The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-04

that neither was justified i'm insisting that
the companies decide between them un-
less they tthe Organization) were willing
to abide by the decision thus made. These
companies are willing TO abide such settle
ment of the issue between the contending
organizations above defined, as may be
they are ready to determine this issue, if
submitted to them, provided both organi-
cations will agree to abide their decision
A Moot Question.
Justice to themselves and to the public
demands that they shall not be compelled
TO decide the conflicting claims of rival
organizations In q matter wherein neither
they nor the public have any direct in
terest or preference unless the contending
interests agree in advance to respect that
decision.
cit is deeply TO be deplored that differ
ences have arisen between the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers and the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, but
it is submitted to the calm judgment of
both orders and their individual members,
that neither the public nor the companies
mentioned should be compelled TO suffer
because of differences between the or
CARNATIONS in which the companies have
but remote and indirect interest.
THE question involved in this cOntrO-
versy is purely a moot question. The COM
panies have absolutely no unsettled cause
or grievance before them. The question
at issue is not involved in any unadjusted
grievance between any of the companies
and any engineer or fireman in their en-
ploy. The companies have insisted. in
pursuance of well-estabished practice,
that the management of these companies
will consider and rule only upon real
grievances, and that they are not called
upon to determine hypothetical and i'm
aginary cases or give ruling save upon
the presentation of a real. live grievance.
Before the strike was called on the
lines above named. the management of
the Atlantic system Issued a circular 10
all locomotive engineers and firemen In
the employ of these companies. dated Dec.
TO- 1906 calling attention to the facts and
circumstances that had given rise to the
differences. and among other things in
that circular, stated:
Official Circular.
1T is currently rumored Eve sincere
ly trust without proper foundation) that
the firemen on these lines will shortly be
called upon to decide by their individual
vote. the question as to whether or not
the pleasant and friendly relations which
have existed for so many years between
them and these companies will be strain
ed and possibly broken. in the event the
management of these companies shall de-
cline to determine the controversy above
mentioned in accordance with the de-
mands Of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen. We feel that it is our duty as
we'll our privilege, in anticipation of the
possibility Of such vote being taken.
to call to your attention certain facts and
conditions which we ask you to consider
calmly ana 0lSpdSSlOnately, as loyal en-
pIoyes, and earnestly urge that you act
upon your Independent and deliberate
Judgment before taking a step which may
ultimately result In no benefit either to
yourselves or your families dependent
upon you.
q Tt is a well recognized fact that the
condition of the firemen on these lines is
better than on any other roads In Louisi-
ana and Texas Many Of our engines are
| oil burners. where the work is light, and
since the agreement of 1903 was entered
into you nave (save- on a few branch
| lines), shorter hours and better avera Sc
hours than are enjoyed by the firemen on
other railroads n the states mentioned.
." Tt has, as you know. been the fixed
policy of these companies for years
| past to promote its competent men, and
| the officers Of these companies have
one and all uniformly manifested a
| disposition OF extreme friendliness to-
advance their interests and promote
them as fast as they proved themselves
capable and as opportunity permitted.
Public Has Rights.
Last spring the president of the Bro
| therhood Of Locomotive Firemen, Mr..
! John ]. Hannahan, upon a social visit to
1 the officers of these companies in HOus-
| ton. made the direct and positive state
/ ment that the firemen on these lines
were all well satisfied with their cOndi-
| tiOns; that these conditions were exceed
| ingly favorable to the men. and that 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 firemen have been materially increas-
ed. IL must, therefore. follow that if the
| firemen 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 conditions
% In considering the question which
/ may be presented TO you, we wish to urge
with all the earnestness at our command
| (as we have heretofore sought to urge
! in conferences with the committees OF
! each and both Of the organizations men
! tioned) that YOU consider not only your
! own rights and interests of these com
! panieS in whose services you are, but also
| that you do not lose sight of the fact that
/ the general public have rights which must
| be respected, and these rights will be dis
| turbed by any radical action rashly taken
which will result in a severance of the
pleasant and cordial relations which have
| SO long existed between these companies
| and their employees.
Calm Judgment Asked.
This circular letter is addressed to al
| engineers and firemen, that each emplOye
may be put in possession of all the facts
| and be accurately appraised of the atti-
/ tude of these companies. We hope and be-
| prevail and that the great body of the
| employees will agree with us in our posi-
| ton that this controversy is one which
should be amicaby adjusted between thu
| contending orders, and that their sense OF
| Justice and right will prevent the EN-.
ployes from taking any action which will
involve these companies in "A controversy
in which they have but an indirect inter.
est. We confidently rely on your sense
| of justice, upon your loyalty to yourselves
/ and your families as well to these com
panies. upon your respect for the rights
| of each other as well as the general pub