Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1910-10-27

the rules, which have been in abey-
ance, by which men may be fined up
Ito SIS for breaking agreements not
to strike. It is believed that the
employers will accept this offer with
out insisting in the fines being of
Ian automatic character. The mems
delegates sat in private for five hours
on October 10th discussing their pro-
posals.
i The British railway workers have
several times this year only narrow
ly escaped being plunged into dis
astrous national conflicts. They per
ceiVe that the continual amalgama-
tions between various railway COM
panies brings with it the necessity
for perfecting and uniting the mems
organizations. The arbitration
awards that are now in operation on
most of the big systems have been
held by some enthusiasts to herald
the coming of an era of industrial
peace. AS a matter of fact the rail-
way workers have been treated very
badly throughout the manipulation
of the Cancellation machinery by the
companies. 1t is true that for the
greater part of the way the COM
panies and the men have had an
equal say in Cancellation and arbi-
tration negotiations, but when it
came to dealing with awards the
companies claimed the exclusive
right of Interpretation, and in doing
SO they took an absolutely unfair ad-
vantage of the men by refusing to
accept common sense interpretations.
The companies would never have ar
rogated to themselves their claim to
Interpretation if on the Boards there
had been the mems official represen-
tatives who were Independent of the
companies instead of the employees
of the companies.
This does not mean that concili-
alton as a principle in settling in
dustrial disputes is regarded as hope
less, but it is perceived that as things
are at present railway companies
have by far the better of the bargain.
The long expected railway strike
concerning which Paris has had SO
many false alarms is now reality,
and though, SO far, it is confined to
the Nord system, there is no telling
when it may not involve the whole OF
the railways of France, and thus.
bring about a paralysis Of national
life and activity more completely
than was the case with the postal and
telephone strike last year. Twelve
services only out OF, 700 are opera
tive; no traffic throngs the Care du~
Nord, usually so busy, and the de-
serted platforms are guarded by a.
yegiment of soldiers. Telegraph and
telephone lines have been cut. and
the line was blocked at Tergnier by
two locomotives which were over
thrown there. These sabotage Incl
dents show the temper Of the men,
and indicats1that the government are
faced by fan extremely dangerous
situation. -
The dfacontent on the Nord sys-
tenn, though it has been smouldering
for some. time, has now blazed out
with dramatic suddenness. As 1ndt-
cation Of the coming trouble was to
be found Ia the abstention from work
on october 18th of 500 strikers and
engine drivers and $50 coal beavers
at the company's depots Of La Cha
pelle and La Plaine st. Denis, but
few were prepared for the resolve
that was come to at the meeting
called by the National Railwaymen,
Syndicate. At this meeting the rep
resentatives of the National Syndi-
cate were in favor of delaying the
strike until it could be extended to
all the. other lines. but they were
oFerrpled, and the strike was ordered
to commence at twelve O'CLOCK. Inc
demands Of the strikers are:
az A general increase of salary
to meet the increased cost of living.
~ Retro-activity Of the pension
regulations of July, 1909.
(3) Regulation Of working hours
and Sunday rest.
az Monthly salaries for all SER
wants Of the company, with mini
mum Of 1915 per annum for all en-
ployed on the rolling stock.
The resolution goes on to say that
the meeting considers that the stan