The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-07-20
STRIKE THREATENS
c. & 0. and N. & W.
Employees Along Entire System
Are Voting on the Proposition.
Returns So Far Received
Are Nearly Unanimous
for Rejection.

RICHMOND, VA. - Special. -Nego-
uations between the officials of
the Chesapeake and Ohio and the
representatives Of the various organ
lied employees of the entire system.
growing out OF a demand for an in
crease OF wages for the men, have
ehdeu ana the two sides are further
apart than ever.
Beginning Saturday the matter was
put 20 vote of the men along the
system, and today the first results of
the vote are being received in this
city. one OF the biggest shops of the
company voted to strike. with the
solitary exception OF one man.
PRESIDENT stevens, wiring from
the White sulphur Springs, said that
/ ne would not consider any increase
/ nm wages, and Will make no promise
/ OF any increase OF wages. until the
earnings of the road shall reach an
average OF the last six months OF
| ISIO, out that he would, one month
after that maximum had been reach
/ cd. agLee TO meet the men i'm con
terence. He declared that this was
Nhai ana emphatic, even 20 the OK
tent OF having our shops closed"
Representatives OF the employees Of
the road nave been mere since JULY
/ lst an AN effort TO arrange some sort
Z OI agreement whereby the relations
/ between the men and the company
would remain unbroken, but they
nave had fruitleSs visit
IheN called on General Manager
Grice. whose engagements were such
that ne could NOE meet the represen-
tatlNeS OF the Workingmen and the
representatives were asked to consult
Mr.. Walsh. general superintendent OF
represent Mr.. Grice.
Mr.. Walsh agreed to have a con-
/ ference between the men and Presi-
cent stevens on July 5th, at $3.50
o'clock, when he refused TO deviate
from the following letter. received nv
him on July Sd:
Dear Sir,-As I wired you yester-
Gay We Will not consider any in
crease In wages at this time.
Inc company is barely earning a
unless business conditions change we
Will not, even il the shops are closed
make any increases or promise any
increases.
We will. however. promise that one
month after the gross earnings eouaI
the average earnings for the last six
months OF 1910. We will meet the off,
GERS and discuss the question of in
creased wages.
Nerytruly yours.
(Signed) GEO W. STEVENS.
Final, Even TO Closing OF ShoDs.
IN letter issued by the represen-
tatlNes OF the boilermakers. the pine
ntIers' machinists, blacksmiths and
helpers and the Brotherhood of Rail-
way aCrmen Of America. il is stated
that when President Stevens AT The
conference, was asked If this was final.
he answered:
Yes, sir. II Is final and en-
phauc even TO the extent of hav-
ing our shops closed
]. A. Franklin. William LYNN. p. 7
Conlon, J. w. Kline and NJ Z. RYAN
the head officials of the several inter
national or ganiZatiOns involved in the
controNersy-declare that they cannot
consistently recommend the accent
ance OF the proposition of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio (the refusal TO in
crease wages or to discuss the matter)
and submit the matter to the men for
such action as they may desire TO take
with the facts all set forth before
them.
The following is an extract from the
circular letter which the gentlemen
named above have sent to all the men
along the entire system
on may be approached by officers
or the company and told that the
Grand Lodge officers accepted a SINH
lar proposition from >he Norfolk and
western. But do rs be misled by
such stories. as the general officers did
not accept anything on the Norfolk
and Western further than to agree To
submit the company's proposition to
the men. the same as we are doing on
the Chesapeake and Ohio.
We feel that the men on the Chesa |
peake and Ohio are qualified to pass
upon this proposition"
The papers for taking the vote were /
sent out in the mails on Friday and I
the instructions are TO ballot as quick /
" as possible and TO forward the par
tlculorS OF the VOte-the lists OF the /
voters and their sentiments-at once to /
headquarters. SO that the vote may be /
tahuiIted and the results announced
The fact is thar the vote is already !
'omInS ih and from Huntington. w.
Va. there comes a list of the members
ana the vote shows that a solitary man
has stood against striking.
Inc men are not kicking on the
hours which they have been and are
working. but they are demandinac an |
increase OF about four cents an hour
."F me time they are employed. The
'"SSlb lltN or a strike along the entire
SlStem seems strong-much to the re-
Sret or business men and the hundreds
who would feel the effects of the strike
The New York Federal grand Jury
5 trying To make it look as if they 4
ought TO be called the Steal mag
lates.-RaltimOre. sun.