Norwich bulletin., 1913-10-04

New Ha-en Conn, Oct 3.-The statement of Gov. Eugene N. Foss of Massachusetts that he would ask for special session of the legislature to enact laws prohibiting strikes of rail- road employes. in the event of the or 6ering Of a strike among the New Haven road G engineers and hremen has aroused keen resentment among The members Of the unions. High off ,ials of the two brotherhoods tonight made public their reply to the goVer- nors pubIis led letter. In it they de- clare we beg to inform you that the attitude you have assumed to take will act more Gs an Incentive to strike than a preVt utive of one. Better by far in the interests of the people in wnom you cypress such deep concern that you lend yCur efforts and exercise Tour power to avert the threatened trouble rather than to hasten 1t by ,ondoning tEe company and condemn ing the employees
 Charge Governor With Injustice.
 It is declared that Governor Foss has a false impression concerning the difference between the road and its employees and he Is asked to publicly acknowledge the injustice done.
 The letter, which is signed by l.. L. Griffing- assistant grand chief of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and p. J. AIcNamara, vice president
 
 men, follows in part:
 Text of the Letter.
 We believe that in justice to your self the public and all other parties concerned. we should endeavor to cor b. your letter, that you have formed sf the existing controversy.
 We do acknowledge that a strike vote Is now being taken. but not for she purpose that you state, namely, fle proposal to lnaugurate a strike s'he strike is one of the forces of or kanized labo- that is exercised only Rs last resHTr after all other legal fnd legitimate efforts have been ex- hausted. The constitution and bylaws sf our respective organizations pre- seriBe the methods to be followed in Fouductins negotiations, and not to our knowledge do the laws conflict with She laws of either state or nation. If 2 strike is so authorized it can be legally entered into at such time h1ay be determined upon by ourselves and committee: but this does not Necessarily mean that because it is authorized it must be ordered.
 A Greater Calamity Than Strike.
 You speak of a strike as being of RraSe concern to the people of tiassaChusAt S. Permit us to suggest snat such a strike is of equally Brave concern to those directly involV- Rd Many of them are citizens of your commonwealth, and together with their families. relatives. friends and CO., Workers on the railroad, all of whom Ire deeply concerned, and while not being in majority. are of numbers suf- fcient tO have at least attracted your s-tention to the extent that before in ficatinG your hostility 10 their inter ests. as shown by your published let Hn FentatiVcs the opportunity to present their side of this controversy to your evceiiency. If public calamity is threatened, and your expressions W Ould indicate that such is your belief, then 0-e deeply regret that as governor of the commonwealth you have taken a stand with the corporation and against rhe employ es. with threat to invoke the po7e~ of your office to prevent such Tutff- .siarnity Permit us to suggest iu vite a greater calamity to the work 1r-i-tc a greater calamity to the work CTS of the commonwealth than that VI hich you now say is threatened by hisinfo~11ed ss to Meaning of "Fit-
 ness.'
 The principal issues of this present l C1ut-DEErS5 are of too serious a nature | tc s, treatrd lightly Your information |
 
 prouacEFaH ot employees and the assign i mend of duties shall be governed sole | D. oxf1&ae rule of seniority or whether | fitness as well as length of service l snail be taken into consideration is not ! complete The position that we are re- ported to have taken and the position | we have taken are quite different. We l do not believe that you have been cor reetly iuformd az to tn meaning of the i word fitness and suggest that in or der up correct the misa apprehension that i your letter will excite, that you ascer- tain from your source of information | what is meant by this management in | the use of that word.
 Dangers of FaVoritisn.
 Under the rules of schedules that ! have been attacked. we wish to inform | you that nothing contained in them has | contributed in any way to lowering the | efficiency of the labor forces. nor to an ! interference with discipline. We re- | slle -tfully invite your study of these 1 rules. No one appreciates more deeply i han do those whom We represent the | safety of the public is paramount to | other requirements, and it is not | question of advantage with them. It | Is a question of placing the responsi- | bihty for safe operation where it | should properly rest.
 Seniority rules have been fin effect 1 upon all railroads Tor many years and l have been to the travelling public the l greatest possible assurance >that only | employ es of experience and tested abil- | Ify could be placed iR charge of trains | We are of the firm belief that if the | travelling public but realized the in- | creased dangers that would exist un- 1 Ger ptr-tine rules that would permit | of fasurttlsla that is not only possible i but uroaat5ie under the revival of old l customs. that it would submit to the | evils incident ts q strike rather than te ! permit of the revival of the old cOndi- i lions.
 Foss' Altitude incentive to Strike.
 ~bur rosition iH this respect will not | be- indefensible and We hesitate to be- | lieNc that tha people of New England | will arTaY themselves against us until | lheN are informed that Nc have en- | tans-r-t their safety by accepting the ! rui-- tlue objected t0. We are conf l teur th-I the people Of New Englano 1 have some right to their own opinions | u tniS matter and their recent ex- | Drs sslons to engineers and firemen, as | Individuals, is strong indication to us | shma s.E