The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-03-06
OFFICIALS TRY TO
BLOCK THE GAME
President Ramsey Does Not
Think Firemen Will
Strike.
GIVES OUT STATEMENT
Notified That He Would Be Given IN
til Noon Today to Decide About
Granting Dernands-Morris-
sey Makes Statement.

InlnallOn yesterday VI liz
strike of the LOO fireInen ana tram
men of the Wabash railroad for high
er wages.
AS a result Of the poll during the last
week among the employees over the
question of striking in case President
Ramsey ultimately refused to grant the
demanded wage and other concessions
on the Wabash east of the MISSISSIPPI
river, the engineers and conductors re-
fused to participate in a strike, but the
fremen and trainmen favored 1t en-
phatically. Their committees yesterday
notified President amse that he
would be given until noon to grant the
demands. IF by that time he still re-
fused a strike would be Immediately
called.
Yesterday afternoon President Ram
sey requested a little more time, and
the two committees granted him until
S o'clock to mak a final@reply. Be
fore the latter time had expired Presi-
dent Ramsey had a restrain
ing order from he court, and 1T had
been served on all the officials OF the
orders and members of the grievance
committees The Injunction is a most
sweeping and effectually
blocked any strike proceeding. In part
it reads:
I'VE do therefore strictly command
you until the further order of the
court, absolutely to desist and refrain
lTOitl III any way Ok ldililS SoSiSllS,
p~ersuading, inducing or otherwise
causing, directly or indirectly, the en-
ployes of the said Wabash Railway
company to strike or quit the service
of said company"
The injunction is temporary, and the
writS are not made r~eturnaDle. The
persons against whom the injunction is
issued may appear in court at any
time and present a plea to have the in
Junction dissolved, or if no one asks
that it be dissolved it may be made per-
manent.
Shortly after 1 o'clock, two hours af-
ter the injunction proceedings, Presi-
dent Ramsey sent to the grievance
committees his reply to their letter
practically rejecting their demands.
The committee Of firemen met and
talked over the situation last evening,
and then dispersed for the night.
Grand Master Morrissey of the Broth
erhood of Railway Trainmen said .af-
ter the meeting last night: I'VE ave
decided to nah no move until after a
consultation with u attorneys. This
consultation Will be held tomorrow
morning
A signed statement was given to the
Associated Press by President Norris
sey. In 1t he says:
THE firemen and trainmen employed
on the Wabash system, by a decisive
vote, authorized the committees repre-
~ eihSAA AAAt hiNN any, VI lilNl
organizations to declare q strike if the
wage scales and other working condi-
tons which they had presented to the
management were not granted. This
course was decided on only after every
other honorable method to induce the
to give them deserved con-
sideration had failed.
To prevent the men from carrying out
their determination to defend their posi-
ton in a proper and legal way the COM
pany applied for and was granted an in
junction by Judge Adams of the United
States court for the eastern district Of
Missouri, restraining the organizations.
their officers, the committees and all con-
cerned from directly or indirectly sane
tioninS the procedure agreed upon by the
employees themselves. To this
as law abiding citizens and organizations.
we bow in submission. We will respect
1t because we recognize that until dis
solved 1t is the law. While we view the
action of the court as subVersive of our
rights and privileges. and. we believe.
contrary TO common justice and fairness.
we utter no defiance to its mandate. and
indulge in no heroics. We will, however
contest the proceeding to the end, for If
Judge Adams order is within the laws of
our country organized labor, which is TO-
Gay the hope and protection of those who
toll, can no longer contribute its benefit
cent influences in bettcring the condition
of the working people.
AS 10 the action OF President Ramsey in
this connection we leave the public to
judge. For years he has boasted of his
contempt Tor labor organizations. He
liked the distinction it brought him of he
ing the one managing officer in this sec
ton who could get along without them !,
Every previous effort of the EMPLOYEES to
meet and deal with him had proved futile
He did not fear a strike and could easilv
MI the mems places" They refused to be
Gnpa Hlll n ~ -e.~I1
they would strike If their requests were
not granted. He knew they were in earn
est and that he could not handle the sit
uatlon as on previous occasions. Instead
OF meeting 1t squareiy and operating his
property without the men, If he We're able
10 DO SO, as he has so often said the
ability which he has asserted heretofore
seems to have deserted him and he n axes
refuse behind the injunction. The men are
legally enmeshed and must accent with
Out protest, under penalty of imprison-
ment, the working condition which he
chooses to impose.
If his faith In his assertion that tho MIR
pose OF the injunction goes no further than
TO prevent outsiders from interfering
with his employees" then he will with
draw the writ and the officers of the Or
CARNATIONS will agree to leave The n,atter
wholly to the decision of the committee
OF his employees having the matter in
charge and abide the result.
After considering the demands set
forth in the letter sent him by the
committees representing the Wabash
trainmen and firemcn Yesterday az.
ternoon President Ramsey eariy last
evening made reply Ia a letter OF con-
siderable length. Regarding the fire.
mems demands. he said:
We now pay higher rates for firing
our engines than nearly all other roads
IN thls connection | woul remind Won
th2t Your own demands November 1e
last were for $40 for 100 miles on
heaNy engines, and l gave you 81. so in
our December l schedule. posted NJ
ce!hper s. and on December 10 Won
raised to $3.50. The classification of
engines will stand on the $2.3O and s.. 20
rate until We find other lines paying
more Tor engines of the same Weights !
me demand Is declined"
1ou now demand 10 per cent. increase
Tor all hremen on the Buffalo division
IN This is an absolutely new |
M