The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-07-15

A general strike of all conductors,
brakemen and yardmen of the Southern
Pacific railway system is threatened.
Unless the railroad officials allow en-
ployes of the transbay electric systems
to work on the same basis as employees
of the steam roads more than 5000 men
will probably walk out. tying up the
great transportation lines In the terri
tory extending from FL Paso on the
south. Ogden on the east and Portland
on the north
The general committee OF the Broth
erhood of Railroad Trainmen and the
Order of Railroad Conductors, after
conference with Z. E. Calvin, vice pres
identzof the Southern Pacific, every day
since June %, broke off negotiations
with the companys representatives
Saturday.
Yesterday 3S Of the officers of the
railroad organizations. two of the most
powerful in the country. were author
lied to take strike vote OF all con-
ductors, brakemen and yardmen over
the entire electric and steam system.
They left San Francisco in the after
noon to canvass in each transportation
center. The vote is returnable not later
than July 81.
COMPANY MUST SUBMIT
If the employees vote to strike the
grand officers of the two organizations
and the general committees will hold a
final conference with officials of the
threatened railroad. Unless Calvin is
willing to abandon the position he has
taken officials of the two orders have
no hesitancy in saying the strike will
Immediately be put into effect.
To put the matter in nutshell, T. A.
Gregg. grand vice president of the Or
der of Railroad Conductors, and r. Nc
Intyre, grand vice president of the
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.
who are yet in San Francisco winding
up the details of the situation. say
that E. E. Calvin has not given salts
factory answers to the questions of
employees of the electric lines operated
by the Southern Pacific in Oakland,
Alameda and Berkeley.
The company has notified the rail-
system is to be operated by an inde-
pendent company. at the same time re-
naming under the Jurisdiction of the
Southern Pacific company ana remain
ing it's property.
DELEGATION CALLS
When this notice was posted delega-
tions of conductors and brakemen
waited on Mr. Calvin. They wanted to
know what they were to be called.
"streetcar" men or railroad men?
They also wanted to know what their
status would be In regard to pay and
working hours and the all important
question of seniority. Mr.. Calvin ex-
planned, but his explanations were not
intelligible to the ordinary railroad
man.
The big bosses of the two railroad
organizations were notified. Immedi-
ately Vice President Gregg. Vice Presi-
dent Mcintyre and E. A. Larrue, gen.
eral chairman of the general commit
tee of the B. R. T.. and Sam veatch,
general chairman of the general com
mittee of o. r. c., came to San Fran
cisco with delegation of general COM
mitteemen. The Southern Pacific COM
pany heads agreed to a conference. CAL
vim, however, would not concede to the
demands.
RAILROAD MEN DETERMINED
The strike vote authorization fol-
lowed with "a hours. with the railroad
men determined to get a satisfactory
settlement.
Ruling the Oakland. Berkeley and
Alameda electric system as an inde-
pendent concern simply means change
in the schedule of employment and a
division of the committees, leaving the
employees in a helpless position. Mr.
Gregg said last night at the Argo-
naut hotel, where the trainmen estab-
lished headquarters
What will be the result of the strike
voter he was asked.
THAT Is impossible to answer. More