The Calumet news., 1914-07-27

handling of men that had required
more than thirty years TO build up.
ihe committee of enginemen met
the committee of general managers I'm
carry February and several months of
conference followed. in which the
propositions of both sides were dis
cussed In these conference the gem
eral managers committee was not on
~ unwilling To grant a single reouest
ihaue by the enginemen, but were so
lhsistent upon enforcing their obnox-
lous rules that there was nothing else
To do but to greak off negotiations and
place the whole matter before the en-
ginemen ana ascertain through their
expressed vote their acceptance or re-
lection of the proposition of the gem
erai managers committee. This hav-
ing been done. the vote of the men
is practically unanimous i'm their ob .
lection of the general managers prop
osition.
Much as locomotive enginemen do
piore n strike, they gave their unan-
imous expression in the honest belief
that the very life of their organiza-
tion and the wages and conditions tha;
had required thirty years to build up
was at stake, and that this strike vote
was their only weapon of defense
against an impending disaster i'm the
form OF sweeping reduction in pay
by the elimination OF rules long in ef-
feet, and that would make possible
abuses that would be unbearable.
THE men feel that they are not on
ly entitled to maintain such condi-
tions and agreements that have been
demonstrated to be necessary to pre-
vent abuses, but that they are enti-
tied To some relief from the increasing
that are constantly coming
TO them through the introduction OF
heavier power, and greater exactions
on the part Of operating officials.
THE last general wage movement Of
the engineers and firemen' i'm western
territory was consummated during the
year 1910, at which time 10 per cent
increase was granted.
since 1910, the railroads have made
great strides in their facilities Tor
handling business, the most potent of
which is the enormous increase in the
size of their ears and the power of
heir locomotives and in the reduc-
ions of grades. The reason for doing
his is to increase the train haul, which
hey have done to certain extent. Bar
ing accidents, the length and weight
" trains. especially in the freight
service. is the direct index to the |
ength of time on duty of the crew. |
md the physical and mental strain |
hat must be exerted.
1T is a very common thing while rid
ng on a passenger train to meet or |
ass n freight train containing from |
iXty TO one hundred and ten cars, and |
he thought at once occurs i'm the lay
mans mind how such enormous pow
r could be invested I'm one machine
0 handle such heavy trains. and how
len can be educated to handle such
normous weight and lengthy trains
nth sufficient skill to get them over
he road successfully.
"The cost of living has materially
1creased since 1910, and as the engi-
GERS and firemen i'm this country are
citizens, ii is indeed fitting
nat their earning power ought to be
ufficient to meet, at least. reason
BILE demand along this line in order to
laintain fitting standard Of living
1T is a fair estimate that living ex-
enses within the past five years have
icreased in this corresponding time
bout 10 per cent, and even with this
lcrease. enginemen in both instances
re not able to earn as large salaries
nd there were eight others represent
the added hardships brought about
Y the introduction Of larger engines
nd the tonnage system, which has
realty increased both the labor ana
of the engineer and fire.
IAN, and, requiring them to lay off in
rder to secure the necessary rest to
I duty means a reduction i'm their
lrning capacity, therefore, it will be
nderstood that the earnings of en-
nemen do not compare favorably
it'll the wages of employees in other
asses of labor, and while the railway
,mpanies try to make ii appear that
lginemen are a high paid class of en-
Dyes, the fact remains that their
lrning capacity has materially de-