Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-16
TITLES DISPUTES BEHMER
AVS strest Railway Never Fr,fe Promise
with Upion Ken.
ATTtR DLBASO GENUINE RECOGNITION
soth Sides 60 Controversy Anticipate
strike Unless Issue Can Ne
settled by Arbitration
without Delay.


eliminating against men who Joined the
nSnion and has laid plans to break up the
Hnion.-A. L. Behmer, vice president Inter
kpationai Association Of Street and Electric
phailway Employees.
We have broken no agreement we never
told the men We would recognize the union
but we said we would treat with union
men individually. We still adhere TO this
policy. We propose to stand by the open
shop and square deal.-G. w. Wattles, vice
president Omaha q Council Bluffs Street
Railway company.
Mr. Wattles makes his reply to the state
nents of Mr.. Behmer. who addressed Cen
trail Labor union Friday night.
Session n Lively one.
Last evenings session Of Central Labor
union was the most lively had IN many
moonR The discussion started with a talk
from A L. Behmer. vice president Of tie
International Association of Street and
Electric Railway Employees. who came to
Omaha Sunday at the request Of the local
street railway employees union and TO Sc
cure from the Omaha q Council Bluffs
Street Railway company a recognition OF
the local union. Following Mr.. Behmer's
talk Representative Ed leeder threw a
bomb into the ranks of the street car men
by asking whether he would be permitted
to negotiate with the street railway Of
hcials for the union. promising that the
vestibule bill now UP for consideration
at Lincoln would be Withdrawn IN con-
sheraton Of a recognition Of the local
union.
= Explaining his position, Mr.. Leeder said
= he had secured assistance from the street
railway officials in his fight for the double
shift hrernen bill and In forcible tones
said that II the street railway employees
persisted In pushing the vestibule bill and
his double shift bill should be defeated, he
would ~ that defeat at the door Of the
street "a lWay men.
In reply to Mr. Leeder. Mr. Behmer said
the street railway employees would not con-
lent to withdraw the vestibufe bill even
for recognition OF the local union.
Position of street Car Men.
Speaking Of his mission in Omaha, Mr.
Behmer said:
The street railway company has broken
promise made three years ago by dis
eliminating against men who Joined the
union and has laid plans to break up the
union. The officials have even exacted
from prospective employees promises they
would not join the union. The conditions
here should be remedied. All we are ask,
ing IL recognition Of the union. The street
railway officials have told the union men
that IL they wanted to dc business with
the street railway company they would
have TO do II through the Omaha Business
Mems association but Mr. wattles refused
70 recognize any one from the union We
are going TO resort to every honorable
means to gain recognition for the union
md we ask the cooperation OF all or
ganized labor.
we realize the seriousness Of a strike,
nd mn Nn n,tw
ganization has made fine record for
arbitratisns with street railway companies.
We are not hard TO deal with"
Committee 10 Help out.
Following a request from Mr. Behmer,
h the following committee was appointed TO
= work with the street car men In any way
deemed advisable, President c. A. Nc
Donald, A. c. Kugel Ed Miller, ]. Martin
and John Polan. The next step will be an
effort 10 arrange for conference with the
street railway officials for the committee
The street railway men do not allese
pat the company has Disseminated bo-
tween union and nonunion men in its EN-
y ploy IL is set out, though. that the com
.pany, in employing new men, requires a
pledge that the employe will not Join
the union. This. with the natural loss Of
membership due 10 changes In employment
threatens the extinction OF the union.
What the men ask most OF all Is the right
to prosolyte among the new employees.
warm Moments for Ed Deeder.
After Representative Leeder made his
talk President Mcdonald OF the union re-
minded Mr.. Leejer that he was elected by
organized labor TO work for all measures
for the beneht OF organized labor and
should r-t lay down on the vestihule bill
merely make sure OF the double SHIFT
bill Mr. Leeder was much wrought up
~ when his suggestion OF compromise with
thc street railway company was not kindly
taken. A. j. Donahoe said Mr.. Leeder was
using poor policy to lay the possible de-
feat OF the double Shift bill at the door Of
the street cur men.
The union accepted an Invitation to at
tend meeting 20 be held February II at
Patterson hall under the auspices OF the
Omaha socialists and on behalf OF Charles
Meyer and William Haywood OF the west
ern Federation 81 Miners. resolution
condemning the Incarceration OF these men
was adopted by the union The union wi
attend a meeting Of the Child Labor league
az the Lyric theater Tus sday evening, Feb
ruary a. vote OF thanks was extended
10 all who went 70 Lincoln In support OF
the child labor bill.
The union favored the charter amend
ment providing that the city boiler in
Epector be elective and that the incumbent
~ licensed engineer.
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