The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-08-01
THREAT OF STRIKE
BY RAILR0ADMEN
AFFECTS HONOLULU
Hawaii vitality Interested In Men
ace To TranscontinentaI
Transportation
COMMERCIAL BODIES ON .-t
MAINLAND FIGHTING IT
Heavy Pressure Being Brought
To Bear To Avert Pending
WaIkout Of Men

The question Of whether there Is GO
ing TO be a general strike of trainmen
in the United States August I and a
consequent tieup Of all the railroads
IL n subject in which Hawaii Ii vitality
Interested. Commercial bodies all ov-
er the land have been bringing their
combined influences to bear 20 prevent
it, and the matter has also received
considerable attention in congress.
There is a general sentiment that there
will be no strike.
On July : the Pennsy vania Railroad
announced that $4,000 of its employees
have indicated their willingness TO con-
tinue to serve the company should the
trainmen declare a strike. The com
pany had issued IN appeal to its 225,-
900 employees in the form. Of poster, as
follows: E~"
company's Appeal ~.
"Eigh6en per cent Of your number
the enginemen, conductors, fremen
and trninmen are being polled fof
strike. IA.
"No Just reason for thus interrupt
ing the service exists. The railroads
have offered to arbitrate every question
presented. .nE
"The representatives. Of the men how.
ever, rejected this offer and have is
sued strike ballots. "asNEs ,n
"The manager of the Pennsylvania
RAILROAD system earnestly hopes: l.
First: That the men receiving bal
OTIS will vote against u strike. ~
Second: That all other employees will
khas inf Nn kkak
1.-THE management reiterates its po-
sition favoring the settlement Of all
questions 10 dispute by arbitration.
"Such q course viii preserve to each
| one of you unbrOken earning power; to
the public, uninterrupted service, and
| to the railroad, continuance of the
>arnings with which alone it can per.
'orm its public duties"
Loyalty Of Many Sure e. .
An official of the. company is quoted
as saying,
1.-The freedom with which volunteers
| lave come forward does not mean that
! strike of the $4,000 enginemen, con.
| duetOrs, fremen and trainmen could
nil to be a serious matter or that the
railroad could be kept in operation ex.
| eept with great difficulty. The yolnn-
GERS would have to be withdrawn from
other branches of the service and In
,ome cases would require additional
| training for their new duties. It does,
| however, prove that this railroad can
cunt upon the complete loyalty and
devotion of very large number OF
Employees In an emergency
The lines east of Pittsburgh viii be
;ept running at all posts, the officials
state. There are enough loyal train
men to fully man this part Of the
| 'ystem. ~.
The Erie Railroad has appealed to its
Employees. stating that the company has
.oluntarily increased the wages Of its
.rainmen 1872 per cent during the last
en- years and during that period the
'harehOlders. who own the road, have
not received one cent in dividends.
The voluntary wage increase has total
ed $l,942.l77 average per year. II
he Erie grants the demands its train.
men are now making II will add an
rther $3.50, 900 TO the pay rolls Of the
'ompany, and the directors say they
annot afford it.
Up To the Public . a.
The National Conference Committee
" the railways representing all the
Dads of the United States, refers to
he controversy between the trajnmen
nd their employers as ga question for
he public to decide" The statement
f the committee points out that the
ailroads urge public inquiry and arbi-
ration for the settlement of tho con-
royersy and propose that the issue be
'eferred to the Interstate Commerce
Commission for adjustment. 1t adds,
The railroads feel that they. have
70 right to grant a wage preferment
# $l0O000,000 a year to these EN-.
Dloyes, now highly paid and constituting
'nly one-ffth of all the employees,
without clear mandate from a pub
10 tribunal that shall determine the
merits of the case after review of
II The facts ... ~.
1.-THE single issue before the country
= whether this controversy is to be
settled by an impartial government
inquiry or by industrial warfare"