The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-11-13
Now Wen Of Catarrh.

ii emen and say that the move OF the
latter IS being made in order to force
their claims of jurisdiction over en-
gineers on the railroads fathes than to
obtain an increase in wages. Foi
years the firemen have claimed the
right to legislate for engineets who
are members OF the Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Firemen and Enginemei
while the railroads have refused to
recognize the claim.
While no strike vote has been CON
sidered by the chiefs of the various
bruthcrhoods, the general m1nagers
lale said to be seriously concerned
over The situation. The Brotherhood
Of Railroad Trainmen and the Order
of Railway Conductors are acting
jointly hi the eastern movement, as
they did in the spring of 1907. when
uniform schedules were signed for all
tile railroads west Of Chicago.
! Farley For Two Months
/ At that time negotiations between
ftho general managers, aud the union
representatives lasted two months,
Hund the situation in the end grew SO
critical that the managers telegraph
"a to Washington for Chairman Knapp
1t the Interstate commerce commits
sion and Labor Commissioner Neil TO
come here and exert their influence
to avert strike. Under the proyl
sions of the E-tlman law, the incum
bents Of these Two offices are reqnir'
cd to use their good offices in any dis
pute between railroads and their enI
ploycs where a cessation OF work
would Interfere with Interstate com
meree
Following the successful tcrmina
tion OF the move on the western rail
roads, which resulted in a wage ad
vance of about IL per cent on the av
erage the chiefs of the railroad broth
crhoods began making similar plans
for a uniform schedule on the eastern
railroad systems. The plans We're al
most perfected when the financial de
preston struck the country in the fall
of 1907, which caused the labor Off
clals to postpone action
The business or the railroads has
been gradually increasing until II Is
said that at present they are enjoy
ing prosperity such as they had IN
1908. and the employees believe II Is
Il good time to press their demands.
The wages of the conductors and
iranmen ON the eastern lines are
about y per cent lower than on the
roads west OF chicsgo and the present
move is being made to bring the men
up to the western standard. Another
reason for the concerted movement is
said to be the attitude of the Pennsyt
,ania railroad, which never has offie-
tally recognized the railroad brother
hoods
Bring In Pennsylvania
The road in recent years has dealt
with COMMITTEES of its own employees
and posted bulletins OF wage sched.
ules, but never has made any written
contract with the brotherhoods, as
have all the other large systems in
the country. The PENNSYLVANIA is IN
Guided In the general step being TAX
en-. and may have to sign a written
contract, as have the other railroads
The trainmen and conductors in the
TERRITORY involved, which Is known as
the Eastern association district, al
ready have voted on the demands. Con
ferences with the general managers
are expected to open soon. when the
necessary prelminaries have been
completed Il was said yesterday thai
the general managers might appoint q
committee 10 deal with the entire
problem. as they did in the case ei
the western railroad three years ago