Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-03-05
OFFICIALS TRY TO
BLOCK THE GAME
President Ramsey Does Not
Think Firemen Will
Strike.
aIvEs OUT STATEMENT
Notified That He Would Be Given un-
til Noon Today to Decide About
Granting Demands-Morris-
sey Makes Statement.
a'vEs OUT STATEMENT

Granting Demands-Morris-
sey Makes Statement.
ST. Louis, March 5.-An injunction
granted by Judge Aams of the United
States district court prevented the Gull
mination yesterday of the threatened
strike of the 1.100 firemen and train
men of the Wabash railroad for high
Ell wages.
AS a result of the poll during the last
week amcng the employees over the
question of striking in case President
Ramsey ultimately refused to grant the
demanded wages and other concessions
on the Wabash east of the Mississippi
river. the engineers and conductors re-
fused to participate In strike. but the
firemen and trainmen favored II ems
phatically. Their committees yesterday
notified President Ramsey that he
would be given until noon to grant the
demands II by that time he still re-
fused a strike would be Immediately
called.
Yesterday afternoon President Ram
sey requested little more time, and
the two committees granted him until
5 o'clock to make Il final reply. Be
fore the latter time had expired Presi-
dent Ramsey had secured a restrain
Ing order from the court, and 1t had
been served on all the officials of the
orders and members of the grievance
committees The injunction is a most
sweeping instrument and effectually
blocked any strike proceeding. In part
1t reads:
We do therefore strictly command
you until the further order of the
court, absolutely to desist and refrain
from In any way or manner coercing,
persuading, inducing or otherwise
causing, directly or indirectly, the en-
ploycs of the said Wabash Railway
company to strike or quit the service
OF said company
The injunction is temporary, and the
writs are not made returnable. The
persons against whom the injunction is
issued may appear in court at amy
time and present plea to have the in
Junction dissolved, or if no one asks
that 1t be dissolved it may be made per-
manent.
Shortly after I o'clock, two hours aft
ter the injunction proceedings Presi-
dent Ramsey sent to the grievance
committees his reply to their letter
practically rejecting their demands.
The committee of firemen met and
talked over the situation last evening,
and then dispersed for the night.
Grand Master Morrissey of the Broth
erhood of Railway Trainmen said aft
ter the meeting last night: I'VE have
decided to make no move until after a
consultation With our attorneys. This
consultation will be held tomorrow
morning."
A signed statement was given to the
Associated Press by President Norris
sey In 1t he says:
The firemen and trainmen employed
on the Wabash system, by a decisive
vote, authorized the committees repre-
senting them and the officers of their
organizations to declare strike if the
wage scales and other working condi-
lions which they had presented to the
management were not granted This
course was decided on only after every
other honorable method to induce the
company to give them deserved con-
sideration had failed.
To prevent the men from carrying out
their determination to defend their posi-
tion in a proper and legal way the com
pany applied for and was granted am In
junction by Judge Adams of the United
States court for the eastern district "
Missouri, restraining the organizations
their officers the committees and all CON
cerned from directly or indirectly sane
tionins the procedure agreed upon by the
employees themselves. To this command
as law abiding citizens and organizations.
we bow In submission. We will respect
1t because we recognize that until dis
solved 1t Is the law. While we view the
acton of the court as subversive Of our
rights and privileges, and, we believe.
contrary to common Justice and fairness.
we utter no defiance to its mandate. and
indulge In no heroics. We WILL however.
contest the proceeding to the end. for II
Judge Adams order is within the laws of
our country organized labor, which is to-
day the hope and protection of those who
toll, can no longer contribute its benen-
cent INFLUENCES In lettering the condition
of the working people.
AS to the action of President Ramsey In
this connection we leave the public to
judge. FOR years he has boosted of his
,',1 TOT labor organizations. He
llked the distinction 1t brought him of he
ing the one managing officer In this sec
tlon who could get along without Them
ENery previous effort of the EMPLOYEES to
meet and deal with him had proved futile
He did not fear strike and could easily
MI the mems places" They refused TO be
longer bluffed or cajoled They told him
they would strike IL their requests were
not granted. IIe knew they were In Darn
est and that he could not handle the sit-
uation az on previous occasions Instead
OF meeting 1t squarely and operating his
property without the men, If he were able
to DO so, as he has SO often said the
ability which he has asserted heretofore
seems to have deserted him and he takes
refuse behind the injunction The men are
legally enmeshed and must accept with
out protest, under penalty of imprison-
ment the working condition which he
chooses to impose.
III his faith in his assertion that the nur
pose of the injunction goes no further than
ito prevent outsiders from interfering
with his employees" then he will with
draw the writ and the officers of the or
ganiZations will agree to leave the matter
wholly to the decision of the committee
of his employees having the matter in
charge and abide the result
After considering the demands set
forth In the letter sent him by the
committees representing the Wabash
tralnmen and firemen yesterday af-
ternoon President Ramsey early last
siderable length. Regarding the fire
mems demands, he said:
we now pay higher rates for firing
our engines than nearly all other roads
In this connection / would remind Won
that your own demands November 1s
last were for s2.4O for 100 miles on
heavy engines, and gave you 81. so In
our December / schedule, posted De-
cember 8, and on December 10 Won
raised to $3.50. The classification of
engines will stand on the s.. 30 and 81. so
rate until we find other lines paying
more for engines of the same weights.
The demand Is declined"
You now demand 10 per cent increa Sc
Tor all firemen on the Buffalo division
On Canada). This is an absolutely new
demand, and was not voted on by the
/ can consider no advance