New-York tribune., 1909-12-05
BIG STRIKE FEARED
Unrest INONG RAIL
ROID EMPLOYEES.
Engineers Head Says Time Is
Ripe for Increment Similar
to That Of 1902.
LRr reLesranh 90 rhe rribune ]

the more than one million cmpIoyes
cautiously centred their efforts TODAY
fsr me supreme trial demands and ne
rf.aiions NTH VIII determine whether
on not the Industrial life OF the nation
4 10 De- para,yzed by a general railroad
srike.
Prom The various sections Of the coun-
t-v came messages bearing in the writ
len lines The hope that there viii he no
s,riko. but nevertheless indicating thar
the situation b. one of unrest and poten-
rianv grave The Erdman arbitration
at. desig igned especially TO cope with rall-
rad disputes. doomed in the foreground
A. chief hlIVark of optimism.
Il is however. regarded as only "A
mora t1rce tor peace as II carries no
power of injunction or mandatory phrase
o. enforce the findings under its pro-
visions.
Railroad presidents throughout the
country did their utmost To suppress
sarm To-day hy issuing hopeful but not
unequ vocal statements.
WAGE INCREASE UNTIMELY.
WIKI IN intensity IF expression in in
verse ratio 20 the stand taken by the
employee. the railroad leaders stated
tast tlat could not afford 10 increase
wages at -l- present time. They pleaded
ttat th. trsrsTor1ation lines. as is the
cse with the country al large. are re-
covering from "a period IF hard times
They said the Improvement IN business
conditions should not be disturbed. The
officials 0f Tie roads said that they stood
ready to submit The entire wage dispute
io impartial arbitration, trusting that
invest CATION would support their CON
1sutiou~. The. said that II the 'abor or
E4liza-.als We're ready 10 show an equal
csgTee af Willingness 10 arbitrate trouble
ueel r-- ae feared
% d0lt know whether there viii be a
genera strike or not" said President =.
2 Ripley ar the SANTA Pc Railway IT
b nor impossible. but hope not"
vii t-e railroads grant any general
aiTau.-e l wages be- WAS asked.
i DOM think they Eln. they ought
nu 30. l-t the demands made by the
men probably Win be submitted 10 arbi-
RATION
TIN PER CENT Il ASKED
ofhre-s ~ the organizations OF enei-
neers. bremen. tranmen and sWitchmen
have agreed up0u d Uniform demand Of
a D. per cent w-aEe increase, without
deviation 0r compromise.
While it is known that il is not the
pan ef tre leaders I'm the railroad labor
organizations ta call oct all the men al
one time. thel- intention is said 10 be. by
those who are acquainted with their
plans ra cab out sufficient men on each
bg system ra make operation practi-
Ci .mpossl.lry.
y. G. L.s president # the Brother
hood of Railroad Traiumen. who is here
to-dar earducting negotiations with
Chicago r road officials. said i'm refer
oee Or rre published reports that The
rads of -r. country are on the verge cf
great .ads- aar.
-f r misleading fo say that the tram
usIs afE-uizst -I0us have made demands
~ increased wages from the roads. The
proD0sir..r I.r au increase IN wages on
hf lines sa-r af chicago has been re-
ierel Mo- officers of the organic
ta-s ra fr. wan rh mselvrs. There are
81 l~sf $4,000 men interested and -acl
nan 'alsr consider tEe proposition Of the
errlauC I.r more Ees and vote on il
before aIg #l.a demand can be made Il
VN taEe some time for the decision IF
laa men 81. Fol, registered and until then
ia- situation cannot be regarded -
acute
iae f-e--a sNitrhmeus organization
q s1 enthusiastic meeting tonight d.
e4aea .a In-'Eaue AL strike action until
a'iI tlsr grievance committee has con-
isrea n.-. ree conference committee IF
ne ra..r.ad .ar4eers-
Cleveland. D,c 4-Warren = stone.
h'a- . PHI. Hr-a-rra3d ~ Locomotive
Llg.nsers said to-day
Ih.l. .a a spirit ai unrest .moug the
Railway employees throughout the Jnitel
eiaies I.. tm, i- ripe for another
nagerIerf similar % thar ~ 1877. A
snera rr.h. .s not .mprOuablc.'
Ogden. -4H. Dec 4-JuHus Krutt-
ti'n-tt director of operation and MAIN
'flano' .. v.g ~ the Hartman lines.
'i't asked .- Psi tae report of "a pending
sA'fa sr-. Hf railroad employees, SAID
~ sin- Nas a wild ezaggeratiou-
ne e1 .ue. r.ar grievance commit
''s From rre railway hrotherhOods fire.
fien,- seek rsadjssimeut of wage
@'es and aetI.-melt ~ working condl-
~.ls invariably these demands are
7i-"o an.eIU... Mr Kruttscnnit de-
ff1 He urIt-sssd 90 see nothing ln
't present situation 10 lead one 10 eX-
l' an oH'I breach between the ran
"sts and t..ir employees.
Detroit D-. william Cotter. presi-
1 e, raf pore Marquette and Cincln-
D Hamilton d Dayton railroads, said
r} teat .r did not believe there
-a he hla general railroad strike.
nrciarel frat le bad not given any
'e' t0 shippers regarding "A poss. Die
Ar C.frer said tlIat the demands
.f nlsr averaged about lo per cent.
'n Some instances reach - pr cent.
were I.e railroads o. acoede 10 these
+anos SAID Mr Corter. III would
-a' a.. possibility ~ paying returns
railroad Investments. Wages have
increasing f4r trn years. while rates
been going Gown