The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-03-14
RAILWAYS MUST AGREE TO
ARBITRATION OR A GENERAL
WALkoUT WILL COME.
U[T|MATUM PRESENTED
Fireman and Enginemcn Notify the
Managers Committee That Agree
mont For Consideration OF Their De.
nsnds Through An Arbitration Board
Must Be Made.

Chicago. March l3.-W s. Garter.
president Of the Brotherhood Of To-
comotye Fireman and Ingncmen.
notified the railroads today that if tile
controversy with the firemcn were not
submitted to arbitration. strike IL
inevitable. Twenty five thousand
fircmen on railroads west OF Chicago
arc involved.
Mr.. carter's letter Of notification
was indorsed by the brotherhoods
committee which represents the fire
men on about AZ railroads west. north
west and southwest of Chicago. The
letter was sent TO w. g. Nixon, gen.
cra manager of the st. Louis & San
Francisco railway and chairman of
the railroad general managers com
mittec. and reads:
Your letter of this date (March 13)
wherein you state that the managers
the matters In controversy and In re-
ply our committee instructs me to
say:
"'If there Is to be a great railway
strike. responsibility must and Will
rest on the managers committee.
That there may be no misunderstand-
Ing concerning this responsibility. our
committee hereby proposes the sub
mission of all matters in dispute to an
adjustment by arbitration.
The public has been Informed.
through the press, that matters In
controversy cannot be arbitrated. be-
cause they involve the authority of
railway officials and the discipline OF
employees. This statement our COM
mittee emphatically denies.
THE officials of many railroads rep
resented by the managers committee
do not hesitate to confess the gross
injustices pcrpetrated under present
| practices. Our committee directs me
to request the managers committee
through you. IL this proposition to ar
| bitrate Is not accepted by the man
| ayers committee to notify us at your
| earliest convenience,
The railroads previously announced
| their Willingness to arbitrate the In
| creased wage demand which the fire.
men say would amount to about IL Ia
| per cent Two other demands in
volved the managers say, concern
discipline and are not open to arbi-
tration. These points have to dc
with the promotion of firemen. wheth.
| er. when they become enginemen, they
are still under the jurisdiction of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemer
and Engnemen.
Does your letter mean that If O
satisfactory reply Is not received q
/ t.;ly stl I,n Inl - IN ar
asked
1T looks pretty grave" he said
I'VE are nearer Il disagreement thar
we have ever been during the whole
! six weeks of conferences. We do moi
want u strike. We want the publ,
to understand that. As to our author
ity to strike, we have the vote of inort
than so per cent of the men In favol
OF It, All the answers we have re-
ceived from the managers heretofore
have been evasiye, | hope their re-
ply will not be So
1t was learned that the manageri
had agreed to stand pat and. whil'
refusing any concessions probabl.
would invite the brotherhoods com
mttee to another conference tomor
row.
After comforting with Mr.. Nixon, Q
l.. Dickson. assistant to the presiden
Of the Chicago, Burlington & Quinc,
road gave out the following state
ment:
I'VE have received Mr.. Carriers let
ter which to the layman who is no
thoroughly familiar with the method
of labor organizations, would appea
to be somewhat serious and point t
strike. | wish to say that this |
merely one of the methods unfor
tunately invoked in conducting sue
negotiations and It is not likely tina
the men would sanction the action q
their leaders In calling strike owe
one or two technical points. We d
not feel the slightest apprehensio
over the difficulty. The managers !
time. probably tomorrow, will max
definite answer to the firemen's com
mlttee and we hope for peacefl
, adjustment"
.