The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-21
SEEK 10 AVOID A STRIKE.
RAILROADS APPEAL To GRAND
MASTER OF THE TRAENMEN.
hut the Men stu Say nat They VIII Quit
on saturday Unless h rive Cent Adj
vance Is Granted-"An Negotiations
Are or says v~Ice-Master MurdOck.

but tne wen sui say TDeN Euey VIII 8uAe
on saturday Unless h rive Cent Adj
vance Is Granted-"An Negotiations
Are or Says vIce-Master Murdoch.
The strike announcement OF James Muir
dock, fourth ~vioe-grand master OF the
Brotherhood Of Railroad Trainmsn. issued
on Wednesday night TO h managers OF all
the roads leading into New York, except
the New York Central, New York, New
Haven and Hartford and Pennsylvania,
was a surprise to the officials of the roads.
II had been expected that Grand Master
P. II. Morrisey would be here and would
seek to settle the trouble smicably before a
day was fixed for a strike.
The general managers Of the roads have
sent for Morrisey to see what he has to say
about the matter. Murdoch, however. said
yesterday very emphatioslly that the COM
ing Of Morrisey will not change the situa-
ton, that he has been vested with full power
to act and that the only way in which a
general tieup o Saturday can be averted
will be a notification on or before Saturday
morning that the demand for S cents an
hour advance is conceded.
A meeting Of the managers Of the roads
interested was held yesterday afternoon In
the Office Of Vice-President William q.
Besler Of the Central Railroad OF New Jersey;
at i4s Liberty street. After the meeting
the following statement was issued by the
managers:
The general managers Of the lines enter
ing New York state that they regard the
strike ultimatum OF the ysrdmen as a most
astonishing and unjust affair.
In the first place, many of the roads have
NnfraN . ~ tth ehair n rttnnin1 tn IQnuaFV
1907. and beyond. which they 1.-THE yardmenl
now purpose to repudiate by striking at
noon on Saturday, December %.
~Secondly-In the last three years this class
of labor has had its wages increased from
80 per cent. to 50 per cent, as well as having
had the working hours reduced.
Thirdly-The companies have offered them
an increase Of 4 per cent. which they decline
to consider. but, as stated before. take this
o ccasion, just before the holidays. TO break
contracts and hold up the railroads for an in
crease far in excess OF anything that has
been granted to or asked by any other class
of employees.
The managers have as yet come TO no con-
clusion as to what action will be taken. but
have. in view Of the violation OF contract
by this ultimatum from the yardmen. re-
quested Grand Master p. II. Morrisey to come
to New York Immediately.
Mr.. Murdock's reply to this was that it
was too late to send for Grand Master
Morrisey. II he came he would only refer
the companies to the fourth ~vice-grand
master.
tents and purposes" he said. Il came
here deputized with full power to act by
the grand master M was in communica-
ton with him in reference to the ultimatum
before it was issued. He then gave me
full power to act. and unless the demand is
--o,tol hacAra nan, nm SATURDAY. fha at rib a
goes on.
THE statement that nan Of the men
have contracts with the roads IL utterly
false. There ia not a contract governing
the wages Of the yardmen in any part OF the
New York district. As to the statement
that wages have increased, it is a fact that
wages have materially increased, but IL has
been the contention of the men for a num-
Der of years that they are entitled to az
much as the men in Chicago. Notwith-
standing this the men were willing to settle
for the same a as the yardmen receive
in Cleveland, or one cent less than the
Chicago rates.
with regard to what the managers say
about "A strike ultinatum being issued Just
1 before the holidays, il Ia unfortunate that
the situation has become acute just at this
time, but We have been negotiating with the
managers Of the roads since November is,
and it is not our fault II there is a strike.
The fault lies with the railroad companies,
which tried to prejudice the situation by
posting notices that a four cent advance
had been agreed on.' -.
Asked when Grand Master Morrisey would
be here, he said he did not know and he had
| no idea where he was. II he came here II
would not be in reference TO this trouble.
He was reminded that the brotherhoods
generally tried arbitration before there was
a strike.
That is true he said. The Brother
| hood OF Railroad Trainmen is i~rrevocably
| committed TO the principle Of arbitration,
! but the time for arbitration is past. All
the men are prepared to go out. and the
only thing that can prevent the strike "a a
notification that the demand for the five
cents an hour increase N granted. All
negotiations are of. The other roads can
not be made an exception of when the New
York Central has granted the demand