Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-03-05


showing why the restraining order
granted Tuesday by Judge Adams
Tuesday should not be made perma-
nent.
The men are still at work, but the
possibility of the fremen and train
men striking as individuals is now be
ing discussed.
The counsel for the trainmen an
nounced this afternoon that the mo-
tion for dissolution of the restraining
order would not be ready for presen-
tation for several days.
st. Louis, March 5.-Developments
in the impending strike situation on
the Wabash were very few yester-
day Everything now hinges on the
injunction. which the labor leaders
will attempt to have dissolved, and I'M
til this shall be done away with there
can be no strike, for they have agreed
to obey the courts order. +. II. Irwin,
of Peoria, and L. V. Penny, of Cleve7
land. attorneys for the trainmen, spent
the day in conference with MeSsrs. Z.
Y. MorrisSey and 5. w. Arnold and
other union leaders, examining the pc
tition on which the injunction was is
sued, and preparing an answer that
will be presented in court TO secure
dissolution of the restraining order.
Ramsey's View of the Situation.
President Ramsey said to the Asso-
ciated Press: Everything has been
running smoothly and there are no in
dications that our men have gone out
or will do so soon. L have not seen
any members of the grievance commit
tee today and know nothing of what
is transpiring at their headquarters
Asked as to what effect sympathetic
strike on the part of the tracllmen,
1000 thousand of whom Grand Mas
ter Wilkins says are ready to support
the trainmen and firemen if they so
out, President Ramsey said: 1T would
have very little effect on the situation.
In case of Il strike we could get all
the men we Should need to take the
places of strikers in all departments
Wabash Issues a Statement.
4 statement was issued yesterday
from Wabash headquarters in reply to
the statements of Morrissey, which
We're published yesterday. The Wa
bash statement is signed by President
Ramsey and addressed to the employees
of the Wabash railway land others
interested" 1t says the crisis on the
Wabash is so grave that it might de-
velop Il situation alongside of which
the anthracite trouble would be small.
He therefore desires the exact facts"
kept before the public. For that rea-
son he says he makes reply to Nor
rissey's statement of yesterday.
Ramsey says III part: ~Tne nrsI
[of Morrissey's statementsl is per
sonal to the president of the Wabash.
Mr. AIorrissey says: For years he
[NIr. Ramseyl has boasted of his con-
tempt for labor organizations. He liked
the distinction it brought him of be-
ing the one managing officer i'll this
section who could get along without
them. Every previous effort of the chi
ployes to meet and deal with him have
proved futile This statement is alb
soluteIy without truth. / have never
expressed contempt for labor organ
izations' q may have for some not
headed leader who advocates the rule
or ruin policy.) On the contrary, L
have frequently said to labor leaders.
members, and others, that l had no
objection to them when properly and
conservatively conducted. and wien
they did not absolutely ignore lndlNld-
uaI rights or obligations.
There are hundreds of organization
mel, on the Wabash who know this;
there are dozens who We're re-em-
ploycd by me after the strike of 1894
two wears before 1 became connected
with the Wabash), who offered to leave
their association to get back, to whom
l said: That is not necessary. l
don't care what organizations you be
long to so you are reasonably loyal to
the company and a good workman.
L have not discharged or declined 10
employ any one on account of MEM
bership in an organization. The Wa
bash employees are treated as men.
with all their rights as individuals
recognized, aud as long as they recog-
nize the rights of the other fellow en-
ployes and give fair service to the com
pany they have the right TO join any
church or aniZation-politieal, Ia
Dor or other kind they wish.
During my thirty-three years with
this and other railroads, l have never
failed to meet any committee of en-
ployes or any individual employe who
wished to see me, and 1 have met
every committee now here several
times and three of these meetings were
with A1ssrs. Hannahan, Lee and VIII
kins present Mr.. Morrissey
says: Mr.. Ramsey bluffed and cajoled
the men, The Wabash men are men
of some experience and know enough
not to be 'bluffed and cajoled' by me,
except in one way and that was by
fair treatment and fair pay"