The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-08-31
HEADS OF FIVE CRAFTS IN SAN
FRANCISCO TO DISCUSS
STRIKE SITUATION.
WOULD AVOID WALKOUT
Question OF Federation Of EMPLOYEES
Will Be Put Up to Hartman Rep
resentative-Hcads Of Each Craft do
Not Want Strike, Although Their
Men Have Voted for One

san Francisco. Aug. 30.-General Of
ficers of international unions of rail-
ROAD shop crafts arrived here late to-
day TO take up, as representatives of
their individual unions, the question
OF recognition by the Hartman lines
of the Federation of Shon Ennlovos
rhey expect to meet Julius Krutt-
schnitt, vice president and director or
maintenance of the Hartman roads
e''her iate tomorrow or Friday. ac-
cording to Mr.. Kruttschnjtt's oopven-
renee ana the time II takes the leaders
themselves to outline their plan of
campaign.
officers of four unions were IN tbe
ground tonight. They are ]. w. Kline
president of the blacksmItb,s In,erro
tionai union, who came fro mchicapo.
H. NJ. Ryan, president of the Broth
erhood OF Carmen. and +. NJ. Franklin.
president of the machinists' interna-
tionai union. both from Kansas CITY
ana J. ID. Buckalow. vice president OF
the international Association OF Ma
chlnists from Washington.
Michael O'Sullivan, of Kansas CITY
general president of the Sheet Metal
workers union. is not here, but asrep-
resentative of that union was expected
10 arrive either late tonight or tomor-
row. With vote already taken
among the crafts. strongly urging the
general officers to call a strike unless
the federation is recognized. the union
representatives will go into conference
intending to avert one II It possibi,
can be done. President Kline. the OF.
ficial spokesman, said tonight:
Can the Men es Held?
If negotiations should fail. the only
way to prevent strike would be not
to sanction one. The question then
would arise whether we could hold the
men. We ore conservatives, not radi-
calls: we believe Mr.. Kruttschnitt In
tends to be fair In all things, and we
do not intend to embarrass him In any
way by announcing In advance prelim-
mary threats or plans. We are on the
brink OF a strike--that's the situation
and we feel burdened with the re-
sponsibility of avoiding one. We hope
to persuade Mr.. Kruttschnitt to see
| that the federation plan Is reasonable" :"
| That the spirit and intent of the late
r. II. Hartman will be invoked tn
persuade the present Hartman man.
agement seemed likely tonight. to be
one of two arguments to be advanced
In discussing what Mr.. Kruttschnltt
| has termed IAN irresponsible commit
tee of federated employees. representing
a very small portion OF the public"
! Precedent probably will be the other.
! "Mr Hartman told me-" said Presl =
! dent Kline, that the Hartman lines
| had not time to do business with in
dividuals. Bring In your committees.
he said. and wen do business for So
900 men at once
I'VE believe the time has come now
to do business at one time for groups
of unions, as formerly Mr.. Hartman
found 1t wise policy to do business with
groups of men. It's to our common In .
terest."
Federation Necessary.
"Mr. Kruttschnitt IN setting no prece
dent II he recognizes the federation
The Southern railway and allied lines
recognize and do business with 1t now
The Canadian Pacific, both east and
west, the Rock Island lines. the Goul'
lines. the Chesapeake e. Ohio, the Wa.
bash. the New York, New Haven
Hartford, all have adopted this plan
and 1t works. 1t does not produce
chaos.
: "The federation is necessary for ou
! protection. General managers Of raj
roads work In what amounts TO fed
; Grafton; IN the southeast they have one
/, I believe. and | have been told that
Fplan to have groups of general man
ayers meet groups of unions now !