The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-07-20
Grand Trunk Can't Afford
Wage Increase Men Demand
IA. u. ATwATER.
"A. u. ATwATER.

"The Grand Trunk Is In this fight TO
win. and we're going TO win"
I'VE look 20 the police TO protect US
In case of .ioting, and the militia will
be called out, II necessary"
I'VE regard the men now on strike
as being out OF our employ and doubt
IL any of them will be taken back"
"The Grand Trunk will I'LL the places
OF the strikers, and we don't expect
any interference with the regular pas,
senger schedule"
mo effort Will be made TO move
trains until matters become more set.
tied"
"THainmen who have refused to
strike Will Immediately get the in
crease of rs per cent offered some
days ago by President c. NJ Hays"
The foregoing sentences we're utter
ed by A. b. Atwater, OF Detroit, assist.
ant to President Hays for the western
lines OF the Grand Trunk. during the
course OF an interview with The Times
on the strike OF the Grand Trunk
trainmen, Tuesday morning.
Mr.. Atwater Is not at all worried
over the strike; In fact, he appears TO
regard II as a matter of but little more
consequence than an ordinary washout
on the line.
THE strike, which was declared by
the trainmen Monday night, will not
bother us very much" Mr.. Atwater
said calmly and deliberately. you
see, not all the trainmen are on strike.
Quite number OF the Older trainmen
are still with US, and with them we
shall be able to run our trains. For
the time being we shall send out our
passenger trains in charge OF the con-
ductors who remained with us, and
with them we shall send new men, so
the latter can get familiar with the
running of the trains. In this way we
plan to keep all the passenger trains
running without any interruption what
ever.
Thus far we have had absolutely
no trouble at all. | was talking with
our Superintendent at Battle Creek
late Monday night and he said every
thing was moving along there accord
ing TO schedule. We have had no
trouble here, either; our Grand Rap
ids train, leaving at 7:lO a. m, went
out today as II nothing were wrong
on the road.
There is no trouble getting men
to take the places OF the strikers, and
the substitutes are good, reliable men,
too. For the most part they are for
mer railway men--men who left the
service for some reason or other.
Railway life is fascinating and the
former employees are glad to get back
with us. Many of them, who branched
~, al And fhaf after
all. the Grand Trunk wages are not
so bad. Our brakemen, during the
busy times. make as high as $40 and
$50 a month, while the conductors
make over 800. Yet the trainmen on
strike have found fault with the pay.
1T may be all right for employees to
set standard OF pay and demand it.
but I think the employer ought TO
have something to say about it, In
many cases. as in ours. the employer
may not be able to pay all that is
demanded, in which event the matter
ought to be submitted to arbitration.
Mr.. Hays agreed. after the men re.
fused the raise of 10 per cent, to let
the matter be arbitrated and to abide
by the result This, as Is well-known
now, the men declined to accept.
1T is true. as the men argue, that
the Canadian Pacific railway pays it's
men more wages than the Grand
Trunk. Ts- Canadian Pacific, how
ever, Is better able to do so, as its
earning capacity is much greater. 1t
enjoys big bonuses from the Dominion
government and is now deriving much
benefit from large tracts Of land given
to 1t some years ago by the Canadian
government. This land today ia
worth S25 an acre. In spite of the
Grand Trunks smaller earning capac-
ity, however. Mr.. Hays told the men
that he would grant them the same
wages as paid by the Canadian Pacific
when the Grand Trunk Pacific road In