Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-27

Protection oe Omaha against a strike OF
Union Pacific railroad employees was the
purpose of a meeting of the Omaha Bust
ness Mems association and officials OF the
Union Pacific at the Commercial club Sat
urday noon.
1--WE must first know just what the situa-
ton is" said John L. Webster, a member
OF the association. Then we shall do
everything in our power to guard the city
against any Danger. IL would be a dis
aster to Omaha for tho shops to be closed
and a general strike precipitated here.
A. l.. Mchler vice president and general
manager of the railroad. and N. Fl. Loomis,
general solicitor, responded to the invita-
tian of the Business Mems association and
gave a vague idea of the demands the
affiliated unions are making and of the
stand the railroad is taking or is about
to take.
Center in Chicago.
The railroad strike storm center has
been entirely transferred from Omaha,
and just now there is not whisper of a
probability of the men quitting the SER
vice of any of the companies. However,
both employers and employees are anxiously
watching Developments in Chicago and on
the Pacific coast, for 1t is at one, or
perhaps both of these points that they ex-
pect the trouble to start, If there is any.
A visit to the shops OF the Union Pacific
company in Omaha ind Gates that there
there is little dissatisfaction. The retrench-
ment apparently has ended for the pres
ent, at least and the men are working
on the same schedule that has been in
force for some months 1t is figured there
that in the event the Hartman system
should determine positively that it will not
recognize and treat with the proposed
federated union. a few OF the men might
walk out in the event orders for them to
do so should be issued. At the shops 1t is
said that this would apply with the
younger men in the service, but not with
those who are looked upon as veterans
and who are largely in the majority
shOpmen Talk Freely.
Many of the shopmen talk freely. and a
majority OF them contend that nothing
financially could be gained by a strike.
To put it more clearly they state that
in the event they should strike, nothing
would be gained except that in comforting
with company officials, the representatives
of a great federation, instead of the rep
resentatives OF the individual unions, would
do the comforting and act as their rep
resentatives, This they say could in no
manner give them longer hours of EN-
ployment, nor could it result in any in
crease in wages.
Taking the old time employees. as a rule
they do not look with any great degree
Of favor upon the federation plan. They
take the position that in the event they
should insist upon amalgamating with the
federation and enough walk out in the
event the federation was not officially
recognized by the officials of the Harri-
they would have difficulty in being re-
stored to their old positions, not on account
Of inefficiency, or on account of any IN
feeling upon the part of the company Of
ticers, but by reason OF the fact that they
have passed the age limit set for taking
On new employees,
Merchal ats Are Interested.
Merchants Of Omana have taken some-
thing of a hand in the railroad situation
and many OF them are reasoning with shop
men who are their business customers,
urging them 70 hold onto their positions
until times are better, at least. In doing
so these merchants point out to the men
the near approach OF winter and the diff
ficulty that is likely 20 ensue in finding
employment, should they receive and obey
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