The Washington herald., 1907-01-05
TRAINMEN TO STRIKE
Roads in United States. Can
ada, and Mexico Affected.
MORE PAY; SHORTER HOURS
Demands Must BE Net or 100000 Men
VIII Walk Out az Fast as Present
Contracts Between Unions and En-
pIOyers Observation-Disclosures Day.
There Is No Sign of Weakening.

Chicago. Jan. 4-Unless the railroads
accede to their demands for more pay,
shorter hours, and better working con-
ditions. 10000 trainmen in the United
States, Canada, and Mexico will strike as
fast as present contracts between the
unions and employers expire. This de-
cision is the result of a meeting here to-
day between Grand Chief A. b. Garrett
son, of the Railway Conductors; Grand
Chief p. II. Morrissey, Of the Railway
Trainmen; Grand Master J. J. Hanna
han, OF the Locomotive Firemen, and
representatives of the BrotherhOods Of
Engineers and Switchmen. The mems de-
mands are as follows:
Salary Increases ranging from to Is
per cent.
Universal eight-hour day.
Better working conditions, including
safety appliances and more switchmen,
watchmen. and fremen where the serv-
ice is rendered dangerous by inadequacy
Of working forces.
Came as a shock.
The railroad employees meeting came as
a shock to the managers, VINO are al
ready in conference with the engineers
concerning demands similar to those by
the affiliated brotherhoods. In addition
to this. the city has just been made head
quarters Of the Southern Pacific fremen's
strike on the Atlantic division of that
system. The latest movement is so large.
however, as TO dwarf the two minor
struggles. which have almost been lost
sight Of, except by the men directly in
terested. The new demands come close
on the heels Of a l5 per cent advance to
the switchmen on lines west Of Buffalo,
and In voluntary advances in all lines of
work on many other roads throughout
the country.
Eight-hOur Day Impossible.
The managers have maintained that the
eight-hour day was impossible under ex-
listing conditions, and supposed the ques-
ton shelved. at least temporarily. The
union leaders deny. however. that the
shorter day cannot be granted, asserting
that it will involve only a slight increase
in the working force on each road They
accuse the employers OF adopting policy
Of delay. which to-day's alliance is ex-
pected 70 terminate.
Though the various nrOtheFhood con-
tracts do not expire Simultaneously, all
are near that close As they terminate
the brothcrhoods will submit their de
mands for renewals under new conditions.
and after waiting thirty days for compH-
anCe Will call strike votes.
No sign of weakening.
Grand Master Hannahan. Of the FIRE
men, who is here not only TO attend the
big meeting. but 20 conduct the Southern
Pacific strike. says no sign Of weakening
has been shown by the company. and
that he expects a spread Of the strike
to the rest Of the Hartman lines almost
hourly.
The engineers on the twenty-three rail
roads running West from Chicago have
as yet failed 20 come 10 terms with the
managers concerning their demand for the
eight-hour day, and say none Of the other
questions viii be taken up until that one
on which an agreement was hopeless-is
settled
Committees from the trainmen's unions
on the Chicago. Rock Island and Pacific
and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
waited on their employers to-day 20 dis
cuss shorter hours and more pay but
failed 90 reach any agreement with the
companies.