The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-09-05
PRESIDENT MARKHAM REJECTS
ULTiMAruM OF THE EN-.
PLoYEs' FEDERATION.
WALKOUT VERY PROBABLE
Men on the Road Had Declared That
Unless Steps Were Taken TO Hold
Conference by This Morning, the
Unions Would Take Action to Fur.
ther Their Own Interests.

ham of the Illinois Central railroad
ended hopes of an immediate settle.
ment of the labor difficulties OF the
road by directing n letter to w r.
Kramer, secretary OF the International
Blaeksmiths' union. refusing to meet
| representatives of the federated shop
employees tomorrow, as he had been
requested
The letter from the representatives
OF the nine international unions In
volved, to which Mr.. Markham's COM
munication was a reply. was con-
sidered by labor men to be In the ma
turc of an ultmatum. The unions
asked that Markham meet the en-
ployes of the road as represented by
the systems federation.
Continuing. the letter warned that
unless the conference were granted by
1880 Tuesday morning. September 5.
the unions would take the necessary
steps to further their own interests.
Meeting Today.
President J. +. McCreery OF the fed :
Grafton, will meet the nine interna
tional officers tomorrow and deci-
sion as to further action by the unions
Will be reached. The union repre-
sentatiVes intimated that their plans
already had been made. President Nc
creery issued statement that the
nine crafts In the federation had
tional officers and would await their
action.
The letter from President Markham
of the Illinois Central 10 Secretary
Kramer OF the international union says
In part:
| las has been repeatedly stated 4
yourself and associates present al
meetings with Mr.. Park and myself
there are In existence certain contracts
between the Illinois Central railroad
and seven OF the organizations repre-
sented In the foregoing communication
Never before In the history OF oul
dealings with labor organizations have
we been asked to change contracts ex.
cept In the usual manner provided
therein. viz: That the 80 days forma
notice which has always been regarded
as an essential feature OF the same
be given. The required 80 days no.
ticc not having been given In thu
manner provided In each OF the diff
ferent contracts we regard them al
still In effect and must again declin,
to enter into negotiations with othe
agencies for the purpose OF making
changes therein.
THE paramount interest In this con
troversy is that OF the shipping ant
travelling public: and being convinced
that II Is the ultimate purpose OF thu
federation to consolidate railroad ser
Vice employees into one organization
the management does not feel tina
public opinion would sustain II In EN-
tering into an agreerlent which woul,
place In the hands OF one body tn
power to throttle the commerce of tn
country. Neither does II believe tina
the same public opinion will sustain
any action which will result In dis
ruption of the harmonious relation
that have heretofore existed betwee
the Illinois Central and Its employees.
Seeking to Force the Issue.
; When copy OF the letter wa
shown to President Mccreery be die
tated the following statement:
IF this letter Is authentic 1t is yer
evident to US that tie officials of tn
Illinois Central are seeking to fore
the issue prematurely That could b
the only conclusion to draw from sue
a communication.
Il cannot say what will be done |
regard to this letter. That matter
! up to the international officers in Chi
$ cago who have been holding the con
4 ferences with President Markham
They are to hold meeting tomorro
:, morning at 10: 80"
] The officials of the unions say the
I have twice given 30-day notices ths
0 they desired changes In the contract
r President Markham, they said, was NJ
q satisfied with the form of the notice
: inasmuch as they were not signed b
the same men whose names appeare
on the contracts.
The Situation.