The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-08-27
Greatest Industrial Struggle Since
Railway Strike of 1898 is lmpend-
ing to All Appear
ances.
GREW ROADS WILL RESIST
Labor Leaders Point Out That Only
the Union Men Are
Being Dis
missed.

[Gate City Leased Wire serviceJ
NEW YORK, Aug. 26--According
to indications tonight, following day
of important developments, the great
est industrial struggle since the Amer
lean Railway Union strike of 1893 is
impending. The west seems destined
to be the scene of the first clash but
every railroad in the country will be
interested In the outcome
The crisis will undoubtedly be
reached some time next week Con-
'ferences to be held early next week
in San Francisco between julius
Kruttschnitt of the Hartman rail-
way system and the industrial presi-
dents of the international sheet met
al workers, blacksmiths, boilermahers,
machinists and carmens unions, de-
ponds whether a great strike of shop
men OF that system is to result.
No discussion of wages is involved.
1t is the straight out issue OF the
recognition of the union and because
of this fact the attitude assumed by
the railway magnatest will reflect the
attitude of the big railroad magnates
in Wall street, They profess to be-
lieve that the action of the American
Federation of Labor in backing the
system federt ton plan of union orr
ganization is. but the forerunner of
concerted demand for shorter hours
of labor and increased wages, and the
word has been passed to stand firm
against any such union recognition.
AS the best method of fighting the
unions, according to usually we'll in
formed sources in the field center, the
cry of hard times has been raised.
Every big railroad officer has been
instructed by the big financial inter-
ests who control the stock of his rail
road, it is claimed, to raise the cry
of heavy expenses and reduced bust
ness and to Systematically lay off
men everywhere 1t is also alleged
that the men selected to be dispensed
with are not to be the last employed
but the men who have been most &C
tive In the organization of the hated
system of federation union.
The leaders of organized labor in
sist tina. this is what has been done
on the Harriman lines. They say
that men close to the pension limit
have been laid off simply because
they were members of the union and
that not a single non-upion man has
been separated from his job.
There is no doubt that the example
of the British unions, where the sys-
tenn federation is far more developed
than here, in absolutely paralyzing
trade there and winning a complete
victory which involved the recogni-
ton of the union, has greatly hearten-
ed the labor leaders here and also
awakened the money interests to the
fact that similar organization In
this country could abundantly regu-
late wages and hours Of labor.
1t is insisted tonight that the Har-
riman officers have been instructed to
fight the union even at the cost OF
a strike and the railroads are in bet
ter shape for such y strike now than
they will be when The organizations
are completed. BY claiming they had
to lay off men to keep the expenses
within the income, it is said, they
would be in good shape before the
public and would be sure of plenty
of financial support here.
That the Mellen and Ripley state
ments were to help the cause along
is also alleged 1t is poirEed out that
the Pennsylvania railroad had just
announced that instead of retrench-
ing. it is employing all of the COM
petent men it can get, which would
indicate that the railroads are not
facing hard times.
Outside of Wall street and railway
officers, it was pointed cut in financial
circles here tonight, there is pes
simism over the business outlook.
Trade is picking up in all lines, crop
reports are more reassuring and the
savings banks report deposits at high
water mark.
Working Force Out.
LOS ANGELES, Cal, Aug. 26-The
orders issued by the Southern Pacific
! officials making decided cut in the
working force OF the Los Angeles d.
vision have caused a stir in local lar