Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-09-16
NOT CONTEMPLATED
Bylaws Of the Various Orders in the
Compact Prohibit sympathy Strike
Conditions Greatly Charged Since
the Present Standard Of Wages Was
Fixed.


and the Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men to have their wages increased BY
been sent out over the country ema-
mating from the San Francisco Call and
a number of other papers seem to have
been largely the work Of Imagination
Grand Chief Conductor e. E. Clark, OF
the Order Of Railroad Conductors re-
turned home Sunday morning from
Chattanooga, where he attended the
convention Of the Brotherhood OF Lo-
connective Firemen, and in an interview
he said to a reporter:
Several years ago a standard rate
OF wages was established for freight
brakemen. The rate then established
was considered reasonble under the
conditions existing at that time. The
roads in the northwest, southwest and
west practically all pay this standard.
Generally speaking, the territory Is
that west of line drawn thru Duluth.
Chicago and along the southern lines
Of the Illinois Central.
"Since the time this standard rate
was established the conditions have
materially changed. The engines have
practically doubled in size. The ca
pacity OF the cars has been practically
trebled and the double-heading OF en-
gines has become very general, result
ing in the hauling of very heavy ton
mage, slower time and consequently
longer hours, adding greatly to the
work of the trainmen, while the re-
sponsibility placed upon them has been
constantly growing greater. The men
believe that these changed conditions
warrant higher rates of pay. The gen
eral sentiment seems to be that there
should be an increase of 20 per cent.
.swhen the men asked for higher pay
on account OF the changed conditions
they were told by the management of
each road that that particular road was
paying as high rates OF wages as It's
roads for the same service,
and that it did not care to be the first to
raise the standard. Having been told
this many times by the many different
the men concluded that
the proper idea was to try to induce
them all to raise at once In competitive
territory. There were some meetings
Of the men and 1t was reported to be
the unanimous sentiment
that a movement be made by the proper
committees with view to bringing
about simultaneous action on the part
Of the railroads as above indicated In
accordance with this sentiment circu-
lars have been sent out to the men in
which they are asked to say whether
or not they desire the committees to
make such an effort. This is In no sense
q strike movement. The men will In
dictate whether they wish the commits
tees and the organization to go ahead.
II they decide that they do not desire
the committees and organization to act
at this time then the matter will be
dropped. If they desire for action then
The committees and the organization
will undertake the work of presenting
their desires to the representatives of
The companies. The salient part Of the
circular which has been sent out for
the men to sign is as follows:
I'VE understand that this poll is ta-
ken for the purpose of giving accurate
and necessary information to the off,
GERS charged with the duty of endeav-
bring to carry out the expressed wishes
IF the association, and we who sign In
The Affirmative thereby express our de-
sire to have our general committee CO.
operate with other general committees
IN similar territory in an effort to carry
out the plan and secure the desired in
,reases in compensation, and we here
BY pledge ourselves to a loyal and
earnest support of them In that effort,
and in any move which 1t may be nee
essary to make in connection Herewith
which does not contravene the laws of
our organization. We who sign in the
negative thereby express our disap-
prevail Of the move and our wish that
our general committee refrain from
acting in connection Herewith"
The desire of the men for more
wages Is based upon the indisputable
'act that since the establishment OF the
present standard of wages the changed
have forced upon the men
more work, more responsibility and
onger hours of labor without any COM
change in remuneration. All
he talk that has been printed about an
impending strike is purely imaginative.
No strike can be inaugurated until at
er the committees and the officers Of
he organization have found 1t impos-
'ible to reach any settlement with the
,ff1cers of the companies and until the
have refused to arbitrate
he matter. i