Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-05-25
GRAND ISLAND MEN DISTURBED
Action of Railroad Employees There
savOrs of Boycott.

DOSCUiAs
GRAND ISLAND, Neb., May 24.-(spe-
cial )-Deep interest and no little concern
is felt here on the railroad situation. For
some reason not made exactly clear the
local men, It is felt. have been asking for
more than the executive committee of the
Nebraska State Railroad Employees Protec-
tive associations have been asking for 1t
was explained that the demands made To-
cally were framed before the plans of the
state association were completed. This ex-
plaBation might be complete but for
seeming dissatisfaction still, though two
local commercial bodies have practically ex-
pressed themselves as not favorlng a
straight reduction in rates SO much as an
elimination OF the determinations existing
between communities in the matter of
freight rates.
The first demand was practically that no
further agitation in the matters of freight
rates be approved. This met little support
among the business men, The executive
committee of the employees state associa-
ton then came and. in a meeting with the
executive committee OF the Commercial
club, asked for petition to the State Rail-
way commission requesting 1t so to adjust
rates that there be, in the net result, no
further decrease In the revenues of the
companies While this was far different
proposition, the executive committee asked
the employees committee to put it's request
In writing and, this having been done, re-
! ferred the request to the full Commercial
club. and invited the Retail Merchants
association of Grand Island to act jointly
with It.
The members of the latter accepted the
invitation, but, having a regular meeting
on the evening before the joint meeting
was to take place. adopted a resolution to
the effect that 1t was we'll known that
the controversy as to reduced forces was
one between the employing roads and the
employees only; that the factor of railroad
employment here was both appreciated and
literally estimated that It determlnedly
favored a readjustment in rates In order
to remove from them the gross inequalities
and determinations between communities
and sections OF the state and, assuming that
the State Railway commission would give
to all a fair hearing, and make a finding
after a more thorough investigation than
could here be given. the State Railway
commission was urged and relied upon to
deal justly with the carrier as we'll as the
shipper. Such was the gist and tenor OF
the resolution adopted by the retailers, who
thereupon. did not appear. in numbers, at
the called joint meeting. There were pres
ent at the latter about forty-five of the
railroad employees and about a dozen Of
the members of the Commercial club After
some discussion. in which the trouble was
attributed largely to the AIdrich bill and
the adverse legislation and its enforcement
in this and various other states, the motion
was made that the matter of any repre-
sentation to the State Railway commission
be placed In the hands OF a committee OF
three, President Ryan TO be one of the
members and to appoint the other two.
This motion was objected to by Mr.
Macomber of North Platte a member OF
the railway employees executive committee
who hoped that II would go further and say
that the club opposed any reduction in
rates This the club seemed unwilling to
do ard further discussion was precipitated
Chairman M F. Ryan of the railway en-
ployes' committee and President Ryan Of
the Commercial club both urged that there
ought to be no objection 10 the motion, ana
the motion finally prevailed. 1t appears
not to be satisfactory, however. and the
action of the retail merchants seems to be
especially Objectionable to the men. and a
further meeting OF the employees has been
called. Stree there have already been
yelled threats in some OF the committee
meetings that the men will do a more ex-
| tensive mail order business with Chicago
houses, the best Of feeling does not pre-
vail. 1t Is hoped. however. that both sides
will be fair 10 each other In order 10 pre-
vent any serious contention.