Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-01-03

contondng interests agree In advance
to respect that decision. II ~ aeepF
to be dcplored that differences hHN1
arisen between the brotherhood OF lu-
connective Engineers and tne Btu y, Il,
hood OF Locomotive firemen, nut IL
submitted to the calm Judgment OF
both orders and their individual ineil-
hers that neither the public nor lhe
companies mentioned should be com
PEELED "a suffer because OF dnlerehCeh
between the organizations In when inc
companies have but a remote ana ~
direct interest.
HAVE NO GRIEVANCE.
Tho question involved in this con-
trovergy Is purely n moot question
The companies have absolutely no un-
settled cause or grievance before
them The question al issue u not
involved IN any unadjusted grievance
between amy of the COMPANIES anu
any engineer or fireman in their en-
ploy. The companies have insisted
in pursuance OF well-established prao-
tlse that the management OF these
companies Will consider and rule only
upon real grievances. and thar they
are not called upon to determine ny
pothetica and imaginary cases, or
give n ruling save upon the presenta-
ton of n real live grievance.
GOOD JUDGMENT NEEDED.
Before the strike was called on the
lines above named, the management
of the Atlantic system, Issued cir
cular to all locomotive engineers ana
fircmen in the employ OF these com
panles, dated Dec. 10, 1905. calling at
tention to, the facts and circumstances
that had given rise TO the differences,
and among other things in that cir
cular stated.
1T is currently rumored 1--WE sincere
~ trust without proper foundation
that the hremcn ON these lines will
shortly be called upon to decide by
their individual vote, the question as To
whether or not the pleasant and friend
ly relations which have existed for SO
many years between them and these
companies Will be strained and possibly
broken, In the event the management OF
these companies shall decline to de-
termine the controversy above mem
toned In accordance with the demands
of the Brotherhood OF Locomotive Fire.
men We feel that 1t Is our duty as
well as our privilege IN anticipation of
the possibility Of such vote being taxi
en-, to call to your attention certain
facts and conditions which we ask you
TO consider calmly and dlspassionately
as loyal employees, aud earnestly urge
that you act upon your independent
and deliberate judgment before taking
step which may ultimately result In
no benefit either to yourselves or your
families dependent upon you.
FACTS ARE PUBLISHED.
It is a well recognized fact that the
condition OF the firemen on these lines
Is better than ON any other roads In
Louisiana and Texas. Many Of our
engines are oil burners where the work
is light. and since the agreement OF
1903 was entered into, YOU have tsnve on
a few branch lines,) shorter hours and
better average wages than are enjoyed
by the firemen on other railroads IN the
states mer5 Toned,
IT has, as you know, been the fixed
policy of these companies for years past
10 promote its competent men, and the
officers Of these companies have one
and all uniformly manifested "A dispo-
sition of extreme friendiness towards
their employees and q desire to advance
their interests aud promote them as
fast as they proved themselves cap
able and as opportunity permitted.
Last spring the president of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen,
Mr.. John ]. Hannahan, upon a social
visit to the officers of these companies
in Houston, made the direct and posi-
tive statement that the flremen on
these lines were all well satisfied with
their conditions: there was absolutely
no dissatisfaction in their ranks. Since
this time there have been no changes
made In these conditions, save that
In number of cases the wages of the
flremen have been materially Increased.
1t must therefore, follow that the fire.
men We're, as stated by Mr.. Hannahan,
entirely satisfied with their conditions
last spring, that they have good reason
to be even satisfied with present con-
ditions.
FOR AMICABLE CONCLUSION.
In considering the question which
may be presented TO you. we wish 10
urge with all the earnestness at our
command cas- we have heretofore
sought to urge IN conferences with the
committees OF each and both of the
organizations mentioned) that you con-
slider not only your own rights and In
forests of these companies In whose
service you are hut also that you do
not lose sight OF the fact that the gem
eral public have rights which must
be respected, and these rights VIII be
disturbed by any radical action rash
~ taken, which viii result In sever
ance of the pleasant and cordial rela-
tons which have so long existed be-
tween these companies ana their em-
ployes.
This circular letter is addressed to all
Engineers and hremen that each en-
ploye may be put In possession of all
The facts and be accurately appraised
pf the attitude of these companies. We
hope and believe that wise oounscls
viii ultimately prevail and that tho
great body of the employees will agree
with us in our position that this con-
troversy is one which should be amlc-
ably adjusted between the contending
orders. and that their sense OF justice
and right viii prevent the employees
from taking any action wlich viii IN
volVe these companies IN a controversy
IN which they have but an Indirect in
ierest. We confidently rely upon your
sense OF justice, upon your loyalty to
yourselves and your families ms we'll
rs TO these companies, upcn your re-
,pect for the rights of each other as
we'll the general public. end urge that
you consider this matter calmly anu
dispassionately and form deliberat
Judgment. ana find n solution OF this
controversy without involving your
selves or these companies In an un-
seeinly conflict which cpnLot be other
han disastrous 20 all concerned.