Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-01-22
KEY men |" MAKE
KNOWN DEMANDS
Telegram From President
Britton, of Cotton Belt, to
"Key Men" Public.
HAVE GRIEVANCES.
Cotton Belt Head Says Only Men Not
Associated with Organization
VIII Be Heard.


employed in this section, yesterday re-
ceived the following message, dated
at St. Louis, and signed by F. II. Brit
ton. The message, it is said, has
been delivered to all telegraph oper-
ators on the Cotton Belt:
st. Louis, Mo-, Jan. 20, '914.
All Telegraph Operators:
General superintendent Neff has
been presented with request signed
by r. q. Pritchet, D. l.. Palmer, s. G.
Camp and Carl Jordan, as committee
representing our telegraph operators
and station agents for a conference
to discuss wages and other questions.
Camp and Jordan are not employees
of these companies. 1t has been
known to us for some time that the
Order of Railroad Photographers were
formulating plans to present demands.
to which we could not accede. It is
also well known that We object tol
having in our employ members OF that
organization, for the reason that
members Of that order subscribe TOT
an obligation which renders them un-
desirable as employees. We do not
believe that the committee named are
representative of our Telegraph Oper-
ators and Station Agents, and this is
to advise that General Superintendent
Neff will meet committee, composed
of our employees, who arc not mem.
bers of the Order OF Railroad Tele-
graphers, with a view OF formulating
satisfactory schedule, covering
wages and working conditions. 1t is
OR purpose to pay our Telegraph
Operators and Station Agents wages
equal to those paid by other lines in
cur territory for similar service, nor
do we expect to impose upon them
any duties that are not required under
similar conditions by those lines"
Mr.. Dunn also received the follow
ing letter, sent out by the Telegra-
piers committee. to all employees or
the Cotton Belt lines in this section:
Tyler Texas, Jan. 20. 1914.
To all Agents and Telegraphers on
the Cotton Belt Railway Co.:
Referring to the message OF Pres
ident Britton, dated January goth, we
first wish to say that this message is
absolute recognition of the fact that
the Station Agents and Telegraphers
of the Cotton Belt system have griev-
ances that need adjustment; it is also
an admission that they are willing to
meet committee to adjust these
grievances and revise your wage scale
and working conditions, provided
they be allowed to select that commit
tee.
Now we are forced to believe from
Mr.. Britton's message to all Agents
and Telegraphers that he is not con-
versant with the conditions as they
really exist on this road. In the past
Ave years statistics show that the cost
Of living has increased approximately
thirty per cent, during this same per-
iod the wages of the Agents and Tele-
graphers of the Cotton Belt system,
have in only q few instances, been
slightly increased. while In many
cases they have been decreased from
Ave dollars 1857 to twenty-five dollars
t$25) per month.
We are only asking for similar
wage and working conditions % those
given the Agents and Telegraphers by
other roads paralleling the Cotton
Belt system are paying q minimum
wage Of from sixty dollars $500 10
seventy-five dollars per month and
commissions. The Relay, Terminal
and Despatchers' Teiegraphers on the
Cotton Belt receive, from five ($b) TO
fifteen dollars t$15) per month less
than competing lines pay. On the
Cotton Belt, the men are being dls-
charged without just cause and there
are other grievances. too numerous
to mention.
eW are simply asking that nese
grievances be adjusted and ouF COM
mittee recognized so that our rights
may be protected and our grievances
properly attended to.
In regard to Camp and Jordan not
being employed by these companies
we wish to state that neither Camp
nor Jordan have resigned from the
service Of these companies, nor to the
present date have they been notified
that they were discharged and We
decline to accept their relief as inal.
Regarding membership In the or
ganisation: II Is the only me'noo