.
A few moments later a yell penetrated
the office. Brickbats ratified against the
burst open. Covered with bumps. bruises
and dust, the new call boy staggered into
the office. Knocked down, waylaid and
beaten. the precious book had been taken
from him. and he had experienced ALI the. !
strike duty 10 his liking !
He passed in his credentials The two
and Murphy-heroes in a
neighborhood where almost every family '
ls connected with the railway service had {
about them a crowd OF allies.
Every new boy employed quit In n few 7
hours. In the meantime the names and ! ,
addresses Of members OF incoming train :
crews had been taken. but the list was =
too incomplete for use, and under con- d
tract men could not be sent out without a
period OF rest from their last trip. I
Night and day the superintendent train =
1ispatchers and all OF their assistants
but not one train had left the
,ity for ten that should have gone. Side II
tracks were filed and more loaded cars e
we're pouring In every hour. With diffi- 3
,ulty space was left open for the use OF
passenger trains, and from both Calves. q
on and New Orleans came a cry for =.
reight TO fill the great steamers sched. y
lied 10 depart. Millions OF pounds OF n
'taple and perishable articles were tied
III In the railroad yards al Houston. N
The matter was taken up with the high | N
EN-. Conferences were held while ship
,ers complained. Employees laughed and "
he boys stuck TO the resolution never 10
10 back TO work until their demands had | ca
zen complied with. IL was UP 20 the ! b,
abroad company and they surrendered. .,
allied back into the office OF Supt. Hart "
nan the boys were granted all they had "
sked and nut back TO work O
In some mysterious way the missing 81