New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-06
floss REBUKES MEN
WHO THREATEN STRIKE
New Haven Employees Told
That They Would Alternate
Public Sympathy.
CIRCULATION JUSTIFIED"
Taking of Vote on Walk Out
Before End of Negotiations
with Company Subject
of Criticism.

Boston. Oct 5.-A strike undertaken ny
the engineers and firemen of the New
York, New Haven e. Hartford Railroad,
with the rule of seniority as the issue.
will compel this commonwealth to adopt
suitable measures for the protection Of
IT'S citizens" Governor Foss again stated
In an open letter tonight This commu-
nication was in answer to one addressed
TO him by officials of the railroad en-
ployes last Friday, stating their attitude
regarding a strike vote being taken on
the New Haven road.
The Governor told the union officials
that their letter was written upon the
assumption that your organization is en-
Gagged in private calling and that the
state or nation will In some way trespass
upon the rights and freedom of your
members If they undertake to regulate
the conditions of employment This
assumption" the Governor said, lis
wholly inadmissble." His letter con-
tinued:
The railroads of the country are en-
gagged in a public calling. and are there
fore subject 10 public regulation The
same is true of employees Of the railroads
and your organization has no more right
TO resent regulation by the state or ma
ton than have the railroads to resent
control by the same authorities
Control Justified.
When your organization adopts
course OF action which would disorganize
the business of our citizens throw labor
out of employment and interfere with the
supply of food and fuel 1t is subject to
control just as much as the railroad
would be If. in similar manner, 1t re-
fused TO operate its trains or otherwise
perform its duties as public carrier.
Public regulation in the one case is as
justified as it is in the other and neither
the railroads nor their employees have any
right TO object TO such regulation as in
reference with their freedom.
The failure of your organization TO
realize that its members are engaged in
a public calling is further evidenced by
the fact that it has seen fit to take
vote upon the strike before the compile
ton of negotiations with the company,
and, therefore, before either the members
Of the organization or the public. which
is really a party TO the controversy. are
in a position TO know fully the facts in
the case and the proper course to pursue.
Premature Action Condemned.
There Is great need that some means
shall be provided by which question
like this. which affects the welfare OF
every man, woman and child In New
England, shall not be determined by
private organization in advance of full
determination of the facts
Taking a vote upon the strike in ad-
vance OF the conclusion OF negotiations
seems to indicate desire TO force set
tlement by intimidating rather than by
free and open discussion Of the merits OF
the case.
Your letter makes it clear that the
rule Of seniority is the real issue between
your organization and the New York. New
Haven q Hartford Railroad. II does not.
however. present any new arguments in
favor Of the rule and will not change the
attitude Of any Iair-minded man.
Upon that point can only repeat that
a strike undertaken upon the issue Will
ALLEVIATE the sympathy OF the public and
compel this commonwealth to adopt suit
able measures for the protection Of It's
citizens"
The letter was addressed 10 l.. 6. Grit
ing. Assistant Grand Chief. brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers, and J.. ). NC
Nar,sra. vice-president, Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Firemen and Enginemcn, at
New Haven, Conn.