Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-05-26
WILL STAND FIRM,
Express Companies Will Not Recede
From Stand In Chicago Strike.

New York, May 25.-That the express
companies will not recede from the po-
istion they have taken in connection
with the teamsters' strike in Chicago
was the statement made, today, by
United States Senator Thomas C. Platt.
president Of the United States Express
Co. The senator explained at length
the attitude cf the affected companies
gave his views FOR reasons and right
eousness of that attitude and concluded
with the positive statement that the
striking drivers in Chicago would not
be re-emplOyed.
'The wagon men in Chicago left the
Express Cos. service at the demand Of
the Teamsters' Union.' said the sena-
tor. "and in so doing they not only vi
Olated the union contract with the ex-
press company, but what is Nf more
Importance they violated the.c signed
agreements with the express company
to obey its regulations. Their action
ma t. rally affected the ability of the
EXPRESS company TO discharge its pub
lie duties and caused serious loss and
damage. Such men cannot in the very
nature of things be taken back into the
|
all possible for the express conpa nies
to discharge their public duties by m
pioying my man in their places who
would act in the same manner.
"The express companies occupy the
position of public servants and they
consider themselves under legal ohli-
gations to transport the property
which is offered them for transDOrta-
tion and under moral. if not legal OBJ
legations to deliver it at a point where
they have service. The consequences of
interruption in the express service and
of impairment of it's ability to safely
and promptly discharge its obliga-
tions are of the most serious charac-
ter, since any interruption of service
is highly injurious to the public well
fare. The express companies cannot
discharge their public duties without
the aid of efficient and trustworthy
employees the wagon men occupy a
| most important position.
"The express comrony Is absolutely
dependent upon their efficient service
to deliver shipments to the public. to
col'0c' the shirments the public de-
sires to make. to sign receipts for ship
ulerts. thereby imposing legal con-
tract upon the express company to col
Iect large sums Of money and to dis
charge other and important duties.
Manifcstly the express company can
not entrust it's business to men who
are liable at the demand of 4 union to
break their engagements with the ex-
press company and refuse to discharge
their duties. Any such condition OF al
fairs would simply produce chaos.
"The public character of the COM
pany cannot be ignored or set aside ny
arguments and appeals to prejudice.
nor is it possible to place its wagon
men upon parity with wagon men
employed by coal dealers. lumber deal
ers or any other private enterprise. The
express companies cannot by virtue OF
their public character take part In dis
agreements i'm other lines of labor any
more than the police force of a city or
the firemen of a city. Of the soldiers OF
the United States army could take part
in or be Influenced by quarrels or dlsa-
greements in the labor world. The ex-
rress companies must MAINTAIN d
purely neutral attitude in all such mat
ters and discharge their public duties
without fear or favor"