El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-02-03
TAKING STRIKE POLL
On MEXICAN
RAILWAYS
Americans Allege That the
MeXicans Are "Rail-
roaded'' Through
instruction
Course.

AS a last straw in the National Rail-
ways of Mexico turmoil, American en-
ployes are being ''polled." Votes are
being taken, it is found on good au-
thOrity, regarding the simple question,
strike or no strike"
1t is said that the more coolheaded
of the American engine and trainmen
have not objected TO Mexicans being
employed on the National Railway. Car
dinal complaint lies in the system of
railway schools, it is declared. The
young Mexican is ''railroaded" through
and in much more rapid time than the
American apprentice would be, accord
ing to the foreign railroaders, and there
lies their complaint.
1--WE are afraid of our lives more than
anything else" said a former company
employe. NO man, American or Mexi-
can, can step from handling a shovel
to road duty. All the men really want
is satisfaction that worth will count,
and that no unskiled Mexican will be
put in the place of an old American
hand The public should bear us out
in this. 1t is all we ask
Still, among many Mexican and
American railroad men the race feeling
is very bitter, and trouble may not
=
The Americans are said to be well or
gained, and working along business
like lines If the strike comes it will
be thorough in result, it is declared
by every railroader along the border.
Reports from the City of Mexico say
that the American engineers and con-
ductors on the Interoceanic branch of
the National Lines of Mexico have so
far voted without a dissenting vote TO
resign was the report received today
from the men now canvaSSing the en-
ployes.
Representatives Of the unions who
are on the central branch report that
90 percent of the men SO far approached
have cast their ballots for resigning
In Mexico City the men are voting
almost unanimously to leave the SER
vice. The joint committee of engineers
and conductors will meet on February
: TO count the ballots and officially
tender their designations.
Call for Ballot.
Following is the statement, calling
for the ballot:
Mexico, D. F., Jan 90, 1910.
ITO the engineers employed on the Ma
tional Railways of Mexico represented
by the undersigned committee.
'Brothers-YOur committee has been
unable TO negotiate satisfactory
agreement with the National Railways
of Mexico upon the various matters OF
complaint submitted TO US for adjust
ment particularly in settlement of the
controversy regarding the employment
or promotion of competent engineers
and the adoption of regulations to in
sure proper protection 10 foreign en-
gineers, and to prevent discrimination
in discipline on account of nationality.
Having exhausted every effort 10 the
end that an amicable agreement may
be executed, we hereby submit the mat
ter to you for your decision as 10
whether or not you will resign from
the service provided that no agreement
satisfactory to the committee is nego-
tiated.
THE following propositions which
show the exact status of affairs, are
submitted for your information, and
you are expected to give them careful
consideration, that you may intelligent
ly decide upon the course you should
follow.
Directors Decision.
The board of directors decision sub
mitted through president Brown Mem
orandum.
THAT it would be most regretable
that the foreign employees that are and
faithfully and constantly would leave
its service on account of some misun-
Outstanding or erroneous Interpretation
Of the boards attitude towards them
said board Of directors sets forth; that
its policy has been, and will continue
to be that the most equitable and COM
plete impartiality insofar as the rela-
tions between the company and its en-
ployes be observed; that it does not
propose to discontinue the hiring of
foreign employees and much less to ex-
clude those who are serving already by
reason of this nationality, but to give
the Mexican citizens. for reasons which
are obvious and publicly known, a
chance and the opportunity to rise to
responsible positions in the service of
the railroads. always when this NAV be
coupled with an efficient and safe op-
Grafton Of the system: that to carry this
into effect the instructions of the board
Of directors have been and will continue
to be that whenever vacancy occurs
it will be filled. in all preference. with
Mexican employees, If they are compe-
tent, and have the necessary uualifica-
tions for the positions. and for this pur-
pose the company will institute boards
of examiners competent and impartial
that will act with a view Of examining
applicants to the positions of engineers
and conductors and the executive Off
GERS will select among the engineers
and conductors already in service one
of the members of these examining
boards.
Therefore, the board of directors at