Omaha daily bee., 1911-09-04
FIVE LEADERS ISSUE STATEMENT
Presidents Of Individual Unions Must
Act Before Call.
PLAN UNDER FEDERATION SYSTEM
Members Number Thirty-Five from
All Hartman Lines.
MARKHAM DOES NOT SEND REPLY
Head of Illinois Central SLOW In
AnswertnE Request OF Men that
they ne Given Another Com
ference Tuesday,

SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 2-Au action
toward the calling Of strike OF the hhop
employees Of the Hartman lines az a result
OF the refusal Of the railroads TO recognize
the federation Of shops employees has
been deferred until next Friday, and the
representatives, OF the shop craft who were
present at the conference yesterday with
Vice President Kruttschntt Of the Har-
riman lines express the hope that a strike
will be averted.
meeting OF the advisory board OF the
Federated shop Employees Of the Hartman
lines has been called to convene in San
Francisco next Friday. The board com
prises thirty-fiv members, representing
the shop employees OF all the important
lines Of the Hartman roads.
Until the arrival OF the members of this
board the international presidents OF the
five shop crafts who are now In San Fran
cisco will take no official action. They
will attend Labor day celebrations through
out the state and will not return here until
Friday.
The international presidents Of the five
shop crafts issued a formal statement to-
night. outlining the position taken by the
federation. The statement is in answer TO
that Of the railroads position issued by
Mr.. Kruttschnitt some days ago.
Statement Of Leaders.
The statement takes up the nine demands
presented 20 Mr.. Kruttschnitt and deals
with his attitude toward them.
We have the federated crafts on four
teen different railroads at the present time
and we find no friction whatever with tne
management Of those various railroads"
1t says. We speak especially OF the
Southern railroad and its allied lines.
known as the Finley group
OF Mr.. Kruttschnitt's contention that.
under the federation plan trouble with one
craft means trouble with all. the interna-
tional presidents point out that the feder-
alton committee first seeks to settle any
difficulty, but that, in no event. can a
strike he called except by presidents OF
/ the individual unionH.
''our purpose" says the statement, lis
10 minimize difficulties We hope, by the
federation TO settle them without having
our committees so often in the managers
/ offices
/ ITO Mr.. Kruttschnitts statement that
limitation OF apprentices would deny TO
American boys opportunity 20 learn a trade
our reply is that our present contracts
with the Hartman lines have been in the
Southern Pacific agreements
! The demand for increased wages" ssys
the statement. would be matter for dis
oussion in a conference" adding that it is
usually game Of give and take"
Opposed 10 Piece Work.
! AS to piece work and premium systems
! the international presidents declare they
/ 90 not try TO cover the fact that we are
/ opposed to either system, and will never
submit to them il II is in our power TO
prevent it,"
! The personal and physical record sys-
tenn" the statement says gives the en-
ployers a chance TO drive the ernploye TO
the poor house" and II asserts that black
listing TO some extent, is being carried
on today"
! Regarding demands that the federation
have authority in the daying off and dis
charge Of men, II says I'VE acknowledge
that We intend TO protect our members
against malicious discharge by foremen on
account Of personal feeling. Many a man
is the subject Of revenge"
The intent Of the federation is thus sum
med up:
NO one who has watched the history Of
large corporations can but recognize that
If labor does not protect itself II viii have
!
GRAFTON Of crafts 10 the only solution we
have found to cope with federated corpor-
stlOns."
NO Answer TO Letters.
CHICAGO, Sept s.-Lettsrs sent By rep
resentHtives of the unions composing tn.
federated shop employees TO President Mark
ham OF the Illinois Central railroad, seek
ing another conference on Tuesday, were
not answered today by the railroad Of
fcers. The letters set forth that an
answer is desired by Tuesday morning.
The union men say they have compiled
with the technicality requiring thirty DAYS
notice TO cancel existing contracts with
the road. They maintain that should
President Markham ignore their request
for another conference they would not
| consider themselves bound 70 wait until
the end Of September TO take whatever
action may be decided on
The matter o. reaching an agreement