Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-24
RAILWAY FlREMEN STRIKE
Southern Pacific h en- in Louisiana and
Texas Suspend Work.
VIOLATION or CONTRACT IS ALLEGED
Strikers Claim Right to Represent
switch Engineers in All
Dealings with the
Company.
VIOLATION OF CONTRACT is ALLEGED

HOUSTON, Tex, Dec. 23.-Pursuant to
an ultimatum issued yesterday by the au-
thorized officers Of the Brotherhood of Lo-
comotive Firemen. following referendum
vote OF the members of the brotherhood af-
fected, a strike OF locomotive firemen went
into effect this afternoon at o'clock on
the lines of the Southern Pacific company
in Texas and Louisiana.
About go or 400 men are involved in the
strike and the lines to which the strike
order applies are the Morgans Louisiana
g. Texas, the Iberia & Vermilion, the
Louisiana & Western, the Texas & New
Orleans and the Galveston, Harrisburg &
San Antonio.
These lines extend from New Orleans to
FL Paso, twenty-eight branches, reaching
several important by-points in the two
states named.
The trouble has been incubating ever
since the Southern Pacific company, ac-
cordlng to the firemen. abrogated the
agreement with them several months ago
by signing an agreement with the Brother
hood Of Locomotive Engineers, which
: terminated the privilege OF the firemen to
regulate the seniority list OF switch en-
gineers and to represent engineers and
members Of the firemen's brotherhood on
grievance committees.
a large percentage of fremen, becoming
engineers, maintain their membership and
insurance in the fremen's organization in
stead Of joining the engineers brotherhood,
and this fact seems to be at the bottom Of
the present trouble, Notwithstanding the
specific declaration of the hremen that
/ their grievance is against the company and
not against the Brotherhood Of Locomotive
Engineers
The full effects Of the strike will not be
| apparent for several days and no announce
ment Of the intention Of the company rel
| ative to the filling of the places of the men
who have gone out has yet been made.
Hanrahan Declines to Talk.
| PEORIA, H., Dec. 23.-Announcement
/ that the strike Of the engineers and fire.
men on the Atlantic system Of the South
ern Pacific railroad went into effect at 5
o'clock today was given out tonight at the
/ headquarters of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Firemen and Engineers Grand
Master Hanrahan declined to be inter
viewed on the strike or the probable effect
1t would have upon the conditions along
the system. He simply gave out a copy
of the telegram from Second Vice Grand
Master Timothy Shea, who has had the
matter in charge. The telegram is as fol-
lows:
HOUSTON, Tex, Dec. 2S-we renewed
| urgent efforts again today to arbitrate the
question in dispute, but the company and
/ the engineers absolutely refused to do so
The strike became effective at o'clock.
Grand Master John J. Hannahan of the
Firemen's Brotherhood denied tonight that
the difficulty which led up to the strike
of the members of the organization on the
Southern Pacific railroad is a fight be-
tween the Brotherhood OF Locomotive Fire
men and Enginmen and the Brotherhood
Of Locomotive Engineers, but he charges
discrimination against the members Of his
organization, as was stated in his tele-
gram of Saturday night to z. II. Harrl-
man. The charge is made by Mr.. Hanna
han that the Engineers brotherhood has
absolute jurisdiction in the settlement of
grievances which will deprive the members
Of his organization Of a vote in settling
any difficulties that may arise.
Freight for Texns Refused.
NEW ORLEANS Dec. 23.-Announcemen
was made today that the Southern Pacih,
railroad will receive no more freight from
intersecting lines to points in Texas unit
further notice.
Changes in freight routings caused by
the Southern Pacific strike and affecting
a territory extending from St. Louis tC
New York city, covered by four Of tn,
big carriers entering New Orleans, were
announce dtoday. Hereafter such freight
consigned to points in Louisiana ant
Texas will be routed via Cairo. Ill; Eas
St. Louis, Memphis, Tenn, and Shreveport
La in place Of passing through New Or
leans The railroads announcing thi!
, change are the Queen & Crescent system
Illinois Central, Yazoo & Mississippi Val
ley and the Louisville & Nashville rail