Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-02-26

WHiCH 10 NVW DCI'H "N ~
Western Roads.
Baltimore, Feb. 23.-The question
whether the trainmen and conductors
of the Baltimore and Ohio system will
accept the counter proposition to their
demands for an increased wage scale
or walk out will be submitted to them
within the next "a hours.
This action was the result of a con-
ference yesterday between Presidents
W. G. Lee and A. B. Garretson, OF the
orders involved, and the general COM
mittee of 20 trainmen and conductors
on the one hand and President Will
lard, of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road, on the other.
The railroad company failed to
grant the demands of the men, whose
representa- YES in turn were unable
to accept the counter proposition OF
the railroad. The men asked for a
daily wage scale for freight conduct
ors of $3.50 and freight brakemen
$2.53. A general increase to passen-
ger trainmen and conductors of 8 1-6
per cent of their present salary was
asked. The counter proposition offer
ed a slight increase to brakemen,
baggagemen and fiagmen in the pass
enger service, but nothing to the pas
senger conductors or freight trainmen.
AS Messrs. Lee and Garretson and
the general committee were unable to
accept the counter proposition and as
the railroad refused to grant the de-
mands, the employees prepared to sub
NIT the question at once to those
whom it affected. This will directly
affect about 5000 men. If the ma
jorfty of these should vote for a
strike several thousand more would
be affected. The organization of the
trainmen and conductors include con-
ductors, brakemen, fagmen and bag
gagemen.
1t was stated yesterday afternoon
that the entire vote of membership
would be cast and the return known
in about a week. 1t will, however, be
10 days before any definite action will
be taken on the vote. II 1t is decided
to strike the entire Baltimore m
Ohio system will be involved. 1t would
mean that every trainman and con-
ductor in the service of the road, who
is in sympathy with the movement for
increased wages, would walk out.
The abrupt ending of the confer
ence marked the closing OF the negoti-
atoms be tween the presidents of the
orders and the general committee rep
resenting the men, and officials OF the
railroad, 1t came after a series OF
conferences. When the company re-
fused to recognize the demands OF the
men the general committee and the
presidents Of the orders announced
that they had not the authority to ac-
cent the counter proposition of the
railroad and hat they must now sub
NIT the question TO the men. The com
mittee afterward met and the mem
bers prepared to leave the city for the
D of arranging to take the vote.
1t will require a two-thirds major
Try before a strike can be called. Even
after this has been done the strike
does not become effective until the
railroad company has had n last
chance to meet the demands.
This action by the Baltimore and
Omio conductors and trainmen is part
and parcel Of a concerted move now
in progress among The trainmen and
conductors on all roads in the East
where there are union men employed.
Negotiations are now pending BE-
tween the trainmen and conductors
of the New York, New Haven and
Hartford Railroad and the officials Of
that road for the same scale OF wages.
Negotiations between the men and
the officials of the Grand Trunk, the
Canadian Pacific and the Toronto,
Hamilton and Buffalo railroads were
called off February II last, and a vote
OF the men on these systems is being
taken. This vote will be returned to
Toronto February 28.
The scale asked for freight con-
ductors and trainmen is known as the
| Western scale, and was adopted by
the men on Western railroads in 1907
Improving Store.