The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-11-11
Montpelier & Wells River and
Barre R.R. Employees Took Action
FOR AN INCREASE OF WAGES
officials Of Three National Organizations
Have Been Investigating the Situa-
tion-Strike Vote Said to Be
Nearly Unanimous.

As the result OF visitation by several
officers of national organizations of rail
road employees, the Montpelier & Wells
River and the Barre railroads, adiuncts
of the Boston & Maine system, are fac
ing the possibility of general strike
The visiting officials say that the men
want wages that will be on par with
the wages of other railroad men in New
England
Two of the union officials have been
in this vicinity for ten days, they being
Vice President +. A. Gregg of the Order
of Railway Conductors, whose home is in
Roanoke, Va, and Vice President G. H.
Sines of the Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen, whose residence is in Cleve-
land. O. II was within few days that
Vice President }. J. Mcnamara Of the
brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and
Enginemen, Of Buffalo, n. y, came and
Joined in the Investigations.
In setting forth his side OF the matter,
Vice President Sines asserted that the
local railroad employees made a request
of the Montpelier & Wells River railroad
some months ago that their wages be in
creased toward equalization with the
pay of other railroad employees in New
England He said that their wages at
the present time, as compared with the
wages on other New England roads
since the raise on the latter, were about
80 per cent, less.
Vice. President Sines said further;
"When the matter was first taken up
with General Manager Stanyan, a tenta.
tive agreement was made, embracing a
limited number of rules covering working
conditions and about an approximate in.
crease OF 10 per cent. in wages. This
tentative agreement was entered into,
subject to the approval of Vice President
Fulsom and President Byrnes, but when
referred to President Byrnes he fatty
turned il down.
COMMITTEES of the men then called
for assistance from their executive Of
ffices and the officers now here were sent
20 assist the committees.
after several conferences with Gem
erhl Manager Stanyan and appealing the
questions at issue through him to the
vice president and president without any
better results than had been accom-
plished by the local committees, the
whole matter was referred to the men,
including all the conductors, brakemen,
yardmen and fremen. the matter taking
the form of a strike ballot
"The ballots were counted last Thurs
day night. and IL was found that 81 $40
OF the men had voted to leave the service
of the company unless a settlement sat
isfactory to the committee and grand
officers could be effected.
yesterday the brotherhood officers in
terviewed the several officers in turn
and finally met President Byrnes and
declared to him the result of the strike
vote. Mr.. Byrnes, however, maintained
his former position and absolutely re-
fused to make any concessions whatso-
ever
"Then the grand officers in charge
stated that although the men had voted
to leave the company's service unless q
settlement could be reached they still
believed everything possible should be
done to prevent strike, so that the pub
lic the railroad company and the men
might not be forced to suffer. To this
end they requested the company to Join
them in a message to Judge Martin A.
Knapp, presiding justice Of the inter
state commerce court Of appeals, and
DR.. Charles p Neil, United States labor
commissioner at Washington, d. c.
"These men are official mediators I'M
der the so-called Erdman act. This pro-
posal was refused by the company. It
looks as if the only recourse of the en-
ployes will be to go on strike and tie up
the NJ. & w. and the Barre railroads" I"
Inquiry at the general headquarters Of
the two lines in Montpelier to-day failed
to bring forth statement as to the
railroads view of the proposed strike.
II is understood that the total number
of men involved is not over fifty. Pres
ident Byrnes of the two railroads was
at the offices all the forenoon in consul
tation with other officials, but he would
have nothing TO say about the matter.
He came 10 Barre this afternoon fer a
short business visit, and will leave Mont
pelier tonight for Boston.
1t was expected among the men that
Il conference would be held before he
leaves Montpelier. Among some of the
older railroad employees, the opinion was
expressed to-day that there would be
no strike but that some understanding
would be fixed up, In some quarters
it is said that the railroads intend to
increase the wages of the men on May l..
next, but are not prepared to do so at
the present time. It is asserted that
President Byrnes was heard to tell Mas.
ter Mechanic Wahlen last night to tell
the firemen that if they will wait till
spring they will get an increase.