The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-03-28

the railroad and Industrial interest
of the country. This is the officia
representation Of a prominent maj
in the government service who's
duties deal with strike situation
throughout the United States.
Since the beginning OF the year NJ
less than five big strikes have taker
place, involving more than 50.00l
working men. Most OF them are con
nected in one way or another witt
the railroads engaged In interstate
business. OF this number the great
est strike that has yet engaged the
public's attention is that at Phila.
delphia Of the dissatisfied street car
employees against the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit company.
Other strikes that tend to render
useless the great arteries Of public
travel and commerce have been in
stituted in Maryland, Ohio. Indiana,
Illinois and along the right Of way
OF the Canadian Pacific railroad, en-
bracing nearly all Of the states in
the great northwestern section Of the
United States.
These embryonic strikes are headed
by the Switchmen's Union Of North
America, the Railroad Telegraphers'
Union. composed OF men employed
by the Big Four railroad and the
Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern. and
the TrainnaE and Enginemen Union
Of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad.
In every instance the strikes have
had their inception by reason OF the
low wages existing and Of long hours
required for days work.
Also in each instance ii has been
claimed by representatives of the la
boring men that rarely before have
these employees sought 10 coerce their
respective companies into any agree
ment looking to q demand for an In
crease in wages or Of the curtailment
IN the number Of hours constituting
3 days work.
In the cases cited no resort has
been had 70 mob rule or violence in
any shape. The employees have not
quite their jobs nor have the com
>anies threatened or attempted to
fire" them by reascn Of any con-
nection with the union Matters have
been allowed to take their natural
course-arbitration
This means that Chairman Martin
A. Knapp Of the interstate commerce
commission and Charles P. Nell, com
missioner Of labor, are using their
persuasive powers to prove TO strik-
ers and the employers alike that it is
to their mutual benefit to arbitrate
their differences
The controversies have been left
to the operation of the Erdman act,
under which Messrs. Knapp and Neill
find their authority TO settle these
matters. With this end in view the
intermediates have designated GER
tain men, one representing the en-
ployers, one the men and third to
act as an arbitrator. h
For the switchmen's strike S. E. /,
Herberlings vice-president OF the i
Switchmen's Union Of North America: /
c. R. Gray. vice-president of the st. Ii
Louis & San Francisco railroad. and ,
Steven S. Gregory, lawyer of Chi i
cago, have been selected to arbitrate /
the differences.
On the Big Four railroad strike
Horace Baker. vice-president of the t
Big Four; ]. J. Dermondy. fourth S
vice president Of the Railroad Tele S
graphers' Union, and Rev. Or. VIII I
liam j. Kirby Of the American Catho-
lie university will adiudicate the CON e
tested points III
G. H. Gross, attorney for the Balti- b
more & Ohio Southern; ]. ]. Dermody v
and DR.. Kirby win also try to settle ii
this case, and Chairman Knapp and 4
DR.. Neill viii see if it is not possible q
to prevent the trainmen and engine b
men from walking out Of their jobs S
on the Baltimore & Ohio. i
Hearings are being held in Balti c
more, Cincinnati and Chicago between
the workingmen and the representa- f
ives of the railroads. In these cases
it is expected by those who are fully 4
with the situation that the
demands made by the men will be s
by the various companies r
and that they will obtain material T
benefits. It is, however. realized G
here that there are two sides to the a
questions involved, but 1t is also said v
there is little doubt that the zen will
accept the findings Of the arbitration
boards.
Behind these strikes is the cause I
for the action - insufficient pay tolb
al l. -. n. T..