New-York tribune., 1903-03-05
STRIKE WOULD SPREAD.
RAMSEHS PREDICTION.
He Warns Wabash Men of Dire
Possibilities If They Go Out.

st.-Louis March 4-The Wabash strike hinges
the Injunction secured ssesterday by the
road. which the labor leaders sfI attempt to
have dissolved. Until this is done away with
there win be no strike. for the leaders have
agreed to obey the courts order. E. r Irwin.
Of Peoria, Ill, and e Y. Penny. Of Cleveland,
attorneys for the trainmen spent to-day in
conference with P. H 3Iorrissey. S. W. Arnold
and other union leaders. examining the injunc-
tion and preparing answer that will be pre-
sented in court probably tomorrow, to secure
8 dissolution OF the restraining order.
President Ramsey said to-day: Everything
has been running smoothly and there are no
indications that our men have gone out or will
do SO soon- have not seen any members
Of the grievance committee to-day, and know
nothing Of what Is transpiring at their head
quarters
Asked to the effect of a sympathetic strike
hy the trackmen. 1000 of whom, Grand Master
Wilkins says. are ready to support the train
men and firemen. MFR. Ramsey said: 1T would
have very little effect the situation In
case Of strike we could get all the men We
ouid need to take the places of strikers in
all departments'
= statement, explaining his position. was
issued to-day by President Ramsey to the
employees OF the Wabash and others interested.
lI Vas as follows:
The crisis existing the Wabash lines is
: very grave one. not only to the Wabash COM
Tany and its employees and to other railway COM
TanieS and their employees. but also to the COM
InerciaI and industrial interests OF the country,
ss a strike on the Wabash would. in all prob
;-bility, spread TO large number of other roads,
and would involve not only all organizations of
railroad employees but other labor organizations,
and the results might be serious that the
great anthracite strike would dwindle into in
Slenlncsnce- ineretore' deem II WIS., " NJ t,i
The employees all over the system and the punil';
,nrrectly advised of the exact facts regarding
the matters at issue. For this reason only L
make reply to some misstatements made by MI
NorT1ssey in the morning papers
The first is personal to the president or the
Wabash Mr. Morrissey says: For years he
,Mr Ramsey has boasted of his contempt for
Ia Dor organizations. He liked the distinction II
brought him of being the one managing of1cer
them. Every previous effort of the employees
70 meet and deal with him has proved futile
This statement is absolutely without truth l
have never expressed contempt for labor organ
izations. / may have for some hotneadeo
leader. who advocates the rule or ruin poncy
on the contrary, have frequently Salo 10 Ldoo
leaders, members and others, that had no OBJ
lection TO unions when properly and conserVd-
lively conducted, and when they did not abso-
lr.tely ignore individual rights or obligations
There hundreds Of organization men on tne
Wabash who know this; there are dozens %ho
y ere employed by me after the strike OF 1851
Gwo years before became connected. with the
Wabash-who offered to leave their association
u get hack to whom I said: That is not neces-
Sary- I don't care what organization you pc
long to. you reasonably loyal to the COM
panY and a good workman. nave not us
charged OF declined to employ any one on ac-
count OF membership in the organization: Inc
WabaS SIN employees are treated as men, with all
their rights as individuals recognized and as
long as they recognize the rights of their fellow
employees and give fair service TO the company
they have the right TO join any church or
rganization-political, labor or any other kind
they wish
During my thirty-three wears with this and
other railroads, I have never failed to meet any
committee of employees or any individual en-
rloye Who wished to see me. and have met
every committee now here several times, and
three of these meetings were with Meszrs. Han
1ahan. Lee and Wilkins present. meet such
Eanzations duly constituted. only say TO
,ham. Your grievances are as employees OF the
Wabash. and, therefore. we confer as en-
rIoyes-
Mr Morrissey says: Mr.. Ramsey bluffed and
r.ljoled the men, The Wabash men are men OF
some experience and know enough not to be
.-hlufTed and aioIed'' by me- except in one way,
and that was by fair treatment and fair play.
The truth is the ''bluf7ng and cajoling' has
heen entirely the part Cf the organization
leaders For the last two years they and their
aids have been urging the Wabash employees to
force the issue and. although their commit
tees have been around for two or three months.
they never could get and have not yet full
'ommittee Of the system. although threats OF
taking away lodge charters and expelling men,
hers WerC made
In speaking of Mr.. Ramsey's statement and
of the general situation P H. Morrissey, grand
master Of the Brotherhood Of Railway Train
Non: said to-n night:
All I have to say regarding Mr. Ramsey s
statement is that don't care TO enter into a
wordy contest through the press with Mr.. Ram
soy. because IT would not interest the public
and Z don not think it would be profitable to
either of US. The public has my statement as
we'll as his. and judge between the two.
Nv statement was based absolute facts and
be verified. if necessary. but realize that
the public does not about these details
We going to take steps to dissolve that IN
junction. cannot say just when II VIII be ac-
ronplshed. but possibly in a day or two. Our
attorneys arrived here to-day. and we VIII en-
TIov local attorneys. They will confer and take
the proper steps at the proper time.
Asked il he were in favor OF arbitration, Mr..
Morrissey said:
our organization is committed to the policy
..sr arbitration, but / don't see how arbitration
an be considered with the matter in the pres
cnt state We surely would not arbitrate our
y:iviIege TO dissolve the injunction. The In
junction is the principal point before US now
%orbing 1-ilI be done until 1t shall be deter
mined.
". G. Lee, First Vice-Grandmaster of the
brotherhood Of Railrad Trainmen, OF Cleveland
sid tonight:
Railroad employees aI over the country are
- afrhing this situation very closely All day
many times was called to the long distance tee-
phone / had nothing to say. but it Is sur
r1risng TO see what general and intense interest
has been aroused throughout the country
Judge Elmer B. Adams. Of the United States
District Court. who granted the injunction yes.
.crday said tonight regarding the decree:
The reasons for the decree are in the bill pre-
Sonted to me by the Wabash authorities
viii make any further statements Ehen as ]
understand. motion viii be mace py the oe'
fendauts TO dissolve the injunction The points
- isSue will then be carefully reviewed and