The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-04
NO GRIEVANCE.
SAYS BANCROFT
Threat to Extend Strike Over
Hartman Lines EvokeS
Protest.
SITUATION is REVIEWED
mo BASIS FOR TROUBLE BE-
YOND FLIMSY PRETEXT."

An open letter was issued yesterday
from the office of w. II. Bancroft, vice
president and general manager of the
Oregon Short Line, with regard to the
firemen's strike on the Atlantic system
and the alleged threats of John ]. Han
nahan, grand chief IF the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Firemen. TO extend the
strike to the Hartman lines.
The statement follows along the lines
OF one issued the day previous at Oma-
Ia by A. L. Mohler, vice president of
the Union Pacific. Mr.. Bancroft's
statement is given below:
In view of the widespread newspaper
attention that has been given to the strike
of the locomotive firemen on the Atlantic
system lines of the Southern Pacific COM
pany, and the published threat of Mr..
John II. Hannahan. grand chief Of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen. that
unless the demands of the firemen are
complied with the strike will be extended
TO the rest of the Hartman lines. Il is
at this time deemed desirable to call at
tention 10 some facts concerning the mat
ter, not perhaps generally known, and so
far as observed, not heretofore called to
public attention by the press.
THE threat of Mr. Hannahan means
that although the firemen of the other
system lines have no present difference
with their employers and are not a party
to the controversy between the firemen of
the Atlantic system lines, yet because Of
the power he is able TO exert. he pro-
poses TO extend the strike as a means of
enforcing demands that are not a matter
of difference at all TO those who will in
this way suffer and bring untold hard
ships, inconvenience and loss upon in
nOcent parties. Believing in the honesty.
honor loyalty and fairness of the great
body Of railroad men and workmen. il Is
the conviction that with full knowledge
OF the facts. they will not be made a party
a
and state and government officials will
not approve or support such procedure.
These Lines Are Affected.
"The following statement is presented
''rhe lines now affected by the strike
and constituting the Atlantic system lines
are:
''Morgan's Louisiana & Texas Railroad
& Steamship company.
Iberia & VermiliOn Railroad company.
Louisiana Western Railroad company.
Texas & New Orleans Railroad COM
"The Galveston, Harrisburg & San An
tonic Railway company.
And briefly stated. the facts leading up
TO and contributing to. If not entirely
causing the present conditions. are as fol-
lows:
IAN agreement was entered into between
each OF the railway companies above mem
toned and the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen. acted through it's general COM
mittee Of its joint protective board. bear
Ing date Of April I. 1903. and amended
April !, 1906.
AN agreement was likewise entered
into between the management of each Of
the railway companies above mentioned
and the brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers. acting by and through it's gen
eral committee of adjustment, bearing
date Of Feb. 1. 1906. and supplement of
Nav T. 1906.
Both of these agreements are in full
force and effect. and il is the purpose OF
the management Of these lines TO respect
all Of the provisions Of both OF these
agreements, both In letter and in spirit
: controversy has arisen as TO which OF
the organizations mentioned Cthe 3 OF
L. F. or the b of L. F.) is authorized to
negotiate and deal with the management
Of these several lines with respect to
rules. regulations and rates of pay. and
particularly regulating seniority of en-
gfneers in switching service
Neutrality of Management.
''The accredited representatives of this
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen con-
tend. in effect, that all matters concern
ing rules regulations and rates of pay OF
engineers in switching service should bt
regulated by contract between the Bro
therhood of Locomotive Firemen and
these companies. The accredited repre-
sentatves of the Brotherhood of LocomO-
tive Engineers. on the other hand, con-
tend that all matters pertaining to the
welfare of all engineers should be dealt
with by agreement between them and the
management OF these companies.
THUS II is seen that this is obviously q
controversy directly affecting two organ
izations, each interested in protecting and
representing its present membership. The
attitude OF the management of the com
panies has been one of absolute neutral
fty their position being that these com
panies have but an indirect interest il
this controversy, their interest being tC
see to il that the most capable and relia-
bic men available under well-defined rules
of promotion. are given positions of res
possibility in the interest of the safety OF
The travelling public and Of the property
confided to the care of these companies
as common carriers.
''They had hoped and believed, and still
hone and believe. that wise counsels viii
prevail and that the two contending or
ganizations will confer in a friendly spirit
and reach a conclusion which viii be &C