Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-07

han and Morrissey Of .he Brotherhoods Of
Firemen and Trainment with their at
torneys, discussing the application for a
dissolution of the injunction. This answer, |
with affidavits, win be filed tomorrow or
on Monday.
Union Manifesto COnciIiatOry.
The union manifesto is as follows:
The general committees OF the Brother
brotherhood OF Railroad Trainmen recon-
Vened at St Louis on March ,, 1893. The
settlement OF the grievances satisfactory
to the committee ana officers of the orgam-
cations could be effected was canSassed,
ana II was found that the required majority
OF each OF the organizations had voted in
favor of strike under such circumstances.
A letter was sent 10 President Ramsey,
communicating to him the fact that unless
he receded from his former position within
a certain time the members Of the organiza-
lions would quit the service OF the COM
Pany. This letter was answered by MIR.
Ramsey, who requested a statement from
me committees OF the exact points in dAI-
ference between himself and the men, 50
that II strike occurred he might know the
reason on which the action was based.
About the time this statement was being
delivered at his office the officers OF the
organizations ana the members of the
committees were served with a writ OF in
junction issued by Judge h. G. Adams of
the United states court for the eastern dis
trict of Missouri which has been published
in tull.
1t will be seen by this that to have sane
toned a strike under the circumstances
might have been construed as violation
of the order of the court. The order of
the court, had strike been declared, might
also have been construed as prohibiting the
prosecution of the same on the part OF the
Organizations or any of its representatives
The writ of Injunction was granted upon
bill OF complaint filed by the Wabash
Railroad company, alleging an unlawful
and malicious conspiracy on the part of
The ORGANIZATIONS and other allegations
we are taking the necessary legal steps
to protect our reports and we believe we
can furnish the court ample facts and sutti-
cient reference for Vacatng the order.
Until this has been done these organiza-
tions will respect the order Of the court.
We advise our officers and members, not
only on the Wabash system but elsewhere,
- - Joint PRoTEcfIvE BOARD:
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Ftremen by
Charles A. Lewton, chairman.
General grievance committee Brotherhood
Of Railroad Trainmen, by j. r. Courtney
Chairman.
Approved; -
Grand Master. Brotherhood of Railway
| b, @. LEE,
| First Vice Grand Master. Brotherhood Of
Railway Trainmen.
lszA RAHaseS saaalses Renlxs- * u.
This statement was shown to President
Ramsey and Colonel W. H. Blodgett. coun-
| sci for the Wabash, who both expressed the
opinion that the notice to Wabash employees
| to continue working would be pleasant news
| to most of them.
Regarding the probabilities OF a strike,
! President Ramsey said:
"In case the injunction is dissolved, !
think a strike is quite likely. In case Of
the dissolution it will probably be ordered
at once by the leaders The Wabash en-
ployes will not go out until ordered 20
do so
"A strike may inconvenience the Wabash
for some time, but it will not tie up the
system to any serious extent unless boy
colt is ordered at the different terminal
and junction points"
Mr.. Ramsey then discussed the action of
last Monday. when the Injunction was
served on the employees officials. He said
ION Monday afternoon l received formal
notice from the committee of the brother
hood that the vote of the trainmen and
fremen had been in favor Of declaring a
strike in the event that their demands were
not granted, and l was given until noon
| on Tuesday to answer 1t, failing to answer,
a strike would be declared.
81 replied to this communication and my
reply was delivered at the Laclede hotel
to The committee at p. m. Monday. As
this reply required the committee to fur
nish me their ultimatum, covering the
points which must be conceded in order to
prevent a strike. waited for reply until
! 1915 p. m. Tuesday or fifteen minutes
after the hour fixed by the committee itself.
Failing to get reply had the injunction
served.
Delay Causes Injunction.
at 1888 p m. I received a letter in
| answer to mine of Monday giving the in
formation desired.
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 further conferences would
have prevented the necessity Of its service.
Even after the injunction was served, l
replied in full to the letter received from
the committee. being OF the oplnion that
the service OF the injunction did not relieve
them or the committee from doing all in
our power to arrive at an amicable settle-
ment, and prevent the necessity Of any
strike. and am Of this opinion still.
my reply was delivered to the commit
tee at 4:45 D. m. Tuesday OF fifteen minutes
before the time fixed by them for a reply.
"The policy of the Wabash is unchanged.
1t claims II is now paying as good wages
and has as equitable rules as any of its
competitors. II II is not doing this, II
stands ready. injunction or no injunction.
to carry out its pledge, given to Its em>
ployes, to advance its wages or change its
rules when Il is shown to be out OF line
with its competitors"
Messrs Morrissey and Hannahan are look
ing forward to the visit OF George Gould
the head Of the Gould lines. including the
Wabash, to ST. Louis.
Mr.. Gould and his trafic manager. A. c.
Bird, are now In Chicago and have an
nounced that they will be in St. Louis on
, Sunday and make a thorough inspection Of
the lines. The leaders here are OF the Opin-
ion that Mr.. Gould is coming this way on
, special errand TO inquire into the situation
between the wabash and its employees.
Z Gould POstDORes Trip.
At the headquarters Of the Gould systems
IL was stated tonight that George ]. Goulf
has indefinitely postponed his trip over the
southwestern and western Gould lines.
II was emphatically denied that Mr
5 Gould's proposed trip to S. Louis was FOL
5 the purpose OF investigating the Wabasl
D trouble. II was stated that Mr.. Gould hal
e from the hrst referred these matters 4
: the officials OF the various systems and hAi
E paid no attention to notifications which h,
5 has received from the railway organiSa
lions.