Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-20
of the Only Meeting Between Presiden1
Wattles and the Committee.

two thus selected naming the third. Are
you willing to do that? Is that not fair?'
Mr.. Wattles: Are you through ?"
Mr.. Linahan: Yes. sir"
Mr.. Wattles: II will answer that ques-
tion. There are some things in this world
that you cannot arbitrate. One Of them
is, you cannot arbitrate whether you are
going to keep your word or not. You
cannot arbitrate whether you are going
TO wipe yourselves out OF existence or
not. That is another thing that you can
not arbitrate. There are questions that
are involved in the whole controversy as
you call 1t, that we cannot and do not
and will not under any circumstances arbi-
trate. Why? Because our solemn word
and agreement has been given to certain
Of our employees; for instance, regarding
the signing OF a contract or the execution
of q contract, or the entering into a con-
tract. Are we going to arbitrate the
question of whether or not we will keep
our word with these men? Never. There
are other questions involved in this con-
tract that we cannot arbitrate. TIL ques-
ton of the wages that you propose is
raised here. Would it be in your interest
supposing a board of arbitration should
say that we should pay you men wages
that would bankrupt this company?
Would II be proper and right for the Of
ficers of this company to permit that sort
Of a condition to come up here? You
would destroy the very power to pay you
wages at all. And that is a question that
we cannot arbitrate. There is no question
here that any arbitration is required con-
corning.
Let me ask you, Mr.. Linahan, a ques-
ton"
Mr.. Linahan: YES, sir"
Mr.. Wattlesg Are you willing to arbi-
trate the question Of whether or not the
union should ey t in the city of Omaha
among our men
Mr.. Linahan: Yes, sir"
Mr.. WattlesI You are2'
Mr.. Linahan: Yes, sir"
Mr.. Wattles: You are willing to sub
init that to arbitration
Mr.. Linahan: Yes, sir; II you are will
ing to submit the other questions, we are
willing to submit that question to the
arbitration committee"
Mr.. Wattles: las to whether the union
shall disband %
Mr.. Linahan That is a question prob
ably over which we would have no con-
troll. This m could not determine
what these six hundred men might desire
In regard to the union. We have not got
the right to say that they would do this.
1t would be a matter hat we would have
to bring up before the men. But we have
got their ideas and their vote in regard
to these grievances, but we have not the
right to say that we will arbitrate the
matter of existence of the trade union
that is too broad a question for this com
M. Wattles: while we are getting
things stirred up here, let us have
cigars"
Mr.. Lear: II would like to ask a
question. You stated that this agree
ment was signed by Mr.. Wilson. That
agreement has been violated time and
time again in this city. Not by you, !
don't say, but by your other officers. 1t
has been violated right today. You agreed
that you would not interior with this
union in any way; that you would not
put anything in the way of your men or
ganizing, Right the other night you had
men down there standing and watching
the men and intimidating the men from
going up to that meeting; standing there
for the purpose of intimidation and moth
ing else; Just to intimidate the men and
keep them from attending that meeting
OF the organization. Now another case
Is there a man that goes down to your
office and inquiries for a job that is not
told that he should not join the union?
Is there a man that goes down there to
apply for a job that is not told that? Is
he not told that? Doesn't he say, well,
remember. we have no use for you II
you join the union, or words to that eff
fect?. Your job is no good to you If you
join the union. He intimidates every man
that goes to that place every time. And
OF yours"
Mr.. WattIes: Now let me answer that
before we go further. That brings up a
treal question here. l have said and re-
peated time and again, that there should
not be any intimidation on the part Of
the officers Of this company toward any
Of, its employees regarding whether they
belonged TO the union or not or whether
they were going TO join. l have said,
however, that you must not deny to the
officers of the company the same priv
tleges that you claim for yourselves; that
Is, an officer OF this company has a per-
feet right to say to an employe of the
company, I would prefer that you don't
Join the union. but at the same time he
there viii be no discrimination against
/ you. Now, Mr.. Lear, you say that Of
fcsrs OF our company"
Mr.. Wattles: 81 have intimidated the
men"
Mr.. Watties; II call for the names of
Mr.. Lear: Right there is a m
Mr.. Linahan: There is a statement
from a young man that was called down
and matters OF this kind only help to
make things still worse. Here is what
they said TO him at the office,-that they
every man in case Of a strike would be
out OF, a job.-that / was an sgitator and
the Office ri nef' w t5hS re Ta mT Sat t,m.! aV tSst 70 2
was agitating around the barns"
MI ,Wattles; "Agitstins around the
MIR. wattles What is that mans
nameP"
Mr.. Linahan: His name is sheean."
Mr.. Wattles: What is his first manner"
Mr.. LinAhan: IN, J. sheean"
Mr.. Wattles: WHO said this TO him -
Mr.. Linahan: ct was said TO him down
to the office of the superintendent of
Mr.. WattIes: Was il the superintendent
Of transportation who was talking with
him?"
Mr.. Linahan: ITO the best OF my knowl.
edge / presume IL was either one OF the
superintendents. I am not in a position
20 know. I just got this statement thai
he was called in there"
A member Of the committee: Mr.
o. Nash"
Mr.. Linahan: And 1 believe he wa
sworn at, too"