The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-03-10
WILL MEN VOTE TO STRIKE?
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Continued from First Page.1 hon. but said that the company could not assent to negotiate with one group of employees on alleged grievances of another group.
 The committee convened here were instructed by their constituents to se- cure joint hearing and they will not divide whatever happens. The national officers, who will do everything to set tie the matter gracefully,w not, how ever advise a division of the commit tees. In taking a poll of the system to determine whether a strike shall be or dered the members of the committees will go to their home points and at special meetings of their constituents report progress made and give the facts concerning the hitch in negotiations. Each man will then be given vote. The committeeman will return to this city and if the employees vote to abide by the course of the committee this body is empowered to call a strike.
 Several of the members of the com- mittees returned to their homes last evening and the polling will commence to-day. .
 A1Ook Ol t1tC JCoANANoS AS NNE posed to have been spent in deciding what recommendations shall be made to the men along the lines who sent the committee here to secure the joint con- ference.
 The men can order strike if they see fit. The national organization can veto the strike or sanction it. If the latter action is taken the strikers Will have the benefit of support from the national treasury while the strike lasts. If the strike is not sanctioned by the national organization the men who strike get no aid.
 The committee will abide by the ac- tion os the employees and vote to strike would be carried out by the com mittee and grand officers; if the men vote that the company's action should go unchallenged. then the committee will present it's grievances separately.
 This will necessitate the forming of a new demand for each body, the con- ductors and the trainmen. The com mittee will then be in conference with the company separately. Just what would follow, provided this turn Of affairs actually occurs, if the company granted the demand of one and re- fused the others, is another matter that will cause considerable speculation.
 The statement that the company is willing to trea. all the men with per feet fairness but will not discuss one branch of the business with those not employed in it was the cause of con- siderable comment last evening. It was learned last evening from relia- ble source that the officials of the road would meet committee of firemen to- night who would state their grievance concerning the discharge of an engin- eer.
 It was also learned last evening that in a letter sent to the roads officials this question was asked: Why do you not let the conductors and train men have a similar schedule to that of the tiremen and engineers?"
 Those who will vote as to whether strike shall be inaugurated or not are the trainrnen, who include the brake men, baggagemen, f1agmen and yard men of both the passenger and freight service, and also the conductors of both service.
 Nothing more will be known on the situation until the result of the polling is known.
 In the mean time Second Senior Con- duetor c. H. Wilkins will return to his home in Lowell Mass, until the polling is finished, while Third Vice Grand Master Val Fitzpatrick will remain in this city.
 The result may be known on Satur- day night bu: is not expected until Monday.