New-York tribune., 1903-03-08
THg WABASH SITUATION,
Both Sides Waiting on Taj@uctiom-
Real Grievances of Men.

| St Louis March I've are working on the
answer to the Injunction" said Judge irwin, chief
counsel for the Wabash employees to-day.
''Ws are waiting on the answer to the injunc-
4ion," said President Ramsey, Of the Wabash. This
describes the situation in the present difficulty be-
tween tbs grievance eemmttees Of the drenaen and
trainsneu employed ana the Wabash Railroad.
| President RaHssy stated tonight that notwith-
standlng the injunction be Is perfectly willing to
set the sRpaoyez and consider sny grievances they
may heve "a present &c hiz with the view OF eoEn-
inR Go an aEa5cahle settlement.
Counsel for tha arauaen ana trzinEuen spent co.
Gay woFhsna aa The answer to the writ OF InJunc-
ton. At tbs dtfEsrena hotels which the head
quarters OF the efacials representing the railway
employees conferences were held. and the time was
passed waiting for the sngwsr to Be prepared by
the legal counsel Just when this answer VIII be
finished eannet be stated but &c ss probable that Il
wti Be at least tEp days more.
It is generally conceded that In case the action
of the court shall dissolve the injunction strike
VIII be declared as to the magnitude OF which
both sides ars non-comnnitaf IN their opinions.
In an interview With President Ramsey tonight
he was asked:
Suppose that pending the final decision eg the
court on this Injunction. there are any matters
connected with the question az issue between the
company and les employees, which they want to
settle, are you willing to meet them regardless OF
the injunctton?'
Certainly" replied Mr.. Ramsey. "As I have
stated before do not consider the injunction Pro-
SSSu1A&o as ulLeFP0slnk any obstacle between EHa
company and its employees in the way of settling
the questions now at issue any other question.
am ready at any time to meet any committee OF
employees and settle supposed grievances that can
be adjusted between US"
What win be your next move in case the tntlne-
zion Is dissolved and strike Is ordsrad?"
Then there will be but thing to do In such
an event." he replied. land that viii be to alI or
sndeavor to IN. all places made vacant by strikers
and 80 on with the conduct OF the trafie of the
Wabash Railroad"
John Hopkins chairman of the general commit
Tee, Order of Railway Conductors, has made a
written statement detailing the grievances held by
the wabash employees. He says that the real griev-
ance is not of wages, but is a violation of
the old schedule. His statement is as follows:
Tho real grievance is not case Of wages A
violation OF the old schedule is one of the causes
ting on preferred runs with regular crews that
ger, a monthly salary. This cuts the pay for
oaGs conductors aG from cents to cents while engl
these trains as for anv oBer e same ] IOf T0Fkg % 0
this is not the worst feature of the arrangement
the managers began to pile on the abuses so fast
that one could hardly believe the orders posted
ere crews on Detroit and Chicago runs after running
20 miles 4ust switch out the merchandise and take
II downtown without additional pay The next was
IQI miles each way. added to the St. Louis mer-
trip additional, wth an Increase Of about s. a
would make braE Eease so This mileage alone
ogliy run saying nothing Of the 200 miles he had
Detroit
Gago crews, after making 27O miles would wait at
Delay until cars received and take them
| downtown before being relieved.
But this is the straw that broke the caneTs hack:
/ two engines on and make them handle a dead
! freight train outside of the high class and now
! they wonder what we are kicking about. After we
work IKE slaves all winter In all kinds Of weather
without rest often for sixty hours stretch, we
/ are told We have nothing to complain Of In the
| spring, when navigation business
drops on, these preferred crews, with the big
glnes ana double headers, handle about half OF
/ snOWbaus or wait until nice. cold stormy winter
comes around again with its sIeet and ice on the
| running boards on top of the cars.
| me Adams injunction even takes away the
| permanent they hold men as bonded slaves.
/ NOW, for o. r. c. who
voted against c strike believe in upholdng the
| b. or X. I. and B. of L. f. to the last ditch
The statement Of Chairman Hopkins was shown
| to President Ramsey tonight. He said:
| Go not wish discuss the matter other than to
| say the alleged grievances mentioned by Chairman
hopkins were not referred to or brought by the
| committees in their meetings with the Wabash Off
not on preferred run, position they all afte-.
/ These runs part meat and high class freight
! trains which practically make passenger train
! time.
| Regarding rumor that the other roads will Join
in should strike be declared, Vice Grand Master
| Lee Of the Brotherhood of Trainmen, saId
Talk of other roads joining US in strike is fool
| iSh. The only way that could arise would be in a
road assisting road which strike is declared
case it is probable the grand masters will notify the
| lodges OF the assisting road that this being
| done, and order poll for a strike. However we
| are going to fight this out with the Wabash only.