Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-20
a~F
Proceedings

unions existed among the street railway
employees, the nonunion men and union
men worked side by side in perfect har-
mony, that there was no conflict between
union men and nonunion men I'm all these
cities where unions. existed; that they
asked no different treatment of the union
men who should join the union-it was
the Omaha Street railway at that time
than the other employees received; tina
they would ask no contract with this
company that would require the company
in any manner to treat with the union
employees in a different or other manner
than they treated with all of their en-
ployes.
with that understanding and agree
ment with the national organizer, Mr..
Wilson, the opposition of the company to
the organization OF the union was with
drawn and the men who had been dis
charged or suspended were reinstated and
sent back to work and the union went on
with its organization, securing quite a
number Of men to Join it
AT that time we were waited on by a
large number of our old employees who had
been solicited to joint the union. but who
had not desired to do so, and we we're
asked the question point blank, as to what
the policy of this company was going to be
ANSdlulll6 u hOIblliOl tilplOy
or not we were going to sign a contract
with the union, whether or not we were
going to treat with the union employees in
a different manner than we did with them,
whether or not they would ever be placed
in jeopardy of losing their positions or los
ing any of their rights as workmen for this
company If they did not join the union.
We said to these men very frankly that
this company had an agreement with the
organizer, who was a national officer OF
the association, that no contract would be
required or asked Of this company"
Mr.. Linahan: Mr.. Wattles, that is not
one Of the questions that the committee
have come up here to discuss with you"
Mr.. Wattles: III you will let me get
through, Mr.. Linahan, we can get this in
better form. l will soon be through with
this atement
and you are going to these original ques-
lions. We have a new contract that we
want to discuss"
Mr.. wattles: 81 will get through with
this pretty soon and we will come right
down to the present time, so that there
will not be any Misunderstanding about II.
w can do better II one talks at a time.
and l will give you all ample time to talk
and opportunity to talk on any part of
this subject you want before we are
through. But as you have raised the ques-
ton yourselves about whether this com
pany was going to sign a contract with the
union. why, / want to answer tina dues-
ton, and l am answering it,"
Mr.. Llnahan: That was the instruction
we had when We came here, not TO go into
past history, but to talk on the present
troubles, We are not here to discuss old
agreements"
MI. Wat1es: Yes. 1 am here to tell you
whether or not we are going to sign a CON
tract with the union and in telling you
that 1 am stating some of the past history
In order that you may understand the Do
sition we take.
Now as was saying, our employees
asked us what our position was going 10
be and we stated to them that our agree
ment was with the union, and they were
promised that we would never place our
selves In a position where they should not
receive exactly the same treatment as
any other employees or where they would
be put in jeopardy OF losing their posi-
lions. Our promise was given them on the
strength OF the agreement that we had.
Now this matter came up. as you know,
two years ago last spring and was threshed
ouI Al that time a contract, similar to
the one that Is now presented, was pre-
sented to us-a little different in form, but
similar in substance-and the company re-
FUSED to sign II upon the same grounds
that / have stated here, and the question
OF whether or not the union street railway
men were justified in calling a strike at
that time was raised, and we were asked
70 appear before a body OF union men and
state our case, with the understanding
that these union men were going to say,
after they had heard the evidence, whether
or not the position Of the men was Justi-
fled. or whether or not they were just-
fled in striking at that time.
M answer 10 Mr.. Yeiser, who came to
me with this proposition. was this: That
when knew l was right I had no fear
OF appearing before God. man or devil and
stating what my position was and that
would appear before any body OF men and
. would go before the union itself and statG
what my position was, And the result
was that these men came here to this Yer,
room and sat here and heard the evidenc,
! that was introduced at that time and pro.
duced, and one OF their findings. wher
= they announced it in writing, reads as fol
e lows;
Five-In the matter Of the written con.
: tract demanded on the part OF your orEa
q n~iEation We find that inasmuch as al
, agreement was entered into at the time o
= the formation OF your local union to IN,
= effect that the company would not be re
= quired 10 sign such contract. we therefor
y recommend that said contract be with
e drawn and that the grievances therein con
z tained be presented as such
b 'signed by Mcdonald and Guye and Pol
n ian"
re Mr. Linahan; Can I say a word now?