Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-26
Vice President Kruttschnitt Visits
Omaha and Discusses Situa-
tion.
MEN TREATED FAIRLY, SAYS HE
Official Travels Over System to Learn
Sentiment of the Employees.
STRIKE RESTS WITH EMPLOYEES
One Big Railroader Declares System
Anticipates a Struggle.
VICE PRESIDENT is RETICENT
official of One Road Declares that
strike il to Bc Declared ana that
Hartman system is Selected.
for the Attack.

En- route to san Francisco and travelling
in the private car Guadalupe of the South
ern Pacific, which was attached to ILL
nois Central train No. l. Julius krutt-
schnitt. vice president and director Of
maintenance and operation Of the Harrl-
man railway system, arrived in Omaha
Friday morning and an hour and half
later left for the west, his car attached to
the Union Pacific fast mail, No. 10. AL
though the hour was early Mr.. Krutt-
schnitt was met al the station by A. l..
Mohler. vice president and general manager
of the Union Pacific, and c. r. Fuller, as
sistant general manager and superintend-
ent of motive power and machinery of the
same road.
The two local officials of the Union Pa
cific held a conference with Mr.. krutt-
schnitt I'm the latters private car Tor
for nearly an hour, and then win hlIh'
took short walk up town. To The Bee
Mr.. Kruttschnitt said there was little TO
say relative to possibility of a strike on
the Hartman system adding that at no
time had he refused to confer with the
men employed by the lines of theNroad
which ne represents.
$50 far as we are concerned, we are haV-
ing no trouble with our men. We are pay
ing the best wages of any OF the roaos
of the country, and Notwithstanding that
business has been bad, for months we nave
been carrying on our payrolls large
number Of people not needed. We have al
ways treated our men with FAIRNESS ana
at the present time are paying out an
nually between 100000 and $4,000 to super
animated employees"
Asked IL a strike on the Hartman sys-
NJ Vtsft
1t is Up to Employees.
'.That is something that is up to the
men. We are not seeking, neither are we
bringing on a strike. We have treated
with our men, and they, or large portion
OF them are familiar with the condluons
as they exist at the present time
Asked IL the Hartman system would
recognize the proposed demands OF the
federated labor organizations, Mr.. Krutt-
schnitt answered that he had nothing TO
gay upon this subject.
Getting down to the matter OF retrench-
ment and asked II it would be continued
TO a greater extent, the director OF main
tenance and operation OF the Hartman sys-
tenn answered that he could not say.
'It is like this" he continued IF the
business man finds there is falling OFF In
his business, he cuts expenses wherever ne
can in order to bring that business up to
the point where it will be profitable II
the man with a family discovers that his
living expenses are increasing, while his
income is constantly decreasing, he re-
duces his expenses; II he has been eating
a certain kind OF meat he procures some
thing cheaper.
No FavOritism shown.
''The railroads are like any other kind
of business in this respect and might be
compared to a family. When 1t is discov-
cred that the expenses are increasing, or
are greater than what they formerly were
and business is falling off, 1t becomes nee
essary to cut out some of the expenses.
"In reducing forces no favoritism has
been shown The reduction has been gen.
eraI In my own office have reduced my
force and the same thing has been done ip
the office of Mr.. Mohler. We have simply
followed a plan OF general retrenchment
and have laid off the people we could best
get along without would be glad to have
all OF the people taken back and at good
wages, for 1 like to see people prosperous
and earning good salaries"
Mr.. Kruttschnitt said 1t was impossible to
tell when the employees laid off would be
restored TO their old positions, but felt
that nothing of the kind could occur until
the business conditions. particularly with
the railroads, improved.
Mr. Kruttschnitt will make no lengthy
stops between here and the Pacific coast
His car Will be hauled by No. 1s, the fast
mail, all the way to San Francisco. He
win remain there several days, possibly
two weeks. At this time he does not know
over what route he will return.
Strike n Certain.
Another railroad man, who refuses to let
his name be published. though he is not
with the Union Pacific. discussing the
strike situation, said:
"A strike Is almost sure TO be declared.
The roads of the Hartman system have
thrown down the gauntlet and on those
roads will the battle be waged. 1t will
be fight to the death, for the Hartman
interests backed by the other railroad in
terests of the country, will never submit to
a recognition OF the federated alliance of
the labor organizations. In the past rail-
roads have been willing to treat with the
individual unions but they win never agree
TO permitting the federated organization
debating the management OF thelr affairs.
In selecting the Hartman system as the
system against which the battle is TO be
| wsged, the federation has done so know
ing that II is one OF the most powerful rail-
road alliances in the country. II the fed
GRAFTON wins, It wins everything, and II It
loses, 1t will lose all. The fight will be a
| long one.
This labor war is not TO be one In which
wages will be the paramount issue In
fact IL will be only a side issue The real
issue is to be whether or not the federated
union shall be officially recognized by the
railroads OF the United States"
KLINE DISCUSSES SITUATION