The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-08-28
RAILWAY STRIKE CRISIS NEAR
PFACE OR WAR DEPENDS Upon
kRtTTSCHNITT CONFERENCE.
Heads O varions Cnions Are on Their
way TO san Francisco to Meet Vice.
President of Hartman system other
Demands Made Besides Recognition.

Demands Made BESIDES Recognition.
CHICAGO. Aug. 27.--With one delegation
I Of national labor officials hurrying toward
San Francisco TO confer with julius krutt-
schntt in an effort to avert strike OF
shopmen on the Hartman railroads and
another scheduled to arrive here to-mor.
row morning TO take up the demands OF
the Illinois Central men the railroad
labor situation ia expected to reach a
crisis in the next four or five days.
No strike will be called until after the
conference with Mr.. kruttschnitt. but
unless he instructs the managers OF the
different roads to meet the union COM
mttee. it was said that the men will walk
out without further parley.
J. W. Kline. president Of the Interna-
tional brotherhood of Blacksmiths, left
for San Francisco tonight and before
his departure he said he hoped for an am
icable settlement. though he admitted
that the prospects for peace are not very
bright. Mr.. Kline will he joined by the
other heads Of labor unions involved in
the controversy at Cheyenne. Wyo.. and
on their arrival in San Francisco they
expect to call a conference Of the genera ]
chairmen Of all the union committees
before talking over the demands with
MIR. kruttschnitt
Kline said that il the managers consent
To meet the committee representing the
Federation it will 20 long way toward
a peaceful solution of the difficulty. but
that recognition is not the only point in
dispute. The men are asking for an eight
hn,ir dav 1va uo VARYING from
four tn seven cents an hour, according
to location and nature Of the work. and
the abolition Of the personal record
system on the Union Pacific and Southern
Pacific roads The present wages of
shop employees on the Western roads run
from thirty-five TO forty five cents an hour
and nine hour workday prevails on all
lines except the Denver and Rio Grande.
where the shopmen work eight hours.
The personal record" system to which
the men object is now in force in certain
of the Southern Pacific shops and efforts
are being made to have it.extended. The
men declare that il amounts TO a black
list. as before getting employment an
applicant must give complete account
OF himself from the date Of his birth and
of his father and grandfather if he can
i Nv toIlpdtly mas ulsdDlIty DeHeIt
and says that it is necessary to have a
record Of an employee Is relatives who ca n
be notified in case OF injury.
Early last year all the shOpmen on the
Hartman lines got an increase OF wages.
which averaged about two cents an hour.
The international officers of the union
are said to believe that the present de-
mands are too high and that they have
been submitted at a time when business
ia not brisk on the railroads, but the local
committees are said to he taking matters
in their own hands and can hardly be kept
in check. The men have been worked ny
to high pitch of excitement, so that a5
per cent. Of them have voted for a strike
and are chatting because the international
officers OF their unions Will not sanction
their actions at this time,
The demands of the men on the Illinois
Central are separated from those made
on the other Hartman lines. though the
question of recognition Of the federation
is involved A delegation representing
the various trades on the Illinois Central
will arrive tomorrow from Paducah. Ky.
To take up their demands with the manag ge-
ment. As on the other roads the men have
voted almost unanimously for n strike.
SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 2I.-Vice-Presi-
dent Kruttschnitt Of the Hartman lines
arrived from the East this evening f. f.
Calvin preceded him by a few hours from
Sparks, Calvin evaded reporters and was
ClOseto6 WIN SOutneTn racine prIlClala
alliaftarnoon. kruttschnitt evaded direct
inquiries in regard To what he would do
He said he had wire to-day from Presi-
dent Kline Of the blacksmiths union ask
ing whether he would meet Kline here
He replied that he would he here until
September
kruttschnitt wouldn't saw whether he
would recognize the leaders Of the shop
men as federation officials. hut he de-
C,ared that he would refuse to see no
men.
DENVER. Aug - Following the action
of the Union Pacific employees at Chey-
enne, Laramie, Evanston. Rawlins and
other points. the l5o employees Of this
road in Denver have voted to strike with
the men Of the system II the Hartman
lines refuse 10 recognize the representa-
tivas of the federation.
The men say thirty employees were laid
of in Denver because Of their agreeing TO
support the officers Of the various craft
organizations IN strike if necessary to
secure recognition.
GALVESTON. Tex.. Aug. 81 Pending the
conference this week which is to deter
mine tn" question Of a strike of shopmen
on the Hartman lines men are being laid
OF in these and other branches Of the ser
vic. Reports tonight indicate retrenCh-
inent measures which throw mora than
3opO men ont Of employment on the
Southern Pacific. the Houston and Texas
Central and other Hartman lines The
policy Of cutting down the forces extends
TO the various shop crafts Of these lines
also To the yard and operating crews and
to freight depOts and to clerical forces