The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-05
ALL'S QUIET ON THE WABASH President Ramsey Issues 1 Statement. REPLIES TO MS aoRRIssEY
 -E- Denies Thate !. is Hostile to Lag Unions. :
 He Says He Has Never Refused to
 Meet Employees and Discusses Matters of Grievance-The Injunction.

St. Louis. March 4.-President Ramsey of the Wabash Railroad, pending further action by the roads employees, who have l threatened to strike. but who are re- strained temporarily at least by an in- junction secured yesterday by the rail road company, today issued the follow ing appeal to all men In the employ of the Wabash Company;
 ITO the employees of the Wabash Com pany and others interested: The crisis now existing on the Wa bash lines is a very grave one. not only to the Wabash Company and it's em- ployes. but also to the commercial and industrial interests of the country and the results might be so serious that the great anthracite coal strike would dwindle into insignihcance. Therefore make reply to misstatements made by MT. Morrissey. MT. Morrissey says: For years he (Mr. Ramsey has boasted of his com tempt for labor organizations. He liked the distinction it brought him of being | the one managing officer in this section who could get along without them. Ev- cry previous effort of the employees to meet and deal with him have proved futile.'
 Says It is Untrue. This statement Is absolutely without | truth. l have never expressed contempt for labor organizations q may have for some hot-headed leader who advocates | the rule or ruin poncy.) In hA fla, said to labor leaders. members and oth- CTS. that I had no objection to them when properly and conservatively con- ducted and when they did not atfcIutely | Ignore individual rights or obligations. I | have not discharged nor declined to em- | ploy any one on account of membership in an organization. The Wabash em- | ployes are treated as men, with all their rights as individuals recognized. and as long as they recognize the rights of the other employees and give fair service to the company they have the right to join any church or organization. political, la- | bor or other kind.
 During my thirty-three years with this and other railroads, have never failed | to meet any committee of employees or any individual employe who wished to I see me, and have met every committee now here several times and three of these | meetings were with Messrs. Hannahan, | Lee and Wilkins present met such committees knowing they are members of | organizations duly constituted only say to them Your grievances are as em- | ployes of the Wabash and therefore we confer as employees
 MT. Morrissey says MT. Ramsey bluffed and cajoled the men,
 "The truth Is. the blufing and cabling l Ga- L,.A, kly-AY. | ganization leaders,"
 The labor leaders say that everything now hinges on the injunction which the unions will attempt to have dissolved. l Until the restraining order shall be done away with, there will be no strike, for | the employees have agreed to obey the courts order. Lawyers and Leaders Confer. l E. T. Irwin of Peoria and E. " Penny of Cleveland attorneys for the Trainmen, | spent the day in conference with H. H. | Morrissey and s. W. Arnold and other union leaders. examining the petition on which the injunction was issued, and pre- pairing an answer that will be presented in court, probably tomorrow to secure a dissolution of the restraining order. | President Ramsey tonight said to the Associated Press:
 
 | ly and there are no indications that our men have gone out or Will do so soon. I have not seen any members of the GrIev- l ance Committee today and know nothing of what Is going on at their headquar- | ters."
 In speaking MT Ramsey's statement and of the general situation, F H. Nor rissey Grand Master of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, said to the Asso- ciated Press tonight:
 | T do not care to enter into a wordy 1 contest through the press with MT. Ram | sey because it would not interest the public and I do not think it would be profitable to either of us. My statement was based on absolute facts and can be ] verified If necessary.
 "We are going to take steps to dissolve that injunction. I cannot say just when it will be accomplished. but possibly in l day or two
 ] Our organization is committed to the | policy of arbitration but we surely would not arbitrate our privilege to dissolve the l injunction. The injunction is the princi- pal point before us now. Nothing will be done until it shall have been deter mined"
 Grand Master Wilkins of the Track mems Association, met Messrs. Hanna han and MorrisseY today and assured them that his 2,000 strong were ready to support the trainmen and firemen and would leave work at their bidding.