Omaha daily bee., 1911-09-09
HAS FULL AUTHORITY TO ACT
Committee of Shop Craft Unions of
Hartman Lines Meets.
PACIFIC COAST MEN URGE STRIKE
President Kline Would Do All I'm His
Power to Prevent n Clash Be-
tween the Company and
It's Employees.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. s.-Members OF
the general committee of shop craft unions
of the Hartman lines. together with four
international presidents of labor union or
ganizations, met here today to begin the
task of determining what action shall be
taken by the federation of shopmen In the
face of the refusal by the officials Of the
Hartman lines to recognize the federation
The general committeeman present repre-
sent nearly very shop of the Hartman
system west of the Mississippi river and
they are accredited with full authority to
act for the 5000 Hartman line employees
James w. Kline, international president
Of the Blacksmiths' union. said that the
four international presidents who came
here and unsuccessfully argued with Vice
President julius Kxuttschnitt of the Harri-
man lines to recognize the federation would
use every effort TO avert an open break be-
tween the company and the men but they
realized there was little chance 70 prevent
a strike. The presidents at a meeting to-
day told the general committeeman Of the
negotiations with Kruttschnitt and ex-
plained all OF the details of the present sit
uation.
Coast shopmen Would strike.
Since the Kruttschnitt conference the
men have taken a vote and the general
committeeman came here with instructions
from the men whom they represent. This
vote is the second the men have taken on
the subject, the one prior to the Krutt-
schnitt meeting having been practically an
unanimous decision to strike unless the
federation should gain recognition from the
railroad officials.
Most OF the shops along the coast have
emphasized the desire of the men to take
drastic action, but some of the delegates
from the middle western states are inclined
to accept the ultimatum of Kruttschnitt
for the present and make individual union
contracts for the coming year. 1t is past
the usual time for drawing up the annual
contracts and the shopmen are waiting the
result of this conference before beginning
negotiations with their general superin-
tendents
New Contracts to Be Asked.
In case it is deemed inadvisable TO strike
new. contracts will be made at once, each
craft dealing separately with the company,
but all demanding practically the same con-
ditions of employment. The federation off,
cials feel that in this way the ends OF the
federation will be gained. even II the or
ganization itself is not officially recognized
by the railroad officials.
President Kline said the present confer
ence probably would last until tomorrow,
ana that II might be extended into next
week. He said he did not expect any def
mite action today
II the peacemakers in the conference suo-
ceeded In preventing a strike order the in
nuAnce OF all the representatives OF the
shop will be directed 10 bringing about an
agreement whereby the railroad will con-
sent TO eliminate from the proposed con-
tracts the 'psrsonal record" clause and
the introduction Of piece work and the
premium system. Success In these endeav-
ors viii gain for the men their greatest OBJ
jeot, aside from that Of federation recog-
milton.
Advisory Board Meets.
An Informal meeting was held this
morning by the shop mems advisory board
The International officers early in the day
had left their headquarters on a secret
mission. When they returned they were
apparently surprised that the shop men
were acting of their own accord during
their absence without previous arrange
uent ]. w. Kline. spokesman for the in
transitional officers. stated. however, that
he had made no arrangement for a general
conference.
President F. L. Reguin OF the federation
OF shop employees heads the radical element
OF the organization. The international Of
neers are the conservatives. Those Of the
visiting shop men who would express them
selves today favored attempts 10 force i'm
mediate recognition by the railway.