New-York tribune., 1906-12-20
s SWITCHMEN THREATEN.
SEND STRIKE ULTIIHATUM.
If Demands Are Not Granted by
Saturday WW Tie Up Traffic.

A general strike of the three thousand yard
conductors and brakemen in the New York
switching district, except those the New York
Central and the New York New Haven & Hart
ford and the Pennsylvania railroads, where the
demand for . cents increase in wages has been
refused, will take place on Saturday unless by
that time the demand is granted.
An ultmatum to this effect was sent out last
evening to the general managers of these roads
by Fourth Vice Grand Master James Murdock
of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, who
came here yesterday from Cleveland.
Immediately on his arrival he went into con-
ference with the committees of the yard brake
men and conductors on these roads. the result
being the issuing of the ultimatum.
The text Of the ultimatum was follows:
Again referring to the negotiations between
yourself and the committees representing your
employees, yardmen in the New York harbor dis
trict we respectfully beg TO advise you that the
four cents hour increase offered by your
company is not acceptable, as settlement has
been made with the New York Central for five
cents an hour increase Your yardmen en-
ployed in the New York harbor district and
those employed by the New York Central have
heretofore been on an equal basis as regards
the rate OF pay per hour. we oelleVe thls
equality should still continue to exist.
We beg to advise you that unless the increase
granted by the New York Central, namely, five
cents per hour, effective December l, 1906, Is
conceded by your company on or before De
cember 22. 1905. that all members of the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen employed in your
yards in the harbor district will consider your
failure TO conCede the rate refusal to deal
as fairly with your men the road mentioned
above and will at once withdraw from your
service
The utimatum was sent out last evening to
the general managers of the Erie Central Rail-
road of New Jersey, Lehigh Valley. Baltimore
& Ohio. Delaware. Lackawanna & Western,
Long Island and Staten Island railroads A
strike of the yard conductors and brakemen on
these roads will tie up all traffic until the places
of the strikers can be filled AS all the roads
are congested with cars loaded with merchan-
disc. the Christmas trade this year being
heavier than it was ever known to be before.
there will be serious bockades in traffic. which
will cause endless delay and confusion.
The officials of the roads We're not preparing
for strike it is believed, as the general idea
was that Grand Chief p. H. Morrisey of the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen coming
here, and that he would try to bring about
peaceabIe settlement before a strike would be
officially sanctioned.
1t is necessary for Grand Chief Morrisey or a
member of the grand lodge of the trainmen
deputed by him to sanction strike before it
can go into effect. In this case the grand lodge
was represented by Fourth Grand Master Muir
dock, who had power to sanction the strike and
issue the ultimatum Owing to the fact that the
engineers firemen and conductors on the roads
involved in the dispute, who have made agree
mentS with the roads by which their wages
were advanced decided not to go sympa-
thetic strike, strike ultimatum was considered
very unlikely until the last moment. The Off
cials of the roads apparently expected that
Grand Master Morrisey would ask for another
conference before the strike order decided
on. There was some talk of arbitration previ
ously, which made the ultimatum a surprise
The officials of the roads would not commit
themselves within the last two days very posi-
lively on the subject of arbitration.