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

-~NN''NFA
general manager OF the Oregon Short
Line Railroad company. has issued u
statement setting forth certain facts
pertaining to the firemen's strike on
the Atlantic system. and the recent
statements made by John j. Hannahap.
grand chief OF the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Firemen.
This statement follows in it's entirety:
Salt Lake City, Jan g. 1907.
In view OF the widespread newspaper
attention that has been given to the
strike of the locomotive fremen on the
Atlantic system lines OF the Southern
Pacific company, and the published
threat of Mr.. John J. Hannahan. grand
chief of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
FIemen, that, unless the demands o.
the hremen are complied with. uhe
strike VIII be extended to the rest of
the Hartman lines, 1t Is at this time
deemed desirable to call attention to
some facts concerning the matter. not
perhaps generally known, and so far az
observed. not heretofore called to pub
lie 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 par
ty to the controversy between the fire.
men of the Atlantic system lines, yet
| because OF the power he is able to exert
| as head of the firemen's organization,
| he proposes TO extend the strike to 9TH
| er lines and other individuals as a
| means OF enforcing demands that are
| not matter of difference Mt all to
| those who Will in this way suffer and
bring untold hardship, Inconvenience
| and loss upon innocent parties. Be
| lieving I'm the honesty. honor loyalty
and fairness OF the great body of rail-
way men and Workmen, Ii Is the CON
| Niction that with full knowledge of the
| facts, they will not be made n party to
such action. and that public sentiment
| and state and government officials will
| not approve or support such procedure,
the following statement is presented,
THE LINES AFFECTED.
The lines now affected by the strike
and constituting the Atlantic System
| Lines are;
AIorean's Louisiana & Texas Railroad
| & Steamship company.
iberia and Vermillion Railroad CONF
| pany.
Louisiana Western Railroad company.
Texas and New Orleans Railroad
| company.
CAUSE OF PRESENT STATUS.
Briefly stated. the facts leading up
to and contributing TO, If not entirely
| causing the present conditions are as
| follows: An agreement was entered
| into between each of the railway COM
| panies above mentioned and the Broth
| erhood of Locomotive Firemen, acting
| through It's general committee of its
| joint protective board bearing date
| of April l. 1903, and amended April l.
1906.
An agreement was likewise entered
between the management of each of tho
| railway companies above mentioned
ana the Brotherhood OF Locomotive
| Engineers, acting by and through its
| general committee of adjustment, bear
| ing date of Feb. l, 1903, and supple
| ment of May l, 1906,
Both of these agreements are in full
| force and effect, and 81 Is the purpose
| of the management of these lines TO
| respect all II the provisions OF both OF
| these agreements, both In letter and in
| spirit a controversy has arisen as TO
| which of the organizations mentioned
! (tha Brotherhood Of Locomotive En-
| gineers or the Brotherhood of Locomo-
| tive Firemen)are authorized to negotiate
and deal with the management of these
several lines with respect to rules regu-
Iations and rates OF pay. and (partlcu-
larry regulating seniority of engineers
In switching service.
CONTEST OVER AUTHORITY.
The accredited representatives of the
brotherhood of Locomotive F'remen
contend, n effect, that ala matters con-
corning rules, regulations and rates OF
pay Of engineers IN switching service,
should be regulated by contract be-
tween the Brotherhood of Locomotives
Flromen and these companies. Tho
accredited representatives OF the Broth
erhood Of Locomotive Engineers, on tho
other hand, contend that all matters
pertaining 10 tho welfare of all engi-
neers should be dealt with by agree
met between them and the MANAGE
ment OF these companies
Thus Il Is seen that this IL obviously
controversy directly affecting two
organizations. each interested In pro-
tecting and representing its present
membership and in increasing its mem
bership. Tho attitude OF the manage
ment of the companies has been one
Of absolute neutrality their position
being that these companies have but
an indirect interest In this controversy,
their interest being 10 see to IL that
the most capable and reliable men
available under well-defned rules of
promotion, are given positions OF re-
sponsibilty In the interest OF the safety
OF the travelling public and OF the prop.
erty eoniided to the care OF these COM
panies as common carriers. They had
| hoped and believed, ana stil hope ana
believe, that wise counsels VIII prevail.
and mat the TWO CQnlcnding OrganiZa-
tions VIII confer in a friendly spirit
and reach a conclusion which viii be
acceptable 10 both OF them as well rs
10 these companies.
II has been repeatedly urged IN con-
ferences had with the committees of
each organization and IN Joint confer
ences had with committees Of both or
ganizations, that their differences
should be- settled amicably and fairly
between themselves, and that the COM
panies have only an indirect interest
| In the controversy and that neither
We're justified I'm insisting that the COM
| panies decide between them unless they
| uhe orgnni2atons) were willing TO
abide by the decision thus made
RAILROADS ARE NEUTRAL.
These companies are willing TO abide
| such settlement OF the issue between
the contending organizations as above
defined, as may be reached hy them. on
| In the alternative, they are ready To de-
termIne this issue, II submitted to
! them, provided both organizations WIN