The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-18
new HAVEN STRIKE IMMINENT
DIRECTORS COMMITTEE REFU SES
FIREMFN'S DEMANDS.
Wen Have Voted in Favor OF walking out.
and BrotherhoOd's Executive Commit
tee VIII Decide the Matter Tonight
Leader shea WIN Make No Comments.


this afternoon. decided not to grant the de-
mands of the firemen 10 represent engineers
in labor grievances. The committee sus-
tanned. in every point. the rulings of Presi-
dent Melen and Vice President Todd, from
whose decision the fremen's grievance
committee had appealed to the directors.
Whether or not the decision against the
fremen will cause strike will DO decided
tomorrow night, when the tiremens gem
eral executive committee will meet in New
Haven. Second Vice-Grand Master Tim
othy Shea declared tonight that he could
not say whether or not strike would be
ordered He said that the question would
be considered from a conservative stand
point at the meeting tomorrow night ana
that action would be taken only after due
elaboration.
Late tonight Sun representative was
told that there was little doubt that strike
was imminent. 1t was understood that MIR.
Shea has already received instructions from
national headquarters to sanction strike
il the vote of the iremen was overwhelming
in favor of such course, as 1t Is said to
have been
The meeting Of the committee OF the di-
rectors at the Grand Central Station lasted
more than two hours These directors at
tended the meeting: j. Perpont Morgan
and George MacCulloch Miller of New York;
Charles f. Brooker of Ansonia Conn;
Prof. George j. Bruch Of New Haven and
William Skinner Of Holyoke.
After the meeting Secretary John G.
Parker came Immediately to New Haven
with letter TO Second Vice-Grand Master
Shea, containing the directors decision.
Following is copy of the letter
" Timolp SbeG. Second Vice -Grand Master
Brohcrhood OF Locomotive Firemeu. Room
- Insurance Building, New Hare", Conn.
DEAR SIR The committee advises you Of
It's conclusion as follows;
The question at issue IL the following:
That IN the case OF engineers who have been
disciplined and are members OF the Brother
hood OF Locomotive Fircmen, upon taking
an appeal from the decision OF the officers
applying the discipline to a highe. oiiicer, that
a committee OF engineers members Of the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Firemcn. should
take up his case with the management instead
OF the engineers adjustment committee.
The committee having carefully considered
the statements made az the hearing. having
examined the records Of the company IN
regard to the questions at issue. and having
consulted with tho officers OF the company
ing conclusions. namely
That any aggrisved engineer is Guaranteed
an opportunity 70 be represented by mn adj
vocate before the officers OF the company by
the provisions contained in Article of tho
schedule made with locomotive engineers IN
our employ. In effect Jan. !. 1901. in which
article 1t Is provided that -all engineers VIII
be given q fair chance 10 defend themselves
against charges in holding INVESTIGATIONS.
All engineers who are interested Will be al
lowed 10 choose disinterested engineer 10
represent or accompany them before boards
OF investigation. Il they 80 desire when an
appeal is made after the first investigation.
The committee is in entire accord with the
position AIKEN and decision rendered In this
matter by the president and executive officials
charged with the operation and manage
ment OF the company's railroad. namely
that the claim OF your committee cannot be
conceded and believe that this decision 10
for the best interests OF the company
The decision OF the president and exeou-
tive officers as already communicated 10
you by them is, therefore, sustained. Yours
truly. CHARLES +. BRookRH, Chairman
Attest. JoHS Il. PARKER. Secretary.
Secretary Parker arrived here at clock.
He handed Mr.. Shea a copy of the directors
decision, and the two had long conference
while dining at the Hotel Oneco.
Shea said later that there would be a
meeting of the general executive committee
representing the firemen in Trades Council
hall. in this city, tomorrow. Every member
Of that committee, he said had been
promptly notified OF the action OF. the
directors and requested to come to New
Haven for elaboration on the next move
to be made by the liremens brotherhood.
"Will there be a strike of the flremen on
the New Haven roadg- MIR shea was asked
THAT l cannot say" he replied. Il will
say this much, that if there is any trouble
arising out of this controversy between
tho New Haven road and the firemens
brotherhood the men will not strike
They will simply leave the employ of the
company You have noticed that all during
tho discussion OF this matter we have
avoided the use of the word strike What
the next step will be on the part Of the
fremen's brotherhood on the New Haven
system, cannot at this time make known
for am not in position 70 know myself
AT the meeting Of the general eXeou
tive committee tomorrow the entire matter
will be thoroughly discussed and decision
as 70 what course we will follow will prob
ably be reached The situation will be
! CONblQeIeu from CONSTITUTING Hlduh-
/ point, and whatever action ia taken will only
I be taken after due elaboration on the
part OF the gentlemen who arc directing
/ the affairs OF the fremens brotherhood
| A s the situation Ia tonight. the respon-
| sibility for strike, II one is ordered on the
/ road. will rest with Second Vice-Grand
/ Master Shea That be will bring into the
/ conference some OF the officials Of the ma
tionAl body before he makes his final de-
I cision was minated
/ In his statement OF the roads position
! President Mellen said that this fight IL not
I one into which the road should be drawn.
/ He said that Il was a contest between
[ the fremen's brotherhood and the en-
/ gineer's brotherhood and that the road
} WAS not involved in any way whatever.
| Major Isaac Bromley, who IL at the head
| Of the press bureau Of the New Haven road,
said that the road was fully prepared in
case the fremen went on strike