New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-14
BIG STRIKE THREAT
FIREMEN'lS ULTIMA
TUM TO RAILROADS.
Say $4,000 Men Vest Of Chi
cago WW Strike If Demands
ire Not 1rMtraied.

Chicago, March 13.-The threatened
walkout of 25,000 fremen on practically
all the railroad systems between Chicago
and the Pacific Coast reached critical
stage to-day, when w S. Carter, presi-
dent Of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Enginemen, formally noti-
fed the railroads that if the entire con-
troversy was not submitted to arbitra-
ton strike would be ineNta bic.
Mr.. Carter's letter of notification was
indorsed by the brotherhood's commit
tee, which represents the firemen OF
about forty seven railroads, west, north
west and southwest of Chicago. The
letter was sent to W. c. Nixon, general
manage of the St. Louis & San Fran
cisco Railroad. chairman of the railroad
general managers committee, and reads:
Your letter of this date (March 1S),
wherein you state that the managers
committee declines to further consider
matters in controversy. has been re-
CeiVed. and in reply our committee in
StruCtS me to say.
If there is to be a great railway strike
the responsibility must and will rest
upon the managers committee. That
there MAY be no misunderstanding con-
cerning this responsibility, our commit
tee hereby proposes the submission Of
all matters III dispute to an adjustment
by arbitration.
The public has been Informed through
the press that matters i'm controversy
cannot be arbitrated, because they in
volVe the authority of railway officials
and The discipline OF employees. This
statement our committee emphatically
denies The officials of many railways
rp1r6SantG1 hN the. q,
do not hesitate to confess the gross in
justice pcrpctrated under present prac-
tices.
Our committee directs me 10 request
the managers committee through YOU if
this proposition to arbitrate is not ac-
cepted by the managers committee that
you notify US at your earliest conFeu-
ience.
The railroads had previously announced
their willingness to arbtrate the in
creased wage demand which the fire
men say would amount to about 1219 per
cent. The other demands involved the
managers say, concern discipline and au-
thority and are not open to arbitration
These points have TO do with the pro-
motion of f1remen and questions whether.
when they become cnginemen, they are
-
hood
Does your letter mean that if salts
factory reply is not received d strike will
be called?" Mr.. Carter was asked.
'It looks pretty grave" he said I'VE
are nearer disagreement than we have
ever been during the whole six weeks of
conferences We do not want strike
We want the public TO understand that
AS to our authority to strike, we have
the vote OF more than 50 per cent OF the
men in favor of it. All Of the answers
We have received from the managers
heretofore have been cVasive. 1 hope
their next reply will not he So"
1t was learned that the managers had
agreed to stand pat and while refus-
ing to make any concessions probably
would invite the brotherhood's commit
tee To another conference tomorrow.
After comforting with Mr. Nixon. o. l..
Dickson, assistant to the president IF
the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy road,
gave out the following statement.
I'VE have received Mr. Carters letter,
which to the layman who Is not thor
oughly familiar with the methods of la
somewhat serious and 20 point 10 a
strike. wish 70 say that this is merely
one OF the methods unfortunately in
voIved in conducting such negotiations.
and it Is not likely that the men would
Continued ..cUld paEs