Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-09
MEXICAN OUTLOOK BRIGHTER
Negotiations Expected to Avert Walk
out Of Train Employees,
VOTE OF MEN NEARLY UNANIMOUS
Ninety-EiEht Per Cent Are In Favor
of ResiEning if Demands Are Not
g. Granted-BOth sides
Optimistic.

MEXICO CITY, Feb. S-Nlnety-eight Of
every 100 votes polled by union engineers
and conductors on the National railways Of
Mexico. on the question Of resigning in
the face OF the refusal Of the road to grant
their recent demands favored designations,
according to Vice President e. p. Curtiss
OF the Order OF Railway Conductors Of
America and Vice President and Chief Cor
rigan Of the Brotherhood Of en-
gineers. notwithstanding this vote the
threatened walkout appeared last night to
be contingent on the result Of a conference
between employees and President Brown Of
the railway, appointed for tomorrow.
Strong influences looking toward an amio-
able settlement Of the trouble are said to
have been at work and there appeared to-
night to be a distinct feeling Of optimism
on the part Of railroad managers and the
men with regard to the probable result Of
the negotiations.
1t Is said that the result of the poll gives
the largest majority in favor of a walk
out in the history of union labor. Nearly
1000 conductors and engineers on the 1000
miles Of railroads Of the merged system
cast ballots.
Business in some lines has already suf-
fered on account of the walkout agitation,
IL is stated by commercial travellers. Re
tail merchants, they say, have cut down
their orders anticipating the removal of
practically 600 American families from the
republic.
Illinois Central Arbitration.
CHICAGO, Feb. s.-The board of arbi-
traitors in the wage controversy between
the Illinois Central railroad and its teleg-
raphers reached an agreement last night.
The ~telegraphers demanded a 10 per cent
increase. During the hearing the road
maintained It could not afford to meet the
demand.
Although 1t was said the official finding
would not be given until tomorrow, 1t was
learned tonight that the agreement is as
follows:
All demands for flat wage increases were
denied, working conditions, however, were
changed. At Chicago, Memphis and New
Orleans an eight-hour day is instituted. AT
all train dispatching offices the hours Tor
A fifteen days leave Of absence is to be
granted annually TO all offices working ten
hours a day or longer.
About 1000 telegraphers are affected.
Lewis Expects Settlement.
WHEELING, w. Va, Feb. s.-President
T.. L. Lewis of the United Mine Workers
of America is confident, according to an
official statement given out last night, that
the miners and operators who failed to
come to any agreement at the recent Toledo
conference win get together again before
the expiration of the present wage contract
on April 1 and that the result will be the
concession Of a substantial wage increase
for the miners all over the country.
Waist Makers Strike Ended.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. S.-Peace having
been declared between the shirtwaist man
ufacturers Of This city and their striking
employees, quiet. prevailed today in the
vicinity of the factories and for the first
day in eight weeks the police were not
called upon to arrest strikers.
Under an agreement ratified by the work
ers yesterday the operatives will return to
work Wednesday. The agreement provides
for arbitration, partial recognition Of the
Shirt Waist Makers union and shorter
hours. The manufacturers also are to
furnish power and needels for the machines
without cost to the workers,
steel Strike Extends.
SOUTH BETHLEHEM, Pa, Feb. a.
Large additions to the ranks of LOO strik-
ers at the Bethlehem Steel works were re-
ported today by the committee Of strikers
as the result of picket duty last night and
early this morning.
Prior to yesterday only seventy-seven
men in No. 2 shop had walked out, but
today It is claimed more than 300 men did
not resume their duties. Other additions
are expected from the machinists In all the
works. Pickets will make special efforts
to extend the strike to the plant at Saucon,
near here. where machinists are also en-
ployed.
mi q - rT-N
here have advised their striking parish
oners to return to work and accept Presi-
dent Schwab's assurance to adjust differ
encas.