The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-17
STRIKERS TO SPEND
$11,OO0,000 TO WIN
Unions Threaten the Chicago
Belt Line With n
Long War.
ROAD REFUSES TO YIELD
It's Counsel Declares the En-
ployecs' Demand Affects
Safety of Service.
ROAD REFUSES TO YIELD

CHICAGO, Dec. 1s.--Eleven million dol
lars. the entire resources OF the three
brotherhoods OF railway engineers. fire.
necessary. 10 win tho strike which EN-
ployees Of the Bel, Line Railway Of Chi
cayo nave instituted. according to a
statemen. by L. a. Burgess. assistant
grand chief OF the Brotherhood OF Loco
motive Engineers, this afternoon.
Mr. BURGESS declaration was the
parting gun before he and other union
officials went into conference with G.. w.
w. Hangar. representative OF the Fed
cral Cancellation Board, In an effort 10
! adjust the differences.
The threat OF the union Official fol-
lowed an announcement that at the con-
ference with Mr. Hangar the officers OF
the railroad company had Eefused TO
make any concessions to the men.
THE Belt Line can bring this strike
to an abrupt end" said Mr.. burgess.
merely by acknowledging the mems
right to reopen negotiations for the set
tlement of possible differences after Oc-
tober l. 1916. The company has agreed
TO run until that time the morning and
evening work train We ask for. but de-
mands that We agree unconditionally TO
| its withdraw al at that date.
Will Not Sign Away Rights"
"Wc will not sign away our rights 10
| negotiate II housing conditions IN
/ Clearing are suitable by October to take
: care OF the employees we will then con-
sent to the removal OF work train SER
privilege of reopeninG negotiations
| Il understand the railway heads this
morning refused any concessions. III
answer 10 that ] can only say that the
| entire resources OF our three brother
hoods. aggregating Sl.oo0.o00. will he
| expended If necessary to win this fight
| for principle"
| Serious conditions reported in some tn
| dustries as the result OF the tieup .!
! $1,000 freight ears led outside interest
10 take a hand to-day In an effort to
bring about a settlement Of the strike
| a number of business men and manu-
| facturers brought pressure 10 bear or
railway and union officials.
| Commissioner Hangar and officers OF
the Belt Line emerged from their con
! ference soon after noon In an optimistic
| frame OF mind. Mr.. Hangar let II be
| known that while the railroad officials
!
! he was hopeful that the conference with
! Representatives Of the men during the
/ afternoon would lie productive OF definite
results. Hr would not Offer a prediction
as to whether settlement would hc er.
| fccted to-day ar tomorrow.
! In a statement explaining tho Bel,
| Lines position General Counsel G. q;
| Austin. Jr., indicated the intention of Of
| icers of that lin. TO stand by their orig
!nal proposition to the men. regardless
I of their threat to tie up all the railroads
! entering Chicago.
81 notice from statements in the press
that employees and those Interested IN
their behalf are discussing the tying NJ
| of all the railroads in and out OF Chi.
cago as "a possible development of this
controversy" said Mr. Austin.
| while We of the Belt Line COMPANY
would greatly bemoan such a develop.
ment as We do the situation az II
stands at the present time, and Will,
, We are willing 10 do all within oui
power to bring about AN amicable al.
justmcnt of the present situation anc
prevent further unfortunate develop
ments. we cannot find any justifcatio,
for doing more or less than We hav'
| done and particularly in doing anythinl
that would interfere with the practica
and safe operation OF our property
| I'm view of the risk. the Belt Linz
does not feel justified in permitting IN,
operation OF such "A work train for
period OF time longer than would b.
necessary to permit employees to adjus
themselves to new circumstances
| Cots for Guards.
| An Interesting development OF III
situation at the Clearing yards wa
noted by strikers posted there to-da,
when an auto truck drove up and un
loaded nifty cots. supposedly for IT,
special agents who are guarding tn
companys property.
| Shortage Of coal In number of manu-
featuring districts. and especially It
South Chicago was reported to-day
While II was said that the shortage ha
not yet reached point where the fac
tories would be compelled to shut dowr
the comps MES got busy in an effort I
end the strike to prevent any enforce
closing of the plants.
| Possibility of the strike OF 1000 yard
| men 10y Sunday is not affected by tn
| outlook in Belt Line affairs. according t
A. r. Whitney. vice-president of tn
brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, VIII
is conducting negotiations for the mer
He has sent word to the general man
ayers conference committee asking
| meeting tomorrow afternoon to discus
differences. The men. however. will no
yield In their demands for observance @
the letter of labor contracts, Mr., Whit
ney says.