The San Francisco call., 1903-12-24
Boldly Throws Down Gauntlet
TO Local Garments Union.
From Which Reports Come
That Trouble Is Impending
BROADLY HINTS THE
POLICY OF COMPANY
Manager Of United Railroads
Intimates That Threatened
Demands for More Pay and
Other Concessions Will Fail

In language that VIII not admit Of
nisinterpretation Manager Chapman
of the United Railroads yesterday is
sued a statement that can only be ac-
cepued in the light Of an ultiuaum 70
the employees Of the street railway lines
over which he has supervision. II IS Of
a defiant character. plainly intimating
that the corporation of which he is
the directing medium is prepared TO
meet all future demands OF the car
mems Union with firmness not here
tot0re exhibited by the company in its
dealings with its mer in matters per-
tanning 70 their respective interests.
Mr Chapmar's statement followed
The story published yesterday morning
20 the effect that dfssa tisfacion exists
among the members of the union over
the rulings Of the board Of arbitration
as regards the wage schedule and the
report that has gained wide circulation
that the employees are contemplating
making formal demand for a revision
OF the wage scale and for recognition
Of the unisn I'm the hiring and the dis
charging ~ men. The latter PROPOSE
ton is said 20 be the result Of the al
legged wholesale discharge Of employees
from the company on various pretexts.
but IN reality because Of their activity
in the affairs q the union.
TIRE OF TURMOIL.
The employer Who pays the highest
wages said Manager Chapman. is
entitled - the best service We are
dlschsrEing no man except for clear
and not then until after careful inves-
rigaJion, and I cannot conceive how it
may be said that our dismissals are
producing strained relations There is
p place. somewhere. where this con
stant agitation must stop. The United
Railroads Is entitled 10 a season Of in
dustrial peace. We have gone as far
as man can 20 and preserve his man
hood. and a mistake VIII be made If in
the spring we are confronted with fresh
demands and fresh troubles. Peaceful
methods of securing peaceful ends are
about exhausted and for the sake Of
All concerned hope that no one is
looking for trouble
Il 5o not care 10 discuss in detail the
5i=r7- 5ssaIs from our railway during the
last year" continued Manager Chap
man for they are not out Of the ordi-
nary. But probably some attention
should BE- given 10 a charge. publicly
made. that the relations between this
company and its men are strained in
consequence Of dismissals Of employees
FAIRNESS DESIRED
The United Railroads has always en-
deav0red 70 meet its men in a broad
spirit Of fairness The twenty -fve-ceut
rate prevailing here before the last de-
rnauds were made constituted the high
est rate general in any large city in
America When the last demand was
made we submitted il TO arbitration,
and ar Lah0n. International president
r the Carmen's Union. Joined Mr.
Straus IN "a ising the rate and creating
q graduated scale Of wages. making in
certain instances no change and in 9TH
ers granting an advance 10 25i4 and
Z--a cents per hour. The decision signed
~ lIessrs MahOn and Straus expressed
he belief that the award ought 10 and
would bring about a permanent and
long continued peace. IL should do 50
In al good conscience. for the rate is
higher than our former rate. which was
the highest rate paid men on any large
system in similar employment"