The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-20
Now Said Strike May Be Averted
on Pennsylvania.
Preliminary Conferences Were,
However, Unsatisfactory.
WOULD MEAN LOSS.
A Strike Would Be Costly to
Company and Trainmen Alike.
Gossip and Matters OF Interest
I'm Railroad Circles.

Philadelphia, Jan. 20-Though both
sides are firm and not disposed to yield
anything, developments in the contro-
versy between the Pennsylvania Rail-
road company and the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen indicate that an
amicable settlement of the dispute may
be effected shortly without a resort tc,
extreme measures. The chance of a
break was temporarily averted by the
decision of Vice Grand Master Lee and
his associates to send for Grand Master
P. H. Morrissey for the purpose Of con-
sultation- Upon the latters attitude
and the result Of conference which
MI Morrissey and the Brotherhood
committee viii have with General Man
ager Atterbury tomorrow the question
of a strike IS dependent All of the
torty-tve local unions in the Brother
hood east of Pittsburg and Erie have
been supplied with cipher codes so that
In case a strike is decided upon the
order to suspend work can be carried
into effect at once.
The decision to send for Mr.. Morris
sey was made last night after the
trainmen's committee had left Mr. At
terbury without coming to an agree
ment. Mr.. Lee telephoned the grand
master at Cleveland that he was need
ed here and after Mr.. MorrisSey had
decided to start for this city. Mr.. Lee
arranged for a conference with Mr.. At
terbury this afternoon. The failure
OF the grand master to arrive during
the day, however, led to a postpone
ment of the conference until tomorrow
morning In discussing the situation
last night Mr.. Lee said:
I'VE stand where we stood after our
conference with Mr.. Atterbury on
Wednesday. Nothing has happened to
minimize the prospect of a strike.
While we have absolute authority to
settle the question or order out the
men it was deemed best to put Grand
Master Morrissey in touch with the sit |
uation before any action was taken. He |
is the highest officer in the Brother |
hood and it was considered wise to let |
him see just how matter stood
Mr. Atterbury said tonight that so |
far as the company is concerned there |
was no change in the situation.
In an interview today Mr.. Lee re- |
flutes Mr.. Atterbury's statement that |
the only point at issue was the Ques- |
ton Of compulsory firing.
Mr.. Atterbury has misstated the |
case in declaring that the question of
the reduction of brakemen is not an
issue in the controversy" he said. He 1
Is wrong when he unqualifiedly says
number of Workmen IS concerned the
committee, without dissent, repeatedly
asserted that the company had undis-
puted right to determine the number
of men that should constitute a crew.
which left the question Of assistance to
the hremen by the brakemen the only !
one now unsettled.
1T is true that we waived the uues-
ton of reduction of forces, but we only
did SO pending the settlement of the
other point-compulsor firing. But the
failure to adjust this latter question,
leaves both points unsettled.
and both of these points must be taken
care of or there will be no settlement"
An official of the Pennsylvania rail-
road said that the company has evil
dence that Vice Grand Master Lee I'M
reservedly waived theQustion of the re-
duction Of the number Of brakemen,
which it is held narrows the dispute to
the question of compulsory firing This
evidence IS said to be a statement by
Mr.. Lee that it is the company's right
to operate their trains with whatever
number of men they see tit; that the
about that point and does not presume
to dictate how many shall constitute
crew.
Vice Grand Master Lee also takes ex-
ception to the statement made by Mr..
that the propositions he
made to the trairmen's committee on
were not submitted to the
men when they voted for the strike. Mr..
Lee said that the propositions were
verbally conveyed to every man who
voted and that every voter thoroughly
understood Mr.. Atterbury's PROPOSE
tons when he cast his ballot.
I'VE did not have the propositions
embodied in the printed ballot which
already had been issued when Mr.. At
IefDufy'S concessions were o1ered, he
said. we would not pay the expenses
involved in changing the circular and
we did not go to the expense because
the propositions promised very little to
the men and we knew they would not
influence the voting"
Mr. Lee in stating the trainmen's side
of the case said:
mo other railroad company in this
country or Canada has ever expected a
brakeman to fire a locomotive
The objection to the arrangement is
very largely due to the fact that the
brakemen dress to Withstand cold
weather and when they are compelled