Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-28
STRIKE IS PROBABLE
Conference Between Trainmen and Man
aqeu AdiOurnS without Action.
MoRRIsEY EXPECTS MEN TO QUIT WORK
He Says II is UU to Railroads to Prevent
CZ WalkOut
NO FURTHER CONFERENCE WILL Be ASKED
Vote Of Men to Enforce Demands Wa
Almost Unanimous
RAILROAD OFFICIALS ARE MORE HOPEFUL
Secretary of Association Says EN-
pIOyes VIII Soon See That yOGeF
of Companies - Fair and
VIII Accept IL.
RAILROAD OFFICIALS ARE MORE HoPEFU

CHICAGO, March N.-The 5000 trainmen
of the western railroads seem nearer
strike tonight than at any time since the
negotiations with the general managers
fOF an increase IN wages and shorter
worltday were started two months ago.
The conference today between the repre-
sontatives Of the men and the railroad
officials lasted four hours, but was fall
ure 90 far as bringing about a solution Of
the trouble is concerned.
The railroads offered the men increases
Of per cent to passenger conductors and
10 per cent to the minor employees, including
brskemen, fremen. baggagemen and allied
workers. The men had demanded an in
crease OF II per cent and a nine-hour
workday, and when the ofhcials declared
their offer was the best that could be made
the conference ended. as the men by a
referendum vote taken last week had de-
cided not to accept anything short Of
their original demands
Union Men in Conference.
Immediately after the conference broke
UP the representatives of the men got to-
gether to consider the advisability of calling
a strike In order to bring the railroads to
terms. Just what decision was reached
is not known tonight, as the union men de-
clined to discuss what had taken place
at the meeting. They were a unit however,
in declaring a peaceable settlement of the
controversy can only be reached by the
general managers offering concessions. An
other meeting OF the union men has been
scheduled for tomorrow morning and the
general belief is tonight that a strike will
be called within the next forty-eight hours
unless the railroad officials request an
other conference to try and settle the
matter without resorting to fight.
MOrrissey Expects Strike.
P. M. Morrissey, chief of the trainmen' 5
organization said:
We have been instructed by the men we
tS call opefs 70 tns s TSe
vote by which this attitude was reached
carried the strike proposition by tre,
nd the men are not satisfied. We are not
going 10 ask for any more conferences with
the general manasers. II Is up TO these s,,
ting work, and the only way they can do
thta Is to accede TO our demands.
Alb. Garrettson. chief of the conductors.
also declared that no further conferences
would be held with the general managers.
General Managers Hopeful.
The railroad ofieisls are not quite -
pessimistic over the situation. When the
men were declaring a strike was inevitable
Secretary slason Thompson Of the Cen
eral Managers association saidi
we sSSe sdjSstSe5t HGs Ss5 yth 81 the deuYty W.
have conceded great deal TO the men al
ready and II would seem to be but matter
OF a short time until the union ofhcials vii
see their way clear to accepting the genera
managers proposition. I am of the opinioT
that the conference which resulted In moth
next two days and that some sort Of al
agreement viii be reached