Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-04-03
THE u. P. TROUBLE.
A LONG STRIKE, WITH THE END NOT
YET IN SIGHT.


Gain For the Cause of Unionism.
Recognition, ut Least, Secured.
Strikers Firm, With Solid Ranks.
The outlook for a settlement of the
strike Of the union machinists, boiler
makers and blacksmiths Of the Union
Pacific Railroad company is regarded
as discouraging, both the strikers and
the officials of the railroad refusing to
yield one iota, says the Washington
Star The difficulty began June last,
since which time it has grown in bit
terness, and indications warrant the
prediction that it will continue in force
for several months to come-perhaps
until next June.
This strike has attracted widespread
attention, not only among the respec-
tive crafts involved, but among the
rank and file of organized labor gener-
ally. 1t has thoroughly tested the
strength of labor unionism and, it is
claimed, proved that sin union there is
strength" The officials of the Interna-
tional Association of Machinists, who
are located In this city; the Internation-
al Union of Boiler Makers and Ship
builders and the Brotherhood of Black
smiths are naturally concerned, work.
men to the number Of 1000 affiliated
with those organizations being in
volved In the difficulty.
According to statements of the Off
cials of the machinists' union, the
strikers have not manifested the slight
est desire to yield to their employers
and are, as body, tirmer today than
at the time the strike was inaugurated.
The workmen affected by the difficulty
are paid weekly strike benefits by their
respective international bodies and are
receiving financial aid from other or
ganizations and those persons who are
In sympathy with them.
From a labor viewpoint 1t cannot be
said that the difficulty has not been
productive of good. When the strike
was inaugurated, the railroad officials
We're loath, it Is said, to recognize the
union employee when considering the
affairs of the company, but they finally
relented and extended the hand of fel-
lowsEip to the officials of the interna-
tional labor unions with which the
strikers are affiliated and made known
their desire to have the difficulty adju-
dicated. Subsequently there have been
several conferences between the strike
leaders and the officials Of the railroad,
but at none could the conferees agree
upon any definite plan. A conference
was recently held in Omaha, the strik-
ers being represented by men of their
immediate organization and several of
the international officers of the various
bodies. The latter were present in re-
sponse to an invitation extended to
them by the railroad officials at pre-
vious meeting. This last conference
was also productive of no agreement,
both parties remaining steadfast to
their convictions, and as a result the
trouble is in very entangled state.
The principal causes Of the strike are
that the union officials are unalterably
opposed to the premium system of
work, the men preferring to labor by
the day; that the strikers believe they
should receive an advance in salary of
at least Is per cent; that new system
Of shop rules should be framed and
regulations as to the number of ap-
prentices that should be employed be
established.
According to an official of the ma
chinists' association, the railroad men
are desirOus of inaugurating the pre-
MUM system, which has been the topic
of much discussion at all the confer
ences and have expressed a willing
ness to grant the increase of pay and to
frame new set of shop rules and reg
ulations regarding the employment of
apprentices upon the condition that the
strikers shall acquiesce in so far as the
premium system is concerned.
The officials Of the machinists offer
several objections to the premium sys-
TEN. the principal one. being that it