El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-15
STATEMENT MADE
BY THE SHOPMEN
Federation Gives It's Side of
the Controversy With
Hartman Lines

Craftsmen has issued a statement
signed by E. L. Reguin of San Fran
cisco, president Of the federation; J.
j. Jones, of Los Angeles; H. F. Ball,
of Houston, Texas; H. B. Miller, of
Sacramento; T. P Goff of New Or
leans; John Sturtman, of Sacramento,
and John Scott. of San Luis Obispo, in
which the shipments side of the con-
troyersy is given as follows
The company officials have seen fit
to discuss our proposed agreement ar
ticle by article.
They have laid great. stress upon
the un-American principles of our ap-
ter, that which we have requested is
at the present time in existence. and
In defence of our present apprentice
system. Regarding that matter, that
present time in existence and in de-
fence of our present apprentice sys-
tenn we beg to submit the following
reasons for Its existence. namely
That 1t became necessary to estao-
I1sh an apprentice system on account
OF the abuses that had been practiced
by various employers, which were, that
q boy could continue his apprenticeship
lnueIlnlteiy and grow gray in the en-
ploy of his master without receiving
Just compensation. We do not deny the
right OF any boy to acquire a thorough
knowledge of our various crafts. but
we DO insist upon the right to judge
the moral standing and educational
qualifications of men who are to sue
ceed US In our vocations, and thereby
increase the intelligence and moral
character OF our crafts.
Is Not un-American.
It has been customary with various
employers to make specialists of their
apprentices, instead of permitting them
q full L. -
trade, and thereby placing them at the
mercy OF INSCRIPTIONS and mammon
worshiping employers. We cannot see
anything un-American in the stand we
nave taken for the betterment of the
american mechanic and the working
class at large
Another statement made by the
company officials is that we object
sonal record system. This has been
Fought out and abolished, and We in
sist that 1t remain so, that is, in so
Tar as the men employed in the shops
are concerned We do not dispute the
right OF the company to examine men
In various departments where it is abb
solutely essential for the safety of the
general public and in compliance with
the law, such as inspectors in the car
department But we do insist that no
man shall be subject to the un-Ameri-
can treatment similar to the days pre-
vious to 1851, when a black man was
placed upon the block and his teeth,
eyeslght, mind and muscle examined
We contend that our employers buy
only our labor power and not our per-
sons They have foremen and bosses |
to judge whether a man is physically |
able to do the work required of him. |
and they have the right to dismiss |
the employee II he does not meet the
requirements.
The Hospital System.
Another statement made by the COM
pany officials concerns the hospital
system We contend that the men who
furnish the money to maintain the |
hospital should have a voice in the |
ma na cement. One OF the causes Of the |
revolutionary war was taxation with |
out representation, and the American |
people still revolt against that prin- |
ciple.
I'VE are told that the amount con-
tributed by the employees is not s1Iffi- |
Gent to meet the running expenses. |
We are only told this. We have no |
means either to prove or disprove this !
There IS not a man In the
employ Of any of the roads in our iuris- |
dfcton who would hesitate for mo- |
ment to pay twice the amount he is
paying today If he had voice in the |
administration of the money We be-
lieve that men who are hurt or dis |
abled should be accorded the best /
treatment possible, and are willing to
pay for 1t. If this is unreasonable. we |
have no proper understanding of Jus |
tice
There have been instances where men
have been discharged from the hospital |
before a cure had been effectd. for
the simple reason that the time al
Iowance had expired
Particular stress has been laid upon |
the subject or pensions. as though this
was desired by the majority Of the
men. We state for the benefit of the
public that there Is no guarantee that !
our old and disabled brothers will de-
cefve the benefits of this pension In
most cases, when man becomes old
and disabled he is laid off during |
times of retrenchment and oft times
lot reemplOyed. Furthermore there |
Is no guarantee that the men who are
now receiving these benefits will con-
tinue to do so. 1t Is only an act of |
Wall street the management Of the |
roads might change hands. Then what
assurance would these old men have
that they would be taken care of BY
age American wants Is not charity, but
/ fafr living wage. whereby he can
provide for his declining years and for
hose depending upon him.
Much has been said regarding the
unreasonable demands of the men for
In eight hour day. Men who have
studied the economic questions of the
lay are forced to admit that the trend
II the times is toward shorter work
lay Where the eight hour work day
s In effect more work and better re-
suits have been obtained by the rail-
Dad companies
The company officials speak of the
arge increase in their shop expense
hat cent flat increase would make,
that in some instances It
would be as high as 20 percent 1t
'eadily can be seen that this is absurd
I any men are working in any of the
hops on the Herman system for 10
'ents an hour they are certainly en-
tiled to a 20 percent increase
1nNTaa rrro = - |
ng the last five years have not kept
ace with the increased cost of living.
With data at hand. we are willing to
ebate with our company officials that |
ubject of hours and wages and with
hat end in view we have asked that
hey meet us in joint conference as
ystem federation
The statement is made by the man.
cement that they are paying higher
wages than are being paid on COM
etitive lines. This we will not admit !
he Hill roads in the northwest are
aging higher rate and allow one
our with pay to all employees at the
lose of the week, irrespective of the
lumber of hours worked. This Is OBJ
ected to by the management OF the
Hartman lines. The Gould roads In |
ompetitive territory, also are paying
higher rate
I'VE request recognition of the fed
alton h6CQnSo holt hot |