The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-04

The strike of the Maintenance OF way
employees OF the Atlantic Coast Line
which was called on February 18th has
been declared off, the order going into
effect today. In the maintenance OF
way department of the Coast Line are
employed about 1000 men,
The reports made by the railroad COM
pany and the officials of the brother
hood varied widely concerning the
number OF employees who went out on
the strike. For some days past it has
been seen that the strike was practical
iy over. When the strike was declared
the officials OF the Coast Line at once
began filling the vacated positions with
new men. General Manager Kenly is
sued an order giving the strikers until
q certain date to return to work and
the order stated that all who did not
report for duty on that date would be
considered to have severed their con-
nection with the company. The strike
was called on the 18th of February and
the men were given until the morning
OF the 10th to return to work. Many did
not wait until the day named, but re-
ported for duty on Monday, February
18th. On and after the 18th the men
began returning to work and last week
q circular was issued by General Man.
aged KenIy saying there were only 16
section foremen on the First division
who had not returned to work. In the
other departments the vacancies had
haRn Cnnniin6 NV nnur man anI tho
workings of the maintenance of way
department was in its normal condition.
Mr.. John I. Wilson, president of the
International Brotherhood of Mainten-
ance Way Employees has been in the
city for the past two weeks. On sever
al different occasions Mr.. Wilson has
had occasion to visit The Messenger
office land we have found him to be most
agreeable in all transactions. He p
pears to be a man conservative in his
ideas and perfectly honest. In Mr.. Will
son the Maintenance of Way Employees
have selected an excellent man to rep
resent their interests.
Below is printed a portion of the Or
Ger issued by MI. John T. Wilson de
ciaring the. strike off. The order is
signed by John 7. Wilson, president and
issued under the official seal of the In
ternational Brotherhood of Maintenance
Of Way Employees attested by J. E..
Blizzard. general chairman. The order
is in part as follows:
Wilmington, n. c., March Bird. 1904.
To all Members OF the L. B. of M. w.
E., on the Atlantic Coast Line.
Dear SirS and Brothers:
My official sanction for you to sus-
pend work at noon, February 11th was
given for the following reasons:
: First. The company refusing to make
any concessions for the betterment OF
your conditions.
Second. The company refusing to sub
NIT TO arbitration.
Third a large majority of the mem
bers on the system voting to suspend
work and remain out indefinitely pro-
vided the company did not recede from
it's position.
Fourth. The president of the compa-
NY falling to answer a letter from me
explaining the situation, under date of
u 10th.
Fifth. The company's officials issuing
circular No. % under date of February
5th. authorizing the road masters to dis
charge all foremen who would not agree
to forsake your committee and assist in
maintaining the company in the stub
born position it had taken, receiving
numerous messages and letters adylS-
ing me that men were being discharged
for refusing to agree to sustain the
company, etc
The only things that 1 believe the
deserves to be censured for
are their refusing to submit the adjust
ment OF the differences between them
selves and their employees to impartial
arbitration and allowing men to be dis
charged by minor officials for refusing
to agree to sustain them in the position
they had taken. AS practically all OF
the foremen on the system (after being
advised by me not to vote in favor of a
strike without conditions had become
intolerable and without they had made
AA@s- ~ - ~ ~ al ~
definitely ordered the strike, l supposed
tina at least eighty or ninety per cent.
e them possessed enough character,
stability and determination to support
a strike for a few weeks or a few
months, n did not eXpect we would
make things interesting for the compa-
NY and give them a race for their money
before the latter part of March or the
first of April. Had those who ordered
the strike supported it in a lawful a
the employees would have been masters
OF the situation. The company has not
made a hard fight. Their claiming that
not more than twenty per cent. of TIE
men suspended work. that practically
all of the places made vacant had been
flied with competent men, telling men
on strike that practically all of the
strikers had returned to work on other
parts Of the road, ETC., was expected in
h outset by those who know anything
abou conducting strikes. If the re-
ports that the company selected inau-
entail men on different sections of the
road, made individual settlements with
them. by advancing the wages in order
to influence their weaker brothers to
return to work, paying more wages to
new employees han was paid to the men
who suspended work are true. 1t Is no
more than we expected them to do un-
der the circumstances. "a strike is war
and eli is fair in war"