Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-04
COURT STOPS STRIKE
asa leH2GSd --s'''rrt 81 2s''A
CONTINUED from First Page.)s
the situation was discussed and the follow
ing statement prepared.


ing statement prepared,
The hremen and trainmen. employed on
the Wabash system, by a decisive vote,
authorized thee committee representing
them. and the officers of their organiza-
lions to declare a strike If the wage scales
and other working conditions which they
had presented to the MANAGEMENT were not
granted. This course was decided upon
only after every honorable method. to in
duce. the company to. give them deserved
consideration had failed.
Their determination OF take this step
was deliberately reached as their person.
ally written signatures will attest. They
chose to hazard their employment and the
consequences 10 themselves and their fam
lilies that might follow rather than to
employees of this section who could not
meet their managing officials on terms of
equality and be accorded equal wages and
the same treatment given the employees
OF their class on other lines. Some idea
Of their situation may be conceived when
4 is known that the division officials of
the Wabash would not meet a committee
of their empoleys to hear or discuss mat
tiers Of complaint,
There was no question Of recognition OF
even though the influence Of the employees
was exerted through their organizations as
their action could not have been. made
effective or intelligently directed through
any other channel
Law Must BE Respected.
To prevent the men from carrying out
their determination to defend their position
in g. proper and legal way, the company
applied to and was granted an injunction
by Judge Adams of the. United States
court for the eastern district of Mis-
souri,, restraining the organizations, their
officers, the committee and all concerned
from directly or Indirectly sanctioning the
procedure agreed upon by the employees
To his command, as law-abidiHg citi-
Gems and organizations, we bow in sub
recognize that Until dissolved It Is he law we
While we view the action of the court
as subversive of American rights and priv
ileges, and we believe contrary to common
justice and fairness, we utter no defiance
TO its mandate and indulge in no heroics.,
we W NV viii. hoT6enysfFf' f5 t the ProSsSeding
written into the laws of our country, or
ganization of labor, which is today the
hope and protection of working people,
canno continue fits benefcent work.
In this effort we believe We will not only
have the support of organized labor every
are lovers of human rights.
AS to the action of President Ramsey in
the Judge. For years he has Boosted his
liked the distinction it brought him Of
being the one managing officer I'm this
section who could get along without
them
meet and deal with him had proved futile.
He did not fear a strike;' Gould easily
hll the mems places"
joled. They. told him that they would
strike II their requests were not granted.
He knew they were not in earnest and
that "he could handle the situation as on
previous occasions" Instead of meeting II
squarely and operating his property with
out the men, II he were able to do so, as
he has so often said, the ability which he
has asserted heretofore seems to nave de-
serted him and he takes refuge behind
the Injunction. the men are legally en-
meshed and must accept without protest.
under penalty of Imprisonment, the work
ing conditions which he chooses to i'm
pose.
purpose of the injunction goes no further
than 10 prevent outsiders from interfer-
ing with his employees, he will withdraw
the writ. the officers OF the organizations
will agree to leave the matter wholly TO
the decision of the committee OF his en-
ployes having the matter in charge and
abide the result.
(Signed) =. II. MORRISSEY,
Grand Master Of Brotherhood OF Railway
Trainmen
At $40 President Ramsey said to a re-
porter: ,
have had nothing from the men who
70 rest from a hard days work. / do not
believe there will be any strike.
This was nearly an hour after the issu-
ance Of the Injunction and after be had
sent a reply refusing the demands made
| upon him in detail.