Evening journal., 1908-05-08
PENNSY CLERKS
GIVE UP UNION
RaiIrOadOffiClaIS Finding How
Many Employees Are in
Labor Organizations

Employees Of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company's shops at Todds Cut
are wondering whether the company
is preparing to make war upon the
men connected with labor unions, and
they are awaiting with interest what
ever action may be taken the posting
of notices about the shops this week.
The foremen in the various depart
ments have been directed to take a
census Of the employees to ascertain the
number of men who are affiliated with
labor organizations.
Some Of them have refused to an
swer the Questions put to them on this
subject, while others have given evasive
answers. The men have heard a re-
port that the company shortly will
make a 10 per cent. reduction in their
wages, and they believe that, before
doing this, the officials want to dis
cover the hold organized labor has on
its employees.
Another order was issued yesterday
directing clerks who are affiliated with
the order of Railway Clerks and car
inspectors who are union men to abar-
don their allegiance to their organiza-
tions by Monday morning or lose their
positions. Many of the men have de-
ciared they will remain in the union
At the time the clerks were form
ing their organization It was opposed
by some of the men in high railroad
positions in this city, but despite this
the clerks formed their union and have
been meeting regularly since then.
At meeting Of Wilmington Lodge, No
81. Brotherhood of Railway Clerks 20 bl
held this evening in the rooms OF tn,
order at Red Mems Hall the Brother
hood win disband and surrender its char
ter The order has a membership Of abou
l2S clerks employed in the various Officer
Of the Pennsylvania Railroad in this city
For some time past the Pennsylvania
Railroad has been inquiring into the
standing Of its various employees In thl
matter OF organized labor to ascertain
just how the men stood along this line. Il
was learned through this investigation
the exact status of affairs and the result
was for one thing a consultation by Of
fcials Of the company with the offceri
of Wilmington Lodge with the result thai
No. g. agreed to disband. The officers o.
the lodge are, H. w. walther, presiden.
Herbert Neutz. vice-president; II. J. Ben
ringer treasurer; c. q. Duling. recordln,
secretary, and r. ]. Field, financial sec
retary.
In speaking OF the situation this morn
ing one OF the members OF the brother
hood stated that althoughthe constitu
tion of the order had a strike clause Il
II that there was no intention on TN
part OF its members to put such a claus
into effect at present and that the mem
bers had agreed to accept the ten pc
cent reduction in wages until trade con
d.tions improved.
While declining to make a detailed state
ment this morning a high official OF tn
Pennsylvania Railroad stated that ther
was no trouble between the company an,
the clerks He said the clerks had beer
approached on the matter Of the organi
aation and had consented to disbani III
organization. There was no intention, sal
this official Of further reducing wages
AS to the matter Of taking the census O.
the shop employees as to their connec
ton with labor organizations Il is state,
that such an order did not come through
the local offices OF the company but wal
done at the direction OF the superintendent
oi motive power It was further state,
that there Is no serious difficulty at pres
ent between the company and any Of Il
employees.