Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-03-13
Representatives Of Firemen'S
Brotherhood at Chicago Un-
able to Reach Agreement With
General Managers,
TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND
MEN MAY DROP SHOVELS
Neatly Fifty Railroads South
and West Of Chicago Involved
in Dispute Over Union Juris-
diction and Wages,

tBy Morning Journal Special Leased wircl
Chicago, March 3 President W.
s. Garter OF the Brotherhood Of Loco
motive Firemen And Enginemen on
behalf of the tircmen, today sent to
the general managers committee OF
the railroads q request for q clear
statement Of the employers position.
The brotherhood asked for informa
ton on three points, viz.
Increased wage scale which the
railroads say would amount to an in
crease Of 22h per cont but which
the liremen say would only equal l2Ia
per cent.
The right Of the union to represent
the hremen after he has been pro-
noted either to be an engineman or
10 any other capacity.
The right Of the union to have ail-
thority in questions of seniority or
promotion Of old time employees
In previous negotiations the BROTH
erhood said 1t WAS willing to submit
the wage question 10 arbitration under
the Erdman act provided the other
two points were settled without aid OF
"A third party.
1t vas announced by the general
managers committee tonight that an
answer was ordered sent 70 President
ing II ~ e. the Ntions despite IFS
strike vote" 10 take What future
course they think best The answer Il
Was said, probably viii reach Mr. Car
ter tomorrow. II Is said The reccnt
vote showing more than eighty per
cent Of the men to be against acccpt-
us the offer 81 the railroads would
enable the national officers to can a
strike at any time
Negotiations have been on for six
weeks. About fortN-scven western
roads are involved. lf strike We're
called, il is said, $4,000 other employees
would be forced to quit work.
Al todaN's meeting ten general man
ayers were present At the close Of
the session Il member Of the commit
toe said
Although we confidently hope to
reach an agreement on arbitration, the
situation is Ihost critical. IN tile face
Of the so-called strike vote we have
told the men we Will not grant the
two points they ask for before submit
ting the wage dispute to arbitration.
IA strike at this time certainly
would not be wise. we do not wish
to alarm the business interests Of the
country and we shail exert every I'M
ruence To induce the Brotherhood 20
continue to act In a friendly spirit w"
trust the whole matter VIII be settled
BY Monday"
Later Mr.. carter gave out the fol-
owing statement
THE railroads haze been asserting
light along that we are aNersc to ar
This certainly is not So
There are a great many things that
are peculiar in The situation of tn,
bremen on tne Western roads, such for
Instance us the question Of promotion.
Hundreds Of men who have been in
he serice for almost Il lifetime hav
rot been treated fairly. Then when
fireman is promoted TO be an engineer
hcre is question as 10 whether hc
shall go out of our jurisdiction into
mother union and SO come under diff
'crent insurance rates. All these
hines the railroads have no taken the
rouble to explain TO the public.
I'VE do not like it to be represented
hat we are opposed to An amicablc
adjustment
''rhe situation is indeed critical. but
We have not lost hope Of avoiding a
strike"