Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1911-08-31
RAILROAD MEN IN
CONF FERENCE OVER
CUT TING EXPENSE
Retrenchment in the Operating
Cost of Various Lines Is
Talked in a Secret
ConCIave.
STRIKE is NOW IMMINENT
Crisis in Situation On Illinois
Central Road Will Be
Reached Soon, 1t Is
Claimed.
STRIKE is NOW IMMINENT

Chicago Aug 31.-Members of the
committee on relations among railroads
of the American Railway association
met here today and discussed the en-
pIoyment situation on transportation
lines in different parts of the country.
The session was held behind closed
doors and railroad officials declined TO
discuss any action probably to be taken
The policy of retrenchment and econ
omical administration adopted by
number of roads which has resulted in
the laying off of thousands of employees
was considered it is said, at the con-
ference. The disputes with union labor
which has engaged the attention of
railroad officials on a number of lines
for several weeks also was considered,
it is said.
Personnel of Committee.
The committee is composed of the
following railroad officials, Arthur A.
Hale, general agent of the American
Railway association; f. w. Mckenna,
vice president Chicago Milwaukee &
St Paul railroad; w. l.. Park Vice
president and general manager of the
| Illinois Central railroad; C. NJ. Sheafer
general superintendent transportation
Penn sylvania lines: w. G. Brownlee
general transportation manager Grand
Trunk railroad; Henry Miller, vice
president and general manager of the
Wabash railroad: H. j. Merrick, gen.
eral superintendent freight transporta-
tion Lake Shore & Michigan Southern
| railroad; T.. III. Coapman, vice presi
| dent and general manager Southern
railway; j. M. Warner, general man
ager Chicago & Western Indiana rail-
road; w. j. Jackson, vice president and
general manager, Chicago & Eastern
| Illinois railroad.
Central Strike Looming.
crisis in the labor dispute Involving
5000 shopmen employed by the Him
ois Central railroad, who are demand
ling recognition for their recently or
ganized federation, is expected today at
ia 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
4 with which the transportation company
has wage contracts. These unions
through their representatives viii, it Is
said, submit their demands to the rail-
road officials and the possibility of a
strike being called apparently depends
\ i'm great measure on the outcome of
the meeting.
Reports OF internecine disputes In
the ranks of the labor representatives
We're emphatically denied by President
McCreery of the federated body.
Union Pacific's Plea.
Omaha, Aug. 30.,-A circular over the
signature of G i. 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 1906
several increases in wages aggregatine
Is per cent have been granted sliopmen
and the declaration made that the
company is now paying higher wages
than competitors. A pension system
has been established, says the circular
i of which already many old employees
ready to avail themselves of it's pro.
visions.
4 Business. it is declared has been ant
is still declining. and the position Is
taken that the sympathy and coop
Grafton of it's employees instead of am
tagonism and attack. are due to the
company.
San Francisco. Aug. 30.The head:
of the hve international unions repre-.
senting the Eve crafts engaged in cal
shop work are expected TO arrive here
late today, when conference immedi-
ately Will be arranged with Vice Presi-
dent Julius Kruttschnitt in regard t.
the demands for recognition, reduce,
hours and Increased pay made by thu
federation of shop employees of the Har
riman lines.
President Rcguin. of the federation
says the men VIII insist on the grantn,
of their demands. 1t is given out from
the Southern Pacific headquarters tha
the reply to the mems demands mad
Monday by Mr.. kruttschnitt viii b.