El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-10-16


! The FL Paso shop employees engaged
I IN the strike on the G. H., have issued
the following statement Of their view
OF the present controversy
In order that the public may more
thoroughly understand the existing
strike of shOpmen on the Hartman
I railway system, the men engaged in
the controversy at FL PasO, Tex, de-
sire to submit few plain and irrefu-
table facts as to the cause and con-
tinuance OF the strike.
In the machinery Of railway opera
ton and maintenance, there are five
dltterent trade unions IN the shops. the
carmen, the machinists, the black
smiths, the bOilermakers, the sheet
metal workers and the apprentices
helpers and handy men of each craft
All Of these trades are organized into
unions and each has its local and ma
uonal union with a fun complement
Of officers who act only on the instruc-
uOns OF the men of labor who register
their desires by their votes upon every
question in their respective local unions,
To illustrate: No national officer can
exercise the power Of ordering men on
strike until the men likely TO be IN
vOlved have first voted in their re-
spectiTe local unions upon that subject
and so decided and instructed the ma
ttonal officer. The policy inaugurated
and pursued is the one approved by the
rank and file Of the members Of every
local union involved prior to the be-
ginning Of the contest The most demo-
Il
by the unions.
Dealings In the Past.
an their dealings with the railroads.
In former years, the matters Of each
trade were taken up with the railroad
OFFICIALS through the separate five
heads. 1t has been recognized that the
interests Of the shOpmen are identical
that what affects one trade affects
all So, as a matter Of economy in
handling their affairs with the rail-
nH1na Il.
ferent. trades voted for a coalition and
organized their several unions into a
federation, known as the Railway Di-
vision Of the System federation. There
are federatiOns with railroads They
federate their various lines, as the Har-
rtnan interests at the present time. We
nave declarations Of professional men,
decorations and combinations of bust
ness men, declarations OF the big inter
esus Tor the purpose Of protection and
controlling prices Railroads have what
IS known as the 'Genlemen's Agree
meuLS between general MANAGERS and
presidents, for what purpOse2 But II
seems to be a most outrageous thing
Tor wage earners to federate not alto
Setner Tor advance in wages, but for
our own protection
The Federation Organised.
After perfecting the organization OF
the employees, the federation heads
made request Of the officials Of the
DIFFERENT railroad systems that the en-
proves federation be recognized, and
lnaI IN the future all contracts and
other business matters between the !
railroads and the different trade unions
De handled through the central fedora /
ton instead Of through five separate
9oQles. me officials Of the extensive
SouI1ern railway system, the Missouri
EaclLlc O11claIS, the Denver & Rio
Grande railroad and other systems.
recognising the saving of time and ex-
pe1se readily agreed to the employees
1eoeraUOn ana signed contracts with
me OFFICIALS of the same. This too in
the race Of the fact that existing con
tracts were about to expire or had ex-
pred and in violation of their previous
agreement in rule 10. the first sentence
Of which reads as follows. Tt-is under Z
STOOD that In the adjustment of g-rfer-
ances the officials of the comDauT- win I
receive duly authorized committee to I
act III the premises at any time
Ask Federation Recognition.
The only 1rrevOcable request the /
Union men made upon the Of
Llcla1s OF the Hartman system was
L1e recognition OF their federation
" lIhOut this no concessions could /
De made on either side-and me {
I e S.lls5l- q TINS (oy the Hartman /
= stem oLIlcialsJ reasonable and abso-
LuteIy necessary request peremptOrily j
~ an END TO all diplomatic negoti- !
atoms Of whatever nature
by this action on the mart Of tbs
o11ISlals or the Hartman system. the 4
\. oLAlllan could no longer approach the /
company official over him. The or /
-iel4ls could not listen to anything for I
lney VIII not recognize the onIv an I
lnoflZed committee the shOpmen have
IS called for by the rules that were
2 eFlously signed by both parties to /
the controversy.
There was no DreciDifafa a.+fo- o.
ne part OF the officials of the en-
2Ioyes federation. The attitude Of +bs
-1aLrlInan system officials was referred +
JACK 20 the men-tO the individual
members of the different trades Tbev
Ct51 on the proposition whether or
-oL lney would insist on recognition
1 ne toLe was overwhelming for recoR-
iuoA ana that In the future the rail
road system officials should recognize
ma zeal with the eplOyes' federation
11Ilcials in the same manner as was
1eIAg done by the great Southern rail-
nag system, the Missouri Pacific rail
-oad, Ine Denver & Rio Grande ana I
others But the Hartman system ~
lclals refused this request. That left I
ne snopmen but one course to pur-
sue, as their duly authorized commit
ZEE had been denied that hearing as
3peclIled in rule 10. There must ba I
.ltn f. recognition Of their federation or
Advantages Advanced.
The shopmen are simply requesting
mar the same recognition be accorded /
nelr federation as was formerly ac-
.orded each individual craft that thew [
nay IaciItate the transaction of bust
less between their several unions and Z
he railroad officials and may more
eadlly adjust grievances or mfsunder-
standings arising between them.
The Hartman system has its central
lead, before which every matter of i'm
lortance has to 90 for final action
sOne Of It's officials in Texas could SET
le the recent differences between the
1Ousuon q Texas Central railway and
Is sWitchmen- The matter had to 90
.eIOre judge LOvett in New York. Wbv
lot central (emplOyesf federatfon)
-ead TO take UP the business matters
II the employees? If the officials Of
he Hartman system desire to deal
Justly and quickly with their EMPLOYEES
; ny do they Object2 They cannot -buf
ecognize the saving in time and and
Expense.
The Hartman system officials make
he plea to the public that the de-
hands Of the shopmen are unreason-
bic on the ground that ma tiers arising
etWeen the officials and their em-
loves could be, settled to better adj
antage' by dealing THROUGH the sew
RAJ union heads than through one
his, too, in face Of the fact that the
reat Southern railway system. the
lssouri Pacific officials. the Denver
Rio Grande railroad. etc agreed to /
he employees federation as the best /
OlutiOn.
Old System 10 EmBIOyes' Benefit.
The employees believe it is patent
al ]