Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-04-04
men TALK STRIKE.
ROADS 10 Ask ARBITRATION
officers 81 the Onions Declare THAT
Unseas Their Demands
Are Met They VIII
90 Out.

Chicago. March 2S.--The $4,000
| trainmen Of the Western railroads
seemed nearer d strike Wednesday
night than at any time slnce the ne
gotiations with the general managers
for an increase in wages and short
or work day were started two months
ago. The conference Wednesday be-
tween the representatives Of the men
and the railroad officials lasted four
hours. but was failure 90 far as
bringing about solution Of the trou-
BILE.
The railroads offered the men In
creases Of seven per cent to passen-
ger conductors and 10 per cent 70
minor employees, including brakemen,
firemen, Engagement and allied
workers. The men had demanded an
increase Of IL per cent and a nine
hour work day and when the officials
declared their offer was the best
that could be made the conference
ended az the men BY a referendum
vote taken last week had decided not
to accept anything short Of their or
iginal demands.
Immediately after the conference
broke up, the representatives Of the
men got together to consider the ad-
visibility Of calling a strike In order
to bring the railroads to terms. Just
what decision was reached ID not
known, as the union men declined 70
discuss what had taken place at the
meeting. They were a unit, however,
in declaring a peaceable settlement
Of the controversy can only be reach
I'd by the general managers offering
concessions. Another meeting Of the
union men has been scheduled for
Thursday morning and the general
belief is that q strike will be called
within the next IS hours unless the
railroad officials request another con-
ference to try and settle the matter
without resorting to a fight.
p. M. Morrissey, chief Of the train
mems organizations, said:
1--WE have been instructed by the
men we represent to call strike I'M
less the offer Of the roads was salts
factory to US. The vote by which
this attitude was reached carried the
strike proposition by a tremendous
We are not satisfied and
the men are not satisfied We are
not going to ask for any more con.
Ierences with the general managers.
Il Is up to these gentlemen now to
prevent the men quitting work and
The only way they can do this 10 70
accede to our demands"
A. B. Garretson, chief of the con-
iuctors, also declared that no further
conferences would be held with the
general managers.
The United States government will |
,e asked to intervene to prevent a
Itrike and II the plans Of the general |
managers do not niscarry the whole
controversy win be submitted to ar
,itration for settlement.
Late Wednesday night the general
managers gave out a statement de-
,laring they win demand arbitration
Inder the Erdman act. A strike Of
be men would interfere with inter
tate commerce, and the railroad Of
lciais believe that they can prevent
by asking the government to step
q and take command Of the situation.
The Erdman act passed in 1893,
rovIdes for the arbitration Of labor
difficulties where interstate com
lerce is involved by the chairmen
the interstate commerce commits
ion and the commissioners Of labor.
4