The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-05
2. H. MOrrissey Denies Report
of Railway Federation.
BrotherhOods of Employees Have
Not Made Combination.
DEMANDS FOR M0REPAY
MOrrissey Thinks They Will Be
Amicably Adjusted.
Report of Negotiations in Pro
gress at Chicago.

Cleveland, Dec. Grand Master P H.
Morrissey of the Brotherhood of Rail-
way Trainmen returned here today from
Chicago, where he was in conference
with prominent representatives of his
organization in the west and northwest.
Upon request Mr.. Morrissey dictated
and gave the Associated Press the fol-
lowing signed statement concerning the
reported combined movement on the
part of the four leading organizations of
railroad employees to secure an advance
of wages for their 10000 members.
The reports emenating from Chicago
that 10000 men represented by the
esta blished railway labor organiza tons
were forming a federation or combina-
ton for the purpose of making a con-
certed demand for increased wages on
the railroad companies in the territory
west of Chicago are not authoritative
and TO such movement is in cOntempla-
ton. Conferences of representatives of
some of the classes of labor have re-
Gently been held in Chicago. but have
had no relation 70 the formation of a
plan for united movement.
1T is true as has heretofore been off,
cially stated. that the conductors and
trainmen contemplate presenting re-
quests for increased wages to lines in
the western territory, within a short
time. out the procedure VIII De
and orderly and in accordance with the
esta blished rules and customs of the
order of Railway Conductors and Broth
erhood of Railway Trainmen. Other in
dividual organizations in different parts
of the territory may have similar re-
quests in course of preparation and
from the character of these organfza-
tons we are confident that agreements
will be reached without any friction or
serious misunderstanding.
.srTba statement that an immense COM
bine of railroad employees is in process
of formation, with prospect of a gen
eral railway strike and serious inter-
ference with traffic following it, no
doubt is disquieting to the public as if
is unjust to the organizations.
"P. H. MORRISSEY,
Grand Master B. r. To-
NEGOTIATIONS IN CHICAGO.
Chicago, Dec. THAT the general
movement of western railroad employees
for an advance in wages is rapidly ap-
proa ching a crisis is indicated by the
presence of a number of committees or
the various brotherhoods in Chicago
The adjustment committees of the en-
gineers and Eremen on the Northwest
ern are at the Briggs House; the engi-
neers of the Rock Island at the Great
Northern; the engineers and firemen on
the St Paul at the Windsor Clifton;
and conductors are in consultation at
the. Sherman. Other committees are ex-
pected to arrive during the week.
Negotiations between these commit
tees and the railway officials are being
held daily, and definite results are ex-
pected soon. On these results hangs the
fate of a proposed convention of the five
brot herhoods, to be called to form d
general fedora ton of railway employees
which will have Jurisdiction over the
entire country. If the companies are
willing to give satisfactory advances the
convention may not be held Unfavor-
able replies will cause the convention
representing 100, 900 men to be called in
ST Louis on January 5.
1t is feared that the managers will
not grant increases of from 10 to 20 per
cent in the ages of all of their highly
paid men at once as it will involve an
additional expenditure of several mil
lions a year. Members of the commit
tees insist that every peaceable method
will be used first, and strike will be
considered only when everything else
has failed.