New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-03
TRA|NMEN'S HEADS
ORDER STRIKE VOTE
Take Prompt Action When
Railroads Refuse to ACCede
to Demands.
ERDMAN ACT is SPURNED
Eastern Roads Managers Firm
in Attitude on Wage Protest
by Employees - Men
Equally SO.

Upon the refusal yesterday OF the
conference committee OF managers Of
the forty-three Eastern railroads TO
arbitrate the wage controversy with
the trainmen and conductors the COM
mittee representing the employees
unanimously agreed to issue a call for
a strike vote. Negotiations were
broken off with the railroad managers
pending the referendum among the
100000 trainmen and conductors on
the lines affected.
While it will be two or three weeks
before the result Of the vote is known.
a. b. Garretson, president Of the order
of Railway Conductors, and w. C. Lee,
president Of the Brotherhood Of Rail
road Trainmen, said last night they
expected large majority Of the men
would vote for a strike. A further
conference with the railroad managers
will be sought after the vote is taken,
Il was said TO formally notify them Of
the result and to suggest further con-
sideration of the demands. Represent
atives Of the railroads said yesterday
they did not intend to yield or to con-
slider arbitration at any time.
The hundred delegates representing
the trainmen and conductors, headed
by Mr.. Garretson and Mr.. Lee, went
managers. Of which Elisha Lee, assist
ant 10 the general manager Of the
Pennsylvania lines. is chairman, at the
Engineering Societies Building, at No
% West 39th street, early in the day
The employees committee suggested ar
bitration under the Erdman act, but
the railroad managers refused to con-
slider it and presented a formal state
mont from Mr.. Lee to that effect.
Practically the same reasons which
the railroads gave at first in refusing
10 arbitrate the flremen's differences
under the Erdman act were incOrpo-
rated in the refusal 10 the trainmen
and conductors. The act was objected
10 principally because it provided for
the responsibility Of the award resting
upon one man, the third and neutral
arbitrator, which the railroads contend
is too great a responsibility to impose
on any one man.
The committee OF trainmen and con
ductors met az the Broadway Central
l.Otel following the refusal Of the
managers 10 arbitrate and formulated
q curt reply, which Mr. Garretson gave
out last night. IT was addressed to
Elisha Lee, and signed by Garretson
and w. q. Lee.
Your refusal 10 arbitrate," the let
ter reads. was received under date Of
May and left Us no other course 10
pursue than TO refer the entire matter
back to the men employees upon your
properties for their determination as
TO their attitude. IT having been our
desire to. if possible, avoid the unrest
and agitation that invariably grows
out Of the taking of a strike vote
through a large extent of territory.
This will be formal notification that
your attitude having left us no other
method of procedure, the matter is so
referred TO the individual membership
upon the various lines, and when the
vote has been secured and canvassed
further conference will be requested FOR
the purpose of communicating the re-
suit thereof"
The letter accused the representa-
tives Of the railroads of assembling IN
an attempt TO court public sympathy
when they declared they could not
properly protect the public interests
end grant the increase in wages.
II was pointed out that while the
wages Of the trainmen and conductors
have increased only 80 per cent since
1890, the increase in dividends paid TO
stockholders Of the Eastern roads in
the same period has been 429 per cent.
il was suggested that some tribute Tor
the public interest should be levied on
the stockholders who have received
these big returns.
Elisha Lee sent another letter last night
20 the representatives of the trainmen,
among other things saying the following:
"The absurdity Of the comparison You
make between the increases in pay Of
employees and the increases in dividends
Of railroads for the period between 1880
and 1910 is so apparent that we believe
Il will only be necessary to mention I
for Won 70 see your error as we are lOath
10 think that you have any intention Of
exaggerating"