The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-08
Charged with Putting ON "Preferred
Runs" and Making Employees Do
Much 6r Little Pay.
COMMENTS BY MR.. RAMSEY
HOPKINS SORE BECAUSE HE HAS
NOT A "PREFERRED RUM
Advance OF II to 15 Per Cent. for
Uafon Pacific Employees The
Structural Steel Strike.

ST. LOUIS. Mo-, March 7.-Counsel for
the nremen. and trainmen OF the Wabash
Railroad spent to-day in preparing the
by President Ramsey. at the different no
tel rooms conferences were held while
waiting for the answer to be prepared by
the legal counsel. This answer, 1t is prob
able. will not be finished before Tuesday.
President Ramsey said tonight that.
pending the final decision of the court on
the injunction. he was willing to meet the
men regarding any matters connected with
the question at issue between the company
and It's employees regardless of the injunc-
tion. II the injunction is dissolved and a
strike is ordered there will be nothing left
but to fill. or endeavor to fill. all places
made vacant by strikers. says President
Ramsey.
John Hopkins, chairman of the general
committee. Order OF Railway Conductors,
has made written statement detailing the
grievances held by the Wabash employees.
He says the real grievance is not a case
OF wages. but is a violation of the old
schedule. This is done." he says. "by the
company putting on preferred runs with the
regular crews that get monthly salary.
This cuts the pay for brakemen from 2
cents a mile to about IA cents: conductors
from cents TO cents, while engineers and
firemen receive the same for working on
these trains as for any freight train. But
this is not the worst feature OF the arrange
raent- After the company had these runs
well established the managers commenced
10 pile on abuses SO fast that one could
hardly believe the orders posted In the bull
1etin books. The first of these was that
crews on Detroit and Chicago runs. after
running 40 miles. switch out the mer-
chandise and take 1t down town without
additional pay. The next was 101 miles each
way, added TO the st. Louis merchandise
run, making II 2o2 miles in the round trip
additional, with an Increase of about 50 per
month. This additional mileage alone
would make brakeman 5000 per month,
as II Is daily run, saying nothing of the
was the Detroit and Chicago crews, after
making 270 miles. would wait at Detroit un-
til cars arrived and would take them down
town before being relieved.
But this Is the straw that broke the
carnel's back Not being satisfied with all
this for nothing, they put two engines on
and make them haul a dead freight train
outside OF the high class, and now they
wonder what we are kicking about. After
We work like slaves all winter I'm all
kinds Of weather without rest, often for
sixty hours at stretch, we are told we
have nothing to complain Of This spring
when navigation opens up and business
drops of. these preferred crews with the
big engines and double-headers, can handle
about half OF the business and the rest OF
us can eat dried snow-balls or wait until
nice. cold. stormy winter comes around
again. with its sleet and ice on the run
ming boards on top OF the cars.
The Adams injunction even takes away
the right TO quit the company's service
and II made permanent they can hold men
as bonded slaves. Now /, for one, an o.
r. c. man. and one who voted against a
strike. believe In upholding the B. of T.
and B. OF r. r. I.
The statement OF President Hopkins was
shown TO President Ramsey tonight He
said IT do not wish TO discuss the mat
ter Iurther than TO say that the alleged
grievances mentioned by Chairman Hop
kins were not referred to or brought VI
by the committees in their meetings with
the Wabash officials. The trouble with Mr.
Hopkins Is that he is not on a preferred
rum q position they are all after. These
runs are part meat and high-class freight
trains which make passenger train time.
Regarding a rumor that the other road:
will join in, should a strike be declared
Vice Grand Master Lee. of the Brother
hood of Trainmen, said: Talk OF Other
roads joining US in strike is absurd
The only way that coulo arise would be IN
road assisting a road on which a strike
Is declared by sending men to fill tht
strikers places. In that case IL is probable
the grand masters win notify the lodges o
the assisting road that this was beins
done and order poll for a strike How
ever, we are going to fight this out will
the Wabash only"