The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-05
Injunction Has Not Stopped the
Joint Debate.
AT WORK.
Preparing Answer to the Com
Pany's Injunction.
Sympathetic Strike of 1000
Trackmen Threatened.

now hinges on the Injunction, which the
labor leaders viii attempt to nave dis
solved, and until this is done away with
there can be no strike. for they have
agreed to obey the courts order. E T.
Irwin of Peoria, H.. and E. V Penney
of Cleveland. attorneys for the train
men, spent Wednesday in conference
with Messrs. P. H. Morrissey and s. w
Arnold and other union leaders, examIn~
ing the petition on ewhich the injunction
was issued and preparing an answer
that viii be presented in court to secure
a dissolution of the restraining order.
There were no developments at Wa
basin headquarters. President Ramsey
said to the Associated Press: Every
thing has been running smoothly and
there are no indications that our men
have gone out or will do so soon. I have
not seen any members Of the grievances
committee and know nothing of what
is transporting at their headquarters
Asked as to the effect of a sym2a~
thetic strike on the part of trackmen,
1000 of whom. Grand Master Wilkins
says, are ready to support the train
men and hremen if they go out Presi-
! dent Ramsey said: 1T would have very
/ little effect on the situation. In case OF
a strike we could get all the men we
/ should need to take the places of strik~
/
A lengthy statement was issued BY
PRESIDENT Ramsey, addressed to en-
ployes of the Wabash road and others
interested, explaining his position in the
present crisis. 1t was as follows:
To the employees of the Wabash
railroad company and others interest
ed; The crisis now existing on the
aoash lines is very grave one, not
only 10 the Wabash company and its
employees and other railroad companies
and their employees, but also to the
4 commercial and Industrial interests of
the country as a strike on the Wabash
would IN all probability spread to a
large number of other roads and would
involve not only organization Of every
/ emplOye but other labor organiza tioDs
and the result might be so serious that
the coal strike would dwindle into in
significance Therefore I deem it wise
to keep the employees all over the sys-
tenn and the public correctly advised
or the facts regarding the matters at
issue. For this reason only I make re-
ply to statement made by Mr. Morris
sey in the morning papers.
The first is personal to the presi-
dent OF the Wabash Mr.. Morrissey
says: For years he. (AIr. Ramsey had
boosted of mis- contempt for labor or
ganizations- He liked the distinction it
brought him of being the one manag-
ing officer in this section who could get
along without them. Every previous
effort of the employees to meet and deal
with him as proved futile
This statement is absolutely without
truth. have never expressed con
tempt for dbor organization q may
have for some hot headed leader who
a advocates the rule or ruin policy. On
the contrary I have further said to
labor leaders, members. and others that
I had no objection to them when prop
erly and cOnservatvely conducted and
when they did not absolutely ignore
individual rights or obligations There
are hundreds of organization men in
the Wabash know this: there are
dozens who were re-employed by me
after the strike of 1884; (two years be
fore became connected with the Wa
bash) who offered to leave their as
sociation to- get back. to whom I said
That is not necessary. 1 do not care
what organization you belong to so you
I are reasonably loyal to the company
and a good workman I have never
discharged or declined to employ any
one on account of membership in an
organization. The Wabash employees
are treated as men. with all their rights
3 as individuals recognized and as long
as they recognize the right of the other
fellow employees and give fair service
to the company, they have the right fC
! join any church or organization. polltl-
cal. labor or other kind they wish
During my thirty-three years with Thu
and other railroads 1 have never failed t
meet any committee 81 employees or an.
: individual employe who wished to see me
\ and 7 have met every committee nov
here several times. and three of these meet
ings were with Messrs- Hannahan, lie
= and Wilkins. 1 met such committee know
ing they are members of organization
/ duly constituted. [ only say to. them
Wabash and therefore we confer as en-
T. mir Aforrissey says. Mr. Ramse
4 hluffed and cajoled the men. The Wabas
r men are men of some experience. an
know enough not to be blurred ana ca
r iOled' by me, except in one way, and tina
d was by fair treatment and fair pay.
g THE truth is the 'bluning and caJolins
& has been entirely on the part OF the or
! ganization leaders For the past tw
Z years they and their aids have been urs
: Tag the Wabash employees to force the Is
Z sue and although their committee IA
7 been around for two or three months the
= never could get and have not now a III
y ( committee of the system. although threat
7 of taking the lodge charters and expelln
3 members were made .,.s.r-7-
In speaking of Mr.. Ramsey's statemer
and of the general situation p II MOI
Railway Trainmen, said to the Associate
!, Press
7 IAN have to say regarding Mr.. Ran
K seyfs statement is that / do not care
+ enter into wOrdy controversy throug
y the press with Mr.. Ramsey. because
IN would rot interest the public and q
2 not think it would be profitable to eiths
Of us The public has my statement q
well as his ana can Judge petWeen th
two. My statement was based on absolut
facts and can be verified if necessary. b.
:, realize that the public does not car
Il about these details.
we are going to take steps to dissolS
that injunction I can not say just whe
E it viii be accomplished. but possibly
!, a day or two. Our attorneys arrived hel
:, Wednesday and we will employ local a
Z torneys- They will confer together an
u take the proper steps at the proper time
Are you in favor OF arbitrat ton ?
Our organization is committed TO Il
- policy Of arbitration Mr. Morrissey r
= Piled 4 do not see how any question
I. arbitration can be considered with II
y matter in its present state We surel
l. would not arbitrate our privilege to dI
y solve this injunction The injunction
= the principal point before US now Notl
= ing viii be done until II is determined =
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