Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-03-03
R. G. ". MEN VOTE
ON ABROGATION
Machinists Meet in Eagles Hall
And Ballot on "0pen
Shop
LOOKS LIKE NO BACK DOWN.
Representatives to Go to Kansas City
no Attend Big Meeting Within
The Next Ten Days.

Machinists employed by the Rio
Crande here met last evening in the
Eagles hall to I'll out the ballot sent
out from Denver few days ago. This
was blank slip and called for an
opinion on the open-shop policy ans
nounced by the Rio Grande under the
word that an abrogation of agreement
Is to he made March Il. That the vote
was unfavorable is practically admit
ted by the union men and expected by
those, in close touch with the company.
But no official word either way can
be obtained. The meeting last night
was secret, and that mum" is the
word among the ranks of the laborers
is highly evident.
Should the unions represented in the
abrogation matter vote solidly for
walk-out with the enforcement of the
open-shop policy on the part of the
company over 800 men will walk out
on or about March IA and this would
precipltate. as bad a railroad strike as
seen in the west in recent years, The
attitude of the unions Is generally UNI
derstood to be against the open-shop
policy even in the face of present hard
times
BALLOTS SENT FROM DENVER.
The idea Of the ballots sent out from
Denver and distributed all over the
Gould system was to obtain an opinion
as to how all shop-men and mechanics
stand on the matter. II solid front
against the proposition is put up the
labor unions believe they can get the
company TO recede from its announced
stand. The railroad has taken an open
and evidently determined stand against
any further dealings with union cons
mittees of mechanics, boller-makers,
carmen and what-nOt while these
unions are just as determined they
shall continue to be recognized. With
such condition existing a fight to the
end is likely.
When the abrogation matter first
came up, the local workmen declared
themselves against anything having
open shop" i'm 1t and that they will
stand by ii, il others coincide, is adj
mitted. Should the general senti-
ment lean the other way, however.
the men will abide by II.
MEET IN KANSAS CITY.
II is announced meeting of rep
rcsentatiVes # every union of ma
chinists on the Gould system will be
held in Kansas City within the next
10 days, the date being dependent
upon the result of the strike ballots
sent out and the final word of the
company. AT this Kansas City meet
Ing the unions viii say their last
word, and what it is TO be, depends
upon the proposition made by the
company. II there Is a strike II is
conceded Il viii be a 'sympathetie"
affair, and this means that all shop
men viii go out Colorado unions
and Utah unions will stand by each
other as the stick together policy
is being nursed carefully for prob
able running later If the Rio
Grande carries out its announced
plan of reducing the telegraphers
wages materially. 1t is likely they will
join the general movement.
William Shepherd. q stranger to
Sat Lake. has succeeded c. b. Duck
worth as foreman of the Rio Grando
machine shop. Aside from these bare
facts the circular issued by A. ri.
Cairns. master mechanic, has no in
formation,