Strike bulletin. (Clinton, Ill.) 1913-1915, 1915-05-12

MI. Mdfkhan. les.
Commissioner Garretson. Can there
be- any question OF their right to dc
IL?
Mr.. Markham. You know better
than any one else. what | mean il as
to the practical side OF the question
when you once let body OF men like
that get inside OF the door and begin
discussing the question with them
then the difficulty of getting rid OF
the question Ii harder than II YOU
I maintained your position from the
4 start
Commissioner Garretson. Then do
you mean to question the right OF
the men to form such Federation II
they are able TO do IT.
Mr.. Markham Oh no. We simply
deny the fact that they were able
To do II on the lllionois Central Rail.
road
Commissioner Garretson: Practi.
cally speaking. guess you demon
strated that
Mr Markham ! guess SO
Commissioner Garretson: Is IL not
a fact that exactly such combinations
exist among the different railways
at the present time
Mr. Markham Not that know OF
Commissioner Garretson. And for
exactly III" same purpose. the excer
else OF power
Mr. Markham. Not that ! know OF
Commissioner Garretson What
about certain committee that exists
Mr.. Markham What COMMITTEE. do
You refer to
commissioner Gatretson. will re-
Ter first To the committee on l.gis
iation represents ~ per cent OF the
railways OF this continent. is there not
such one In existence
Mr.. Markham: Yes
Commissioner Garretson: That deals
with legislation as applied to trans.
portation'
Mr.. Markham; Yes
Commissioner Garretson: Is II
formed for the purpose Of gaining
legislation that Is undesirable,
Mr.. Markham: No. Il Is formed for
the purpose Of preventing legislation
not desired
Commissioner Garretson: But gain.
ing that which Is desirable
Mr. Markham: Gaining that which
is constructive and desirable.
Commissioner Garretson. And the
Federation would work to gain that
which would be- desirable &c them
Mr.. Markham They ar doing
that a.. the time and Their. Is no
question Of the right of the men 10
do that, II IL being done all over the
United States and the world
Cotaiaissi9ner Garretson: And they
have tak~6 their se.-rss u. - SsS~
employers books for doing that,
MIR. Markham: | am not so sure
about that. the employers may have
gotten some cards and Instructions
from them
Commissioner Garre,son: We have
all bsen>in the school OF experience |
FOR some time
Mr. Markham. Yes.
o Commissioner Garretson: Take Il
In dealine with wages. 10 not the same
plan followed territorilly. There are
three associations In existance that
deal Tor all Of the large railway in
.iitntions. with possibly one or two
Mr.. Markham; Yes.
Commissioner Garr-tson: The west.
I'm and the Eastern and the South
western,
Mr.. Markham: The collective sys.
en- OF dealing has been forced on
hem by the organizations. as 1 I'M
ierstand II.
Commissioner Garretson: What was
he method used.
Mr. Markham: Militant assistance
Commissioner Garretson: That only
made II eaiser for men to deal in n
lunch than one man alone.
MI. Markham: | am not arguing
bout the reasons. but the facts. The
organizations have insisted on the
objective system OF bargaining and
Insisted on the railroads coming and
ealing with them at one time and ,
ividing up the territory as YOU have ,
Indicated
Commissioner: Garretsop: 10 you ,
now what that grew out OF,
Mr.. Markham do not know the .
eal reason: I would be glad TO have
on tell me. ,
Commissioner Garretson: In deal. .
TX Win the wage question Ia II not a
-ue that the organizations were con.
'onted Tor ten years with a situation
escribed by general manager who 4
united that they should have more Il
ut that he could not afford TO sprine i
he raise on his competitors. When
ley admitted that for a series of
ears then they concluded to be put
sainst their competitors conditions.
Mr.. Markham: I have no criticism
offer of H.
Commissioner Garretson. But the
cts remains that the very thing
VI fear, that Is the underlying reason
II the excuse for your attitude that
Is done by the employers right
ong In various directions. but YOU
ar IL when II is done by the men,
Mr.. Markham: II is only done nv
Q companies in dealing with organi. II
uons stronger than them. i
Garretson: How
out the legislative idea,
Mr.. Markham: II Is A matter O,
immunity interests. II you are speak.
now OF the legislative program
tween the men and the railroad
mpanies
commissioner Garretson: IL there
the same community OF interests
every employe OF the Illinois Cen.
j Railway Company when II comes
dealing with the question OF xhe,.