United labor bulletin., 1911-08-31
RAILROAD FEDERATION
ASKS RECOGNITION
Greatest Strike in American His
tory Threatened.

One of the greatest strikes in Americas
history is threatened at the time of 60
ing to press. The strike concerns the en-
tire Hartman system of railroads and
the federated trades of that system, COM
prisne the Machinists and Machinists'
Helpers, the Slacksmiths and Helpers,
the Solermakers and Helpers, the Car
men, the Sheet Metal Workers, and the
Pipemen, all affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor.
The federation of these several organ
izations has been recognized by the
Canadian Pacific, both East and West
the Rock Island lines, the Gould lines,
the Chesapeake & Ohio and the Wabash,
New York, New Haven G Hartford, and
the best results have been claimed by
the ra ,lroads as we'll as by the men. In
stead of dealing with the several organ
izations, a committee from the Fedora
ton signs a contract for the several or
eanzations, which Will go into operation
and terminate at the same time.
The president of the system has re-
fused to recognize the new federation.
He is now in San Francisco, and repre-
sentatiVes of all the organizations con-
cerned are also in that city as a COM
mittee representing the federated en-
pIoyes. Vice-President BuckaIew of the
Machinists, President Kline of the Black
| makers and President Ryan of the
Brotherhood of Carmen passed through
Denver Monday evening IN their way to
Frisco. Michael O'Sullivan of the Sheet
Metal Workers is also there. All except
o'SulIiVan arrived Wednesday.
They expect to meet Julius Krutt-
schnitt, vice-president and director of
maintenance OF the Hartman roads,
either late today or Friday, according to
Kruttschnitt's convenience, and the time
it takes the leaders themselves to out
line their plans OF campaign.
With a vote already taken among the
crafts strongly urging the general Off
GERS to call a strike unless the fedora
ton is recognized, the union representa-
tives will go into conference. intending
to avert one. if it possibly can be done.
President Kline, the offici spokesman,
said:
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 are conservatives, not radicals; We
believe Kruttschnitt intends to be fair
| in all things. and we do not intend to
embarrass him in any way by announc-
ing in advance preliminary threats or
plans.
Hope To Persuade Roads.
We are on the brink OF a strike
that's the situation-and We feel bur-
dened with the responsibility of avoid
ing one. We hope to persuade Krutt-
schnitt to see that the federation plan
| is reasonable
That the spirit and intent Of the late
E. II. Hartman viii be invoked to per-
suade the present Hartman manaEe-
ment seemed likely to be one of
TWO arguments to be advanced in dis
cussiug what HrutJschuitt has termed
| an irresponsible committee Cf federated
employees. representing very small por-
tiOn of the public"
| Precedent probably will be the other
Mr.. Hartman told me- said Presi-
dent Kline, that the Hartman lines had
not time to do business with individuals.
| Bring in your committees, he said, and
wen do business for $4,000 men at once
Time Come To Do Business.
We believe the time now has come
| to do business at one time for groups of
unions, as formerly Hartman found it
wise policy to do business with groups of
men. It's to our common interest.
Mr. Kruttschnitt is setting no prece-
dent if he recognizes the federation. The
Southern railway and allied lines recog-
nize and do business with it now.
The federation is necessary for our
protection. General managers of rail-
roads work in what amounts to a fedora
\ ton; in the Southeast they have one. l
believe and l have been told that plan
to have groups OF general managers
meet groups OF unions now is being dis
cussed. That's just what this proposi-
ton amounts to.
who wants to strike? Nobody, If he
can help it."
| Colorado Springs-There, were no de-
velopmeRts today IN the differences that
have arisen between the Short Line and
the tTainmen. Several conferences have
been held and it is practically certain
that the increased wages viii not be
granted.
General Manager Jesse II. Waters to-
day raised the point that the company
was paying all it could afford and was
not bound by the Chicago agreement.
The present agreement between the
Short Line and the trainmen can be ter
minated by either side after 80 days
notice.
No strike is threatened. according TO
| 7. A. Gregg, first vice-president OF the
Order of Railways Conductors, who is
here in conference with the Short Line
officials.