Omaha daily bee., 1911-09-17
TO KNOW SOON ABOUT STRIKE
President Kline Declares Next Fiji
teen Days Will Decide.
TALKS OF FRISCO CONFERENCE
Head Of BIacIsmiths' Union Describes
Arguments Used-says He Has
Heard Threat of Federal
r. Prosecution.

Decision 20 strike or not TO strike for
recognition Of the Federation OF shop EN-
ployes OF the Hartman lines VIII De
reached by the federation's executive board
within the next fifteen days and more
probably within the next ten days, ac-
cording TO J. w. Kline, international presi-
dent OF the blacksmiths, member OF the
executive board. and spokesman Tor the
board. SO declared Mr.. Kline to The Bee
last night
UNLESS we hear further from Mr.
Kruttschntt or some other person in au-
thority for the Hartman lines within the
next ten or fifteen days the executive
board composed of the general officers OF
the unions OF the federation, will meet
and decide what shall be DONE" said Mr..
Kline. Some Of the newspaper men have
been trying for three weeks to get me to
say there will be a strike. I won't say II
now and 1 hope / won't have to say II. We
are not cutters. The general committee Of
the federation voted unanimously to stand
on the demand for recognition Of the fed
GRAFTON.
Holds secret Conference.
President Kline reached Omaha, on his
way from San Francisco TO his headquar-
ters in Chicago, at $50 last night and
Immediately went into conference with the
shop employees at the Labor temple. The
meeting was secret. About $50 men were
present Mr.. Kline spoke for two hours.
Frequently he was interrupted by ap-
plause.
No expression from the men was asked
Another meeting, at which Mr. Kline again
will report what was done in San Fran
cisco, will be held this afternoon at 2
o'clock
Tells of Frisco Meeting,
In response to questions by newspaper
men after the meeting Mr.. Kline said
I'm brief, this is what happened: We
went to Mr. Kruttschnitt to confer with
him. We went-the other general officers
and myself-as the executive board of the
federation Mr.. Kruttschnitt refused to
recognize us. We then went to the general
committee They voted unanimously-abo
forty were thereto stand on a demand
for recognition. Mr.. Kruttschntt would
not recognize u.s. We could have called
the strike right then; but we did not want
to act in haste. The men have voted on
the proposition and would be behind us
certainly IL we called strike.
Il am going home through this section.
]. A. Franklin, president of the boiler
makers, Vive President Buckalow, of the
machinists, and M. F. Ryan, president of
the carmen, are returning through the
south. The purpose is to study the situa-
ton in different parts of the systems and
then meet and make a final decision.
That's what we shall do unless we hear
more from Mr.. Kruttschnitt or others in
authority. OF course, we may hear from
them; but at present negotiations are at
an end Mr.. Krutschnitt has refused to
recognize the federation and we are not
going to him except as a federation. Unless
we hear more from the other side we
must either back down from our position
strike. We are not cutters.
1T has come to me that there may be
criminal prosecution in case strike is
called. Mr.. Kruttschntt made a state
ment to us that must consider as a ref
erence to that. During our talk with
him he said, Your presence in my office
is Illegal 1t has come to me, not through
the newspapers, but through other sources,
that Wall street is talking of criminal
prosecution of the shopmen by the gov
eminent in case a strike is called the &C.
ton being on the ground that the fedora
ton is a combination in restraint of trade
/ don't know what Mr.. Kruttschnitt could
have meant when he said our presence was
illegal because he was referring to this
theory. They may be banking on such a
prosecution. II so, all I can say is that
when we take the responsibility as of.
ficers of the shopmen we are in honor
bound to go to jail II that becomes neces
sary.
Campaign Plays Part.
Another thing may be responsible fol
Kruttschnitts position. The coming ma
tional campaign is going TO be a hot one
especially in California. The progressive.
are going to cut some figure. There may
be some politics in the railroad position
/ have heard that some people in Wal
street are saying, Better fight 1t out now.
81 don't know where the executive boarC
will meet. Maybe it will be in Chicago
maybe in Kansas City.
After the closed meeting Mr.. Kline con
ferred with the shopmen regarding al
open meeting TO be held today. This aft
ernoon's meeting may be thrown open t,
the public.
Wants Facts Made Plain.
'I am willing to have an open meet
ing and tell the public our side of tn
controversy" said Mr.. Kline. 81 am will
ing to admit the reporters and have then
write it down and give IT to the public
1t has been misled. The Hartman line
went to the public and discussed our posi-
ton before we even told them what It was
las a matter OF fact, II would be bette
FOR all II the federation were recognizes
and the lines did business with us as
federation, Fourteen railroads are doin
that and they are satisfied. No union coul
take a grievance to the lines then unles
the others in the federation recognized
as a just grievance. The lines would b
saved a lot OF dickerng with the differen
crafts. II Mr.. Kruttschnitt would be es
tablishing a precedent i'm recognizing tn
federation there might be some excuse 10
his position, but he wouldn't. He said
would give the men too much OF clu
over the systems. but the other road
have not found It So"
situation I'm West.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 16.-F. c
Ahearn head OF the bureau or economic
of the Southern Pacific railroad said toda
that important developments in the pres
ent disagreement between the officials
the Hartman lines and the shopmens' fec
GRAFTON are expected by tomorrow.
Mr.. Ahearn left the inference that III
situation has become more serious tina
at any time since the departure OF ]. "
Kline for Chicago.
The rumors received here by local off
GERS Of the federation that the Souther
Pacific is preparing TO lock out the unto
men next Monday are denounced as falls