Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-25
BURT TALKS on STRIKE
President Of Union Pacific Unburdsns Him
self Concerning Situation.
ROAST8 TWO NEWSPAPER REPORTERS
Refuses 20 Give Information Asked
For and Complains that His
Statements Are Not Given
Publicity.

President Horace @. Burt OF the Union
Pacific Railroad company volunteered to
make a statement yesterday in connec-
tion with the strike in the shops Of his
road. Shortly after the strike began Mr..
Burt was called on by two reporters for a
statement OF the position of the company
and yielded to a very generous interview,
but his utterances upon that occasion and
today, while similar in some respects, bear
no very striking resemblance.
Get right out OF this oflcc as quick as
you can and don't you come in here for any
news, as you call 1t; we don't have any
thing to give you fellows, for you are not
seeking facts"
This was the manner in which the presi-
dent OF the Union Pacific greeted the re-
'porters who had called upon his secretary
and with whom they we're in conversation
J when Mr.. Burt CHANGED to pass through
the room and catch a glimpse of them.
I'VE have called to ask, President Burt,
n you have granted a conference to Mr.
slocum,'' interposed one Of the newspaper
men.
''Slocum. Siocum, / never head OF him.
Who is this fellow, slocum7" angrily re-
torted the president.
HE is the president Of the international
brotherhood OF B~lacksmiths, whose name
has appeared In tie papers so frequently OF
late In connection with this strike was
the reply Of a reporter.
Never heard Of him, never heard of him.
Don't want to, either" and that exhausted
that subject.
Sails Into Newspapers.
IF you men represented reputable and
truthful newspapers, newspapers that would
even try to get the facts and print them
/ wouldn't mind talking to you. Blu you
don't. We haven't got any such PAPERS IN
this city. You go and get one side OF this
question and play that up in glaring style
and IL the railroad men give you anything
in the shape Of a statement or news you
surround II with insinuRtions and innuen-
does, so that its force and effect is de-
istroyed and the other side gets the benefit
!of 1t, after ADJUST what you want. No,
sir, I'll not talk to you" continued the
president. as the reporters were seeking an
opportunity to get out between blasts.
II was suggested that some weeks ago the
same reporters had called on the president
and received a lengthy statement from him
upon the strike situation and that precisely
o what he said upon that occasion had been
printed.
but, President Burt, we have not beer
permitted since then, with one slight ex-
~ception, to interview you. so that 1t has
not been possible for the newspapers to
d print your personal views or statements.
It was also suggested that a little over q
week ago an ofhaial Of the road escorted
some newspaper men through the Union
Pacific shops in this city and that they
were given the numbers of men employed
in the shops from lists kept by the ofncial
who took them through, and that these ex-
act numbers were published as giving the
entire shop force then at york, instead oil
making any estimate as the reporters found
conditions in the shops.
These publications were pronounced &C
eurate and fair in every detail, President
Burt, by your own men. Was that treating
the railroad fairly?" was asked. But hi
refused to think OF any such thing and
: reiterated his command for the reporters
20 leave his once.
And when you get up to your ONCE you