Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-03-14
the BROTHERHOOD
ISSUES STATEMENT
Is Very Guarded and Con.
sentative in What Ii
Says.
TO RESPECT
President Ramsey Has Something More
to Say Believes Men Would
Strike If Injunction Was
Dissolved.

st. Louis, March 9.-The general Of
hcers OF the Brotherhoods of Firemen
and Trainmen and committees here is
sued a statement last night to their
members on the Wabash advising them
to continue loyal to the railroad and to
their organizations, and to pay no at
tention to statements or threats OF any
person, nor to any rumors which may
be put in circulation.
This was the only development Of the
day in the situation.
Ar all day conference was held In
the Southern hotel by Grand Masters
Brotherhoods of Firemen and Train
men with their attorneys. Messrs. 1r-
win and Plnney, and +. N. Judson. the
latter Of St. Louis, who has been en-
g9ged as associate counse to help In
the preparation of the answer to the
Wabash injunction. This answer, with
aftidavits, may be fled In court today.
If not then, 1t will be filed Monday.
John NJ. Murphy, chief counsel OF the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen,
who reached here from Denver, Joined
in the conference.
There were no developments at Wa
bash headquarters, President Ramsey
reporting that the service throughout
the system was proceeding without
anything unusual TO mark IT.. He re-
viewed his action of last Monday after
noon, when the injunction was served
TO prevent a strike.
The statement issued last night by
the officials Of the bro~therhoods, after
setting forth the result Of the strike
vote, says:
A letter was sent to President Ramsey,
communicating TO him the fact that unless
he receded from his former position on
the grievances within a certain time the
Members Of the organizations would quit
the service Of the company. This letter
was answered by Mr.. Ramsey, and he re-
quested a statement from the committees
himself and the men, so that II a strike
occurred he might know the status on
which the action was based,
About the time this statement was be-
ing delivered at his office the officers or
the organizations and the members OF the
committee were served with a writ OF In
junction, which has been published In full.
1t will be seen by this that to have sane
toned a strike under the circumstance
might have been construed "A violation OF
the order Of the court. The order of the
court, had a strike been declared, might
also have been construed as prohibiting
the prosecution Of the same on the part
OF the organizations or any Of It's repre-
sentativcs. The writ of Injunction was
granted upOn a Dill OF complaint Hleu Dy
the Wabash Railroad company, alleging
an unlawful and malicious conspiracy on
the part OF the organizations and other al
legations equally "unfounded and untrue.
We are taking the necessary legal steps
to protect our rights, and We believe we
can furnish the court ample facts and sur
icient reasons for Vacating the order. Cn-
til this has been done these organizations
will respect the order of the court. We
advise our officers and members, not only
on the Wabash system, but elsewhere, to
do likewise.
Regarding the probabilities OF a strike
President Ramsey said to the Associ-
ated Press last night:
I'm case the injunction is dissolved I
think a strike quite likely. In case Of
dissolution it will probably be ordered
at once. The Wabash employees Will
not go out until ordered to do SO.
"a strike may inconvenience the Wa
bash for some time. but 1t Will not tie
up the system to n serious extent un-
less a boycott is ordered at the different
terminal and junction points"
Discussing the action Of last Monday,
President Ramsey said he received the
formal notice of the result Of the strike
ballot on Monday afternoon and was
given until moor Tuesday 10 reply. His
reply was delivered to the committee at
S y. M. Monday. This reply requested
the committee to furnish him their ul-
covering the points which
must be conceded to prevent o strike.
He waited for a reply until 1916 p. m.
Tuesday, "or fifteen minutes after the
hour fixed by the committee itself.
Failing to get a reply l had the in
junction served.
Had this letter reached me by 1915
the injunction would not have been
served at that time, but would have
been held back in the hope that fur
conferences would have prevented
the necessity of its service. Even after
Injunction was served / replied in
full to the letter received from the
being Of the opinion that
the service of the injunction did not
relieve me or the committee from do
ing all in our power to arrive at an
amicable settlement and prevent the
necessity of any strike, and | am OF this
opinion still.
My reply was delivered to the COM
at 4:45 p. m. Tuesday, or fifteen
minutes before the time fixed by them
for a reply.
ITO his letter I have had no reply
whatever. The policy OF the Wabash is
unchanged. 1t claims 1t is now paying
as good wages and has as equitable
rules as any of its competitors. If 1t Is
doing this, 1t stands ready, %injunc-
ton or no injunction, to carry out its
given to It's employees to advance
its wages or change its rules when it is
shown TO be out of line with its COM
petitors."
Gould P~ostpones His Trip.
1t was stated last night that George
J. Gould had indefinitely postponed his
trip over the southwestern
and western Gould lines which he gen.
orally makes at this time of the year.
1t is expected he will make the trip
a few months, accompanied by
G. Bird. who is soon to oCCupY the