Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-05-12
LITTLE NEW IN THE
STRIKE SITUATION
TContinued From First Page]

present developments of the contro-
versy. This statement is as follows:
"At present there are 1911 en-
ployes of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company in Harrisburg and vicinity,
including Enola. OF this number
3.139 are employed in the shops. on
car repairs and inspection in the
yards. A better idea of the magni-
tude of the Pennsylvania Railroad
operations as they affect the welfare
of the city can be gathered from
consideration of the fact that the nay
roll for the above employees amounts
to approximately $7,500,000 per an
mum.
"At Altoona, which is recognized as
the center for motive power and shop
work, the total number of employees
is $4,000. and the total payroll about
$15,000,000 annually.
1.-The strike was called last Thurs
day morning and that it has not
been successful is indicated by the
following figures, showing the rela-
lively small number of shopmen who
have left the service in response TO
the strike call, viz: At HARRISBURG,
Maclay street Lucknow. Marysville
and Enola, 453. AS previously stated
$50 shopmen We're brought from
Altoona who have been at work
steadily in addition to those who re-
manned in the service. Fifty exper-
fenced car repairmen and inspectors
were brought from Buffalo last night,
and another fifty will arrive to-mor-
row morning, who will remain per-
manently in the service at Enola.
Should other men leave the service,
which we do not anticipate, arrange
ments have been made to bring mon
from other points on the Pennsyl-
vania railroad system in lots as needed,
who will remain permanently with the
company.
"The strike leaders have been more
successful in persuadng the for
eigners who labor on the track. to
leave the service. in fact. many of
them were driven from their work
by threats, the total leaving the serv-
ice being 36S, between Marysville and
Philadelphia
1.-The men who work on the track
are easily replaced. Eighty-siX new
track laborers having been employed
to-day and $50 more will be put TO
work tomorrow.
"A further indication that the strike
of the shopmen is failure, is shown
by the fact that notwithstanding the
picketing and claims made by the
strike leaders, that n large number
of men would not report for duty this
morning. the whole force with the
exception of five or six men, reported
as usual at all points in the Harris
burg and Enola district
Inquiry from Williamsport brings
out the information that a total of
377 men left the services at Williams
port, Sunbury, Wilkes Barre and other
points in that region; PA of which
were track laborers, but that their
places have all been filled.
THE Brotherhood of Federated
Railroad Employees which was started
only last Fall is not a reresenta-
tiv, organization of labor i'll any
sense, either as to number or regular
ity of it's formation. Thus far its ac-
tivities have been limited to collect
ing dues and calling a strike. Its
business is conducted mainly by one
man, and it's membership in good
standing does not exceed 1000 or
possibly $500 at all points east of
Pittsburgh and Erie, out of a total of
139,3 321 employees, so that its men,
bership only represents about is per
cent. of the total number of en-
ployes.
The railroad officials have the as
surance of the general officers of the
enginemen, firemen, conductors and
trainmens organization that in ac-
cord with their by-lows and constitu-
ton, their members will continue
to perform their accustomed duties,
notwithstanding the claim being made
that their members would join the
violation of their bylaws and orr,n-
ization, and of the regulations in ef-
feet between themselves and the rail-
road company"
Say 65 Per Cent Are Out
Figures compiled at the headquar
ters of the Brotherhood of Federated
Railway employees 1884 p North
Sixth street to-day. brought the claim
from Vice President H. e. Gsell, that
65 per cent of the shopmen and main
tenance of way men on the Philadel-
phia and Middle divisions are out,
Figures were not given in detail.
Vice President Gsell, according to his
own words, mot caring to get i'll
wrong on his estimates" He said he
could show that the Pennsylvania
railroad did not have more than 50
per cent of it's shopmen, trackmen and
car repairers at work on these two
divisions.
with inexperienced men in charge
of the work, repairs are not likely to
be looked after very carefully. Train
men have told me that they do not
care to take chances with cars repair
ed by men who do not know their
business. If the trainmen refuse to
work, there of course will be nothing
for the engineers and fremen to do.
This is not fight for higher wages,
Gsell went on, we only want old men
VINO nave spent the pest part OIL thelr
lives in working for the interest of the
Pennsylvania railroad company recog-
nized. If the Pennsylvania railroad
does not want old men why do they
have their pension rule. Why not
have a rule requiring men to retire
from duties at SO years.
IF one class of workmen has
right to organize, all classes should
be granted the same privileges" Gsell
said. II understand from Inter-
state Commerce officials that General
Manager S. c. Long has conceded the
right of men to organize. Why then
should he object to the trackmen and
shopmen getting together"
Wen See who's Who"
Outside of planning for the joint
meeting in Whites Hall. Nerbeke
street. at 7.30 tomorrow night and for
another parade tonight in which
women will again participate, there
was little doing at strike headquarters
this morning. w. II. Pierce, president
of the Brotherhood of Federated Rail-
way Employees, remarked:
We are gaining ground. But
tWenty-four hours more and then we
will see who's who. We are prac-
tcally resting until tomorrow night,
when men from all transportation
brotherhoods will learn of conditions
in fair and square manner. We have
assurance from members of these
other brotherhoods that they will he
on hand at this meeting. We also
know that officials of the various
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