The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-03
HANNAHAN AND LEE
MAKE A STATEMENT.

For the past three months commtt1es of he
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Firemen and HFoah-
erhood of Railroad Trainmen have been in 81.
Louis attempting to secure from Mr.. Ran,ssy.
president Of, the Wabash, q code Of vu4adrI
rules acceptable to them. together with slunl-
lar increase in wages granted by other Lines out
Mr.. Ramsey's policy. IL he could b maAs to
EJECT committees at ALL to listen to what Shey
cared TO present. after which he would tell them
10 go back home and he would giye than his
answer when he found time" Efia answer has
always been IN the form Of q circular. some
times issued months later. stating ths rates Of
pay and rules under which the men would b
expected to work. The committees have nsver
had a voice in the making Of those rulesI the
same as committees on other systems
Other managers meet with like committees and
after general discussion. at which both the
company and men produce their argument for
and against the requests peaceful settlement
is always effected. except when the managing
officer takes the position as has Mr.. Ramsey
that the employees can have no voice In the for.
maticn Of the rules under which they work
Mr.. Ramsey has always heretofore succeeded
in defeating the request Of his men in one way
another. He lays particular stress on tie
fact that December l. 1902. he voluntarily In
creased their pay per cent. This was not done.
however. until long after the tranmen had ar
ranged to request 20 per cent. and the matter
had been published all over the country.
TIE rates for trainnen In freight service have
the Mississippi River. and. while Mr.. Ramsey
has lately published an Increase Of Is per cent
for freight service and IL per cent for passenger
service west OF the river. over rates in effect
January /. 1902. 1t Is difficult to make the men
east OF the river believe that their services are
not worth just as much as those Of the mea
west CT the river.
All manner OF influence was brought to bear
on the employees by the management to cause
them to dscredit their authorized committee In
some instances 'henchmen'' were ssnt among
the men with petitions to the effect THAT the
trainnen and yardmen were satisfied" and We
are sorry to say there are some persons Gran
in the employ OF railroads that. while holdiRe
membership in an organization. whose laws they
have agreed to support. instead Of having honor
enough to insist upon just treatment. are ready
to .seIl their birthright for q mesa Of pottase.''
We have doubt but what such men will b
found when the test comes. on the Wabash.
but will refuse to believe there are any great
number OF them.
Mr. Ramsey has refused to give the trainmen
and firernen a schedule Of rules similar to those
granted by all other Gould lines. He has viz
tuaIIy said TO his employees. You will accept
whatever rates and working conditions - nt
to E.ve you"
The finger OF soon has been pointed at the
Wabash employees for years. because they did NOT
have the courage to insist upon schedule and
the same treatment accorded employees Of sother
lines. and 1t has come to the place where ths
members Of these examinations must determine
whether they will continue to submit to Whatever
conditions Mr.. Ramsey may see ut to impose
upon them. He has seen 1T to bulletin several
changes desired by the men since tho committees
have been in St Louis. with view Of pacifying
the men Tor the present ana 10 Olscfeolt tno CON-
mittees. The trainmen and fremen have the ap-
proval Of their membership to the demands now
in the hands Of Mr.. Ramsey. He has said hs
would not meet treat with union committees
The question Is. Can he afford to refuse exactly
the same to his employees what other manageFs.
especially the Gould lines. have granted to theirs
without question?
". q. LEE
First Vice Grand Master B. Of r. {.
J. ]. MAMMALIAN.
Grand Master B. Of L y.