Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-09-08
RAILROAD men IN
CONFERENCE over
CUTTING EXPENSE
Retrenchment in the Operating
Cost of Various Lines Is
Talked in Secret.

Chicago Aug. s1.--Members of the
committee on relations among railroads
of the American Railway ASSOCIATIVE
met here today and discussed the en-
ployment situation on transportation
lines in different parts Of the country,
\ The. session was held behind closed
doors and railroad cslmsals declined To
discuss any action probably to be taken
The policy OF retrenchment and econ
omical administration adopted by q
number OF roads which has resulted In
the laying off of thousands of employees
was considered 1t il said, at the con-
ference. The disputes with union labor
which engaged the attention OF
railroad officials On a number of lines
for several weeks also was considered,
1t is said.
Personnel OF COMMITTEES.
The committee is composed of the
following railroad officials, Arthur A.
Hale, general agent of the American
Railway association; t.. w. McKenna,
vice president Chicago. Milwaukee &
st. Paul railroad; w. l.. Park, vice
president and general manager OF the
Illinois Central railroad; G. M. Shcafer,
general superintendent transportation
Pennsylvania Ines; w G. BTowTri5e.
general transportation manager Grand
Trunk railroad: Henry Miller, vice
president and general manager OF the
Wabash railroad; III. j.. Merrlck, gen
eraI superintendent freight t~ransporta-
ton Lake Shore & Michigan Southern
railroad; E. III. Coapman, vice presi-
dent n general manager Southern
railway; J. M. Warner, general man
ager Chicago & Western Indiana rail-
road; w. j. Jackson, vice president and
general manager, Chicago g. Eastern
Illinois railroad.
Central Strike Looming.
A crisis in the labor dispute involving
5000 shopmen employed by the Him
ois Central railroad, who are demand
ing recognition for their recently or
ganized federation, is expected today at
O conference arranged between labor
leaders and railroad officials.
1t is said that Vice President Park,
of the Illinois Central, while refusing
to deal with a committee of the feder-
ated body, has agreed to meet repre-
sentatives of the 10 individual unions
with which the transportation company
has wage contracts. These unions
through their representatives will, 1t Is
said. submit their demands to the rail-
road officials and the possibility Of a
strike being called apparently depends
In q great measure on the outcome of
the meeting.
Union Pacifc's plea.
Omaha, Aug. 30.--A circular over the
signature OF G. E. Fuller, assistant gem
eral manager of the Union Pacific Rail-
way company, was today sent to the
shop employees Of the system. setting
forth the claims OF the company upon
the men and urging reasons why the
pressing of demands for increased
wages and other concessions at this
time would be an injustice.
The fact is referred to that since 1905
several increases in wages a~ggregatfng
IS per cent have been granted shopmen.
and the declaration made that the
company is now paying higher wages
than competitors. A pension system
has been established, says the circular.
Of which already many old employees
are beneiciaries and many more almost
ready to avail themselves of it's pro-
visions.
Business, It is declared, has been and
Is still declining, and the position IL
taken that the sympathy m Coop
Grafton Of It's employees. instead OF am
tagonism and attack, are due to the
company.
San Francisco, Arg. 30.-The heads
OF the five international unions repre-.
senting the five crafts engaged In car
shop work are expected to arrive here
late today, when q conference immedi-
ately viii be arranged with Vice Presi-
dent Julius Kruttschnitt In regard tc
the demands for recognition, reduced
hours and increased pay made by the
federation OF shop employees OF the Har.
riman lines.
President Reguin, or the federation,
says the men viii insist on the granting
of their demands. 1t is given out from
the Southern Pacific headquarters that
the reply to the mems demands made
Monday by Mr.. Kruttschnitt viii be
made final.