The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-01-21
, RA|NMEN MAY Be ON
VERGE OF BIC STRIKE
Vote Being Taken and General
Walk-out is Predicted
. by Officers.
Grievance is that Brakemen are
Forced to do the Work of
Extra Firemen.

Pittsburg, Pa, January 19.--For the
second time in three months the train
men employed on the Pennsylvania
Railroad have voted on the question as
to whether they shall strike or not and
local leaders predict an overwhelming
ballot in favor Of quitting unless Pres
ident Cassatt accedes to certain de-
mands the entire system will be tied
up. Nearly $4,000 men will be effected,
directly or Indirectly, in the event Of
strike.
Robert Pitcaren left Pittsburg yes
terday on the receipt Of an urgent tel
egtam from President Cassatt, who is
at the general offices Of the company
in Philadelphia.
The gievance of the trainment is:
That the company has taken off
extra firemen between Altoona and
Harrisburg and compelled brakemen
to do the work without extra compen-
sation.
A protest was made by Vice Chief
Fitzpatrick of the Brotherhood of Rail-
road Trainmen, but no attention was
paid to it. Then the brotherhood Of
ficials submitted the question of
strike to the employees of the road and
indications so far point to a walk-out.
Mems Request Refused.
The employees of the road are said
to be much exercised over the action
Of the company. When the extra fire
men were taken off the brotherhood
officials requested that they be put
back. This was refused. The officials
then asked that the brakemen. who
were compelled to do the work done
by the extra firemen. be given an in
crease in wages. This was also re-
fused.
Reports from many of the cities
where the vote on the strike PROPOSE
tion is being taken state that the gen.
eral sentiment favors a strike. It is
understood that the conference Of Of
ficials of the company to be held In
Philadelphia to-day was brought about
by the seriousness of the situation, and
that some definite action will be taken
by them.
Three months ago the trainmen vot-
ed to strike after President Cassatt
had refused to sign an agreement with
the brotherhood officials. The train
men had first asked for an increase in
W6u1d not traaf WITH tie 81
officials, but would give his answer to
their requests in a new book Of rules
he was about to send out.
New Rules Are Issued.
When the new rules were posted 1t
was found that an increase in wages
had been granted to the conductors
and brakemen. This apparently satis-
fled the trainmen, as nothing further
was done by them.
They silently objected, however, to
the omission of one clause that had
been in the former rules. This pro-
vided that the company officials would
meet committees Of employees to adjust
grievances. The absence of this rule
in the new book caused much dissatis-
faction, the brotherhood officials
state, and when the present grievance
arose strike sentiment grew rapidly.
Officials Are Reticent.
None of the brotherhood officials
would talk for publication last night
the said that until the vote was count
ed nothing could be- said or done. If
the trainment vote to strike, then the
officials will notify President Cassatt
to that effect.
The railway brotherhoods are con-
servative organizations and their Of
ficials always exhausted every means
of bringing about settlement before
taking radical action.
The question Of a strike or peace
would therefore be in the hands of the
company officials to determine. the
brotherhood leaders state.
While such strike would at first
only affect the main line of the Penn
sylvania Railroad between Pittsburg
and Philadelphia, it is said it would
undoubtedly spread to the en~ire sys-
tenn.
Among the roads that might become
involved are the Pan Handle and the
Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago
This would affect Chicago freight and
passenger traffic.
The grievence Of the trainmen ap-
plies only to the employees on freight
trains, but should they strike, the
| union officials state. the employees on
| passenger trains would also quit This
would throw the engineers, firemen and
passenger conductors out of employ
! ment, making it impossible to run a
| single train unless nonunion men could
be employed.