The San Francisco call., 1906-08-30

ton of all sympathizers with union
labor to the fact that no principle of
uniOnism or non-unionissn viii be al
lowed TO disturb the true issue which
has arisen from the reckless repudia-
tiOn by union of its solemn contract,
without giving the employing company
even twenty-four hours delay to con-
slider and act upon its request. Rep
resentatiyes of the union had free
access to the officers of this company
as the officers had to each other, and
as the company has made two advances
In it's wage scale within four years and
has made concessions In the interest of
permanent peace, at the demand of
the union, our employees had every right
to believe that their requests would
have Mt least received respectful con-
sideration.
In this connection it should be spe-
ciaIIy noted that the original request of
the union which has now so recklessly
repudiated its contract was for an adj
vance of wages TO take effect, as of
September 1st, date not yet reached.
There was possible reason why the
men should not have continued at work
until September 1, because, from the
language of their own demand. they
only asked that advance In wages
should take place as of that date. The
recklessness with which their solemn
contruct with the United Railroads was
repudiated is further shown by the
fact that the California and Geary
street lines are still in operation. and
there is no more reason why the lines
of the United Railroads should not have
continued In operation than there was
for the continuance of the operation of
the other lines, upon whose motormen
and conductors has been superimposed
by The strike the enormous number of
additional passengers who were for
meriy carried by the United Railroads.
We cordially commend the continuance
of these lines in operation. and we re-
gard it as the one redecming feature of
this unfortunate strike, but we insist
that there in no more reason for the
operation of these lines than there ir
for the operation of the lines of the
United Railroads.
Whatever be the motive of this strike p.
whether it is political. as suggested or
otherwise, there certainly is peculiar
discrimination and unfairness and a
great Inconsistency in the unions no.
sitiOn, these two other street rail-
operated by members of the same union
with much additional work and diff
Guilty. as L have stated above. without
Increase in pay or decrease in hours
Ii is certainly impossible to reconcile
this discrimination with a Just purpose
or a fair principle.
The coInpany's attitude I'm the inter-
est of the welfare and convenience Of
the public is still that If its former en-
pioycs Will resume their work the conn
pany will yet give them preference In
employment and Will act upon their re-
quests promptly after they have recog-
nized their contract obligations and re-
sumed work. Unless this company,s
former employees shall immediately re-
turn TO work pending consideration Of
their former requests, ills company
recognizes it's duty to the public and
will, Notwithstanding the strike, have
it's cars manned by other competent
union employees and I'm full operation
within n few days. The situation will
then be that there viii be at least two
street railway unions in san Francisco
one among the employees among the
United Railroads and another among
the employees of the Geary and Cali
fornia street railroads, and possibly
still another among the employees of the
Union-strect railway when 1t resumes
ODerafiOu.