The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-06
EXPECTED STRIKE . ORDER NOT GIVEN; REPLY ID MARKHAM Union Men Take Issue With President of Illinois
 Central ANOTHER MEETING
 CALLED FOR TODAY President McCreery and Secretary Kramer of Unions Still Hope
 for Amicable Settlement.
 Will Not Take Nasty

l
 dering the federated shop employees of
 the Illinois Central railroad to strike, representatives of the nine interna- tional organizations involved tonight, after an all-day conference, decided 1 to send reply to the letter in which C. H. Markham, president of the road, refused to recognize the officers of the systems federation.
 l The reply was signed by W. F. Kra- mer secretary of the International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths and Help CTS, to whom President Markham ad- dressed his definite communication yes- l terday. In the letter the international officers, through MT. Kramer, who act l ed as chairman of the international committee, took issue with President Markham in his claim that the unions failed to comply wisn the 30-day mo- tice clause of changes desired in work ing conditions
 1 The communication, mailed by spe- cial delivery about 10 o'clock tonight, also contained another possible strike threat. concluded as follows: Until equality is recognized, jus I tice cannot manifest itself, and should l your attitude be persisted in, such trouble as may result will not be the
 unions desires, but the seeking of yourself and those whose interests you | represent. There are too many peo- pie teaching details of conduct who do not even understand the first prin- l cples.' A4
 The international officers resumed the l conference after the letter had been dis l patched and remained in session until after midnight. After the adjournment l it was announced that no decision had l been reached and that the conference would be resumed tomorrow morning.
 Only Action Taken 1 This is absolutely the only action I that we have taken thus far,' said 1 Chairman Kramer. MT. Markham's s declaration that we did not live up to 1 the 30-day clause called for reply, and we atempt to show him that he is mis- | taken"
 What about a striker" Kramer was asked.
 1 We are not here to take nasty or rad 1 ical action" he replied. This is serious business. We intend to weigh carefully every phase of the situation before final 1 action is taken. All interests must be 1 considered
 Early in the evening J. F. McCreery, president, and w. E. Bowen, secretary of the system federation were called into conference and they remained several l hours Though no announcement was i made to this effect the report was cur l rent about the conference room that the international leaders were doing every thing they could do to prevent strike. I In the letter to President Markham was included a copy of the letter sent to him from Paducah, Ky, June 10, 1911, by Messrs. McCreery and Bowen giving notice Of a desire for a conference to adopt working agreements.
 When asked if he expected a reply 1 from Mr. Markham, Chairman Kramer l stated he had no idea whether an answer would come. The international officers expect to confer again tomorrow. The apparent crisis was brought about by communication sent last night to | w. F. Kramer. secretary of the black smiths and helpers union, by President c. H. Markham of the road, refusing to grant an audience to the federation rep | resentatives. President Markham also made it plain that he would not recognize I the federation. Hope for Settlement | Despite the fact that he left the union men the alternative of calling a strike or receding from their demands both Presi- | dent J. F. McCreery of the federation and | Secretary Kramer asserted that they still 1 had hopes that an amicable adjustment | might be reached.
 Though the union men would say noth- ing as to their plans they made it known, arbitration as last resort had been dis cussed. The international officers said too that strike will not be called un- til all possible means to settle the diff | ferences have been exhausted. Memphis, September 5.--All Illinois Cen | tral employees, members of the nine in-
 ternational unions composing the Fedora | ton of Railway Employees in Memphis
 were said today to be ready to leave work
 in case an expected strike order was re- ceived from the federation and interna- | tonal leaders in Chicago
 | A strike order would affect about lo0, men in Memphis If the movement takes the proportions of a sympathetic walk out this number would be augmented b, | many hundreds more of men empoye, lin Memphis as engineers, firemen, switch 1 men, etc
 i A member of the executive committed stated it was not likely a bulletin woulc l be posted but the word silently passed to the men and worl. stopped Such ar
 order may come at any time.
 San Francisco. September 5.--The presi- dents Of the International Railroad | Shopmcn's unions who came to this city last week to meet Vice President I<rutt- sohnitt of the Hartman line. expect that by tomorrow the advisory board of ths federation of shop employees of the Harri | man system will be in the city. Tho meeting was called for Friday but J. " Kline. spokes man for the internationa | presidents. said today there may be { meeting tomorrow afternoon. | The international presidents were ir conference today. Kline said there woult be no decision in connection with til, shop-len's demands until the advisory hoard arrived. Kline said he had ever. hope that the differences would be set tied peaceably.
 l Barren of Results
 I Kansas City, September 5,'" Barren oi