Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-03-11
R|DGWAY SPRINGS
GREAT SURPRISE
Dodges Committees in Denver
And Comes to Salt
Lake City
HE SAYS, mo REDUCTIONS"
Puts Over Seven Hundred Miles Be-
tween Conference Seekers and Him
self TO Demonstrate Ignoring Act.

A. C. Ridgway, general manager of
the Rio Grande, is in this city on 'rou-
tine business" He says none Of the
employees of the Rio Grande are to
meet with reductions in wages, this
month or in the near future
w. S. Martin. assistant general man
ager of the Rio Grande is in Denver be-
ing besieged by committees repre-
senting the machnists, telegraphers
and other employees, asking for recon
sideration of announced cuts.
WHAT is WHAT.
Mr.. Ridgway says everything is Sc
rene in the labor world The work
men say they are awaiting some word
from their representatives in Denver
as to their future actions. That big
trouble is coming unless the company
''renigs' from its stand on the wage
cutting proposition, is known.
Has it already reniged?
IGNORING UNIONS.
What Mr. Ridgway says would indi-
cate that the company has decided
cut would be unwise and is now let
ting this information leak out through
the press rather than notify the men
clamoring for recognition in Denver,
to ignore the unions.
DENIES REDUCTION.
Mr. Ridgway arrived here yesterday
afternoon and this Is what he says:
THE wages of the telegraphers on
the Denver & Rio Grande system will
positively not be reduced for the pres
ent month, nor in the immediate flu
ture.
The wages paid the machinists and
l. u. ~.
reduced on March 4 All reports to
the contrary are false"
NEWS Is WELCOME.
This is good news From Denver
comes word that committees and Of
ficials are in deep conference there. But
Mr.. Ridgway is travelling along the
line admitting that the company has
backed away down from Its announced
position and is not going to tamper
with the wages of its various employees.
1t will be an excellent thing If this
Is true, as had there been a cut every
man affected would have walked out
and added TO financial troubles would
have been one of the worst labor trou-
bles in the history of the west. Boiler
makers, machinists. telegraphers and
other artisans would have gone out to-
gether and walk-outs or strikes are
something the corporations and work
ingmeu cannot AFFORD to have upon
them during times like these.
WHAT DOES 1T MEAN?
The laborers and employees feel that
the company thought IL could force a
crisis IN labor circles because of preva-
lent hard times. so started out with the
aVowed intention of breaking organ
ICED labor To the surprise of all the
unions did not hesitate for second
In act nv, hat ha.r re-
just as determined that they shall be
recognized and rumble after rumble OF
impending trouble rolled up and down
the lire. Committees were sent to
Denver by the unions to meet with the
officials and confer. Just what does
MI Ridgway's coming to Salt Lake
10 announce no reductions are to be
made at all. mean?
CUTS WE'RE INTENDED.
To deny that any changes in wages
or agreements were contemplated
would be ridiculous as signs were post,
ed I'm Rio Grande shops announcing the
company's intention of abrogating its
agreements with the various unions on
March IA. This was followed by the
reports of contemplated reductions of
wages IL was then committees Of men
were sent hurrying to Denver.
THAT TELEGRAPH AFFAIR.
A committee of teegraphers was told
that operators with the exception OF
advanced mem station managers ana
division chiefs would be reduced to
500 month with 80 cents hospital fee
deducted The general committee sent
out this information over the line with
requests for opinions from the men and
that all were against such slash, Is
known. The telegraphers representa-
tives are now In Denver their expenses
being paid by the workers, seeking some
word az to whether the company win
reconsider or not. The announcement
made by Mr.. Ridgway in this city viii
no doubt be surprise TO this com
mittoe IN placing over $50 miles be,
tween himself and the committee be,
fore announcing what the company
contemplated doing, Mr.. Ridgway has
started TO demonstrate the gentle art
OF Ignoring
How matters viii adjust themselves
when the Official word that proposed
cuts have been dropped. viii be intcr-
esting, The word viii be welcomed
as II means bad labor affair ayerted.