Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-31
STRIKERS RETURN TO WORK
About Twenty-Five Car Men Resume
Duties at Union Pacific
Shop.

A sudden and unexpected turn In Union
Pacific strike affairs occurred yester-
day, when between twenty and twenty-five
car men returned to work. 1t is said that
all Of these are union men and it is bo-
lieved their example will be followed by
others Tuesday. As a matter Of fact. on
cials of the company express the opinion
that this detection means a fatal blow to
the strike Of the carbullders. which they
hold was without Just cause or grievance.
It is believed that Tuesday will see the
last Of the carbuilders' strike. that all
the strikers will have returned to work by
that time. There is one contingency, low
ever, which might obstruct this course
and that is for the car mems national or
ganization to hasten to the rescue OF the
striking shopmen by sanctioning their
strike and admitting them to its member
ship. This, however, is not regarded as a
probability, inasmuch as the car mems eff
forts to negotiate terms Of alliance with
the national body have been unsuccessful
since the strike began. National President
Ronemus has exercised an apparent In
difference toward his followers here since
their trouble originated and those union
men who did not strike assert that he is
wholly out of sympathy with the action Of
the striking carbuilders and will not be
Influenced to change his attitude.
Mr.. Ronemus was in Omaha during the
earlier stages Of the machinists. black
smiths and boiler makers strike and re-
viewed the general situation with reference
to the carbuilders. 1t may be remembered
that about that time the carbuilders were
agitated, an element among them geing ia
vorable to a strike in conjunction with the
other shopmen. This dissatisfaction led to
n - -
from the car men and the ofheIals which
resulted In an agreement signed by both
parties binding the carbuiIders for one year
to a pieeework or premium system contract.
The company maintains that when the car
builders struck they violated the conditions
Of this contract, and to Offset this charge
the carbuilders claim that they were mis-
represented in those conferences by their
committee and that therefore they did not
consider themselves under real obligations
through that agreement.
II is a peculiar fact that OF the iS5 car
men who struck August Is. the vast ma
jority were nonunion men. The o~fieials OF
the Union Pacific feel satisfied that since
the men who have returned to work are
union men, the strike is virtually at an
end. so far as the car builders are con-
cerned.
Said one Of the Union Pacific oficials yes
terday morning:
The men have evidently come to their
senses. They had nothing to strike for 10
the first place; they were stampeded Out
and will doubtless be stampeded back in.
The men did not have any conference with
us before taking this course. but. as w
understand il. simply went to the shops
this morning and asked to be taken back
Five or six went back during the week, one
at a time, and nothing was said Of IT,"
AS the strike OF the car men had no effect
! on the strike Of the motive power shopmsE
their action in returning. II is maintained
can have none, The boiler makers. maehtn.
lists and blaeksmiths advised against thS
strike OF the car men for som time. hold.
ing that It would simply increase the imam,
eial obligations Of the central organization
without adding the least bit OF materia
strength or facility 10 the original strikers
Omciais Of the local car mems 0TEshizs
tion were asked for an expression as to tn
action OF their men In returning 20 worl
and II all would go back. but they declines
to talk upon the subject. MAny-other strik,
ers regard this detection as a wise counai
in view Of the deficient organization an