The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-05-23


ern' Pacific company into sympa.
thetic strike by insisting that the
Southern Pacific was assisting the
Union Pacific by loaning or selling
locomotives. As our shopmen are
perfectly satisfied with their treat.
ment rate OF pay and working rules.
we are careful to do nothing that
could remotely be construed as aid.
ing or assisting the Union Pacific.
Therefore. they have absolutely no
grounds for stopping work. As ex-
planned In tolegraphic circulars. the
first notice received by ghe company
was given by the chairman of the
Boilermaker's Committee who, on the
sixth OF May, showed the general
superintendent Of motive power
telegraphic order from the president
OF the Boilermaer's Union at Kansas
city instructing the mon 20 stop work
on the eleventh.
The agreement between the boiler.
makers on the Pacific system and the
company requires thirty days notice
from either party 20 the other OF de-
sire To change the relations estab.
llshed thereby. The committee
claimed that notice had been served
on the division master mechanics on
April eighth but upon inquiry this
was shown not to have been the case.
and In conference with the committee
they admitted that a mistake had
been made In not doing so.
We have been gwen 10 understand
that two reason existed for issuing
the order TO the Southern Pacific
boilermakers:
I. Because the Southern Pacific
had helped the Union Pacific by
transferring locomotives, and.
2. That II was feared that piece
work. prejudlcial 10 the men. was Ia
be extended In the boiler shops.
In response 90 the first. the com
mittee was assured by President Har
riman In a conference In his ofiice In
San Francisco that shortly after the
Union Pacific strike he had issued an
order that the Southern Pacific ON.
GERS were TO take no steps 10 assist
the Union Pacific In any manner
whatsoever. This order has been
strictly followed and assurance 20
that effect given the committee.
The question OF piece work In the
boiler shops IL covered In the same
/ agreement OF December 10. 1902.
which pledges the men as well as the
company 90 thirty days notice. The
best answer that can be made 10 the
alleged Intention OF the Southern
Pacific company 10 extend this plan
OF work Is 20 repeat a personal assur-
ance given by the president OF the
company TO the bollermakers when
they visited him that "The Southern
Pacific company does not intend TO
extend the piece work system In It's
boiler shops without conference and
agreement with the boiler makers"
Knowing as well as we DO that our
men are oOntentod and are unwilling
TO disturb the harmonious relations
now existing with their employers,
we wish. through explanation 30
widely disseminated as 10 reach every
Individual 10 refute the statements
In recently circulated afiidavits
amongst the boilermakers by parties
who recently travelled over the sys-
tenn These erroneous statements We
know established wrong premises,
and no doubt warped the judgment Of
our bOileTmakers In reaching their
conclusion % stop work.
Pleasant relations exist between
the company and its employees.
j. KRUTTSCHNITT.
Fourth Vice President and General
Manager.
Approved e. H. HARTMAN.
President