Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-10-14
Agitators, 1t Is Said, Are
Here From Muskogee
to Form a Union.
MAY START FIGHT
Many Motormen Declare
They Are Satisfied With
Wages and Treatment.

A STRIKE will paralyze the work
N ings OF the street railways of
Tulsa within ten days If the object of
two representatives of the American
Amalgamated Union of Motormen
and Conductors who arrived here yes
terday afternoon, is accomplish ed &C
cording to persons on the "inside."
The agitators come late from the
Muskogee grounds and are at present
attempting to form union among
the A. or so motormen operating In
the city, it is said If union is
formed and is not recognized by the
street car officials strike will en-
sue. 1t is declared.
Heads of the railway systems are
known to be strongly against the
forming of a union and are certain
to object to any further demands
which the men might make.
Few Men Approached.
AS yet few of the men working on
the cars have been approached by the
union men and are divided in their
opinion as to whether they would
consent to become members.
The majority of motormen spoken
TO by The World last night were
against joining union and say that
the results attained In Muskogee ann
New York would not warrant any
trifling. They say too that they are
at present altogether satisfied with the
wages they are receiving and are con
iident that If they struck their places
would be filled
The regular wages at present paid
by the companies is said to be 22 cents
per hour fer recruits and "a cents
after six months work has been done
II later goes as high as 26 cents The
hours range from 9 to ~ accordin ing
to tho length of the run. which II
optional most men desiring the long
er runs.
one of the motormen on a regular
city run explained to a representative
of The World that If one of the agi-
tators climbed on to his car and
asked him to foin up he would kick
him off he car"
NJ. McGrath, superintendent of the
Tulsa Street railway. when questioned
concerning the raiding of Tulsa by the
aR1tators. said he little feared the re-
suits of their labors.
The men who are in Tulsa now
lighting their firecrackers are the
same who stirred up the row in Mus
koeee." McGrath says "and they are
uoing III 10 keep tnelr JOBS.
"R. ID. Long. president of the Mus
kosee system, said to me that Fl. NJ.
Fenton. one of the men agitating in
Tulsa at present, had received in
structions that unless he walked up
and did something he would be dis
charged. The Muskogee eruption fol-
lowed
''Fenton is president of the Okla
homa Federation of Labor and the in
structions were mailed from the
American Federation of Labor.
Are Working on Orders.
"Fenton and his secretary were in
structed 90 get after every street rail
way system in oklahoma and get them
signed up on the union.
THE Muskogee street car men lis
tened to the agitators as circus
crowd listens to the side-show orator
and they got stung.
''They were told that they would get
10 cents per hour more, that they
would have to work only eight hours,
that there would be two men to each
car They received none of these and
II ey locked themselves In for three
years at less wages than Tulsa street
car men are getting now.
They have signed up for three
years and give up their privilege OF
striking. they agree to ask for no in
crease in wage and they are fined for
punched wrong and handed in late.
I'VE have no room in Tulsa for agi-
tators OF this type"