The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-16

strong that only their demands should
be heard.
\ One-Way Arbitration.
The unions in making demands in
volving changes in schedules always
include request that any rates or
I conditions now existing that may be
/ better than is determined by the arbi-
tration or agreement are to be pre-
served The result of this is that as
they always get something. and as
nothing is ever taken away, the
changes in schedules have been Xix
ened to a ratchet in that it works one
way only. This particular quarrel
with the engineers and firemen
reached the brink of a strike when
both sides were asked to Washington
to meet President Wilson. Both ac-
cepted, but at the last minute the men
refused to go. President Wilson. see
ing no way to avert a strike but by
giving in to the men. asked the rail-
roads to withdraw their request for
opening up the entire schedules and
to consent to arbitrate the demands
of the men alone. He placed his plea
on the ground of patriotism, as the
war in Europe had just begun and the
country was facing serious financial
climax The railroads complied with
MS request and a strike was averted
The result of tie arbitration was not
satisfactory to the men and they OPEN
~ accused one of the arbitrators of
being prejudiced. This brings us to
the late unpleasantness which Gull
minated in the Adamson act.
Adopt New System
Early in March each railroad re-
ceived a notice from each of the four
train organizations of desire to
change the existing schedules in GER
tain particulars and asking that the
questions be considered in a confer
ence that should take in all the rail-
roads in the country. 1t had become
the custom previous to this to deal
with schedules territorily, the country
being divided for this purpose into
eastern lines, southeastern lines and
western lines, the latter taking every
+ thing west of Chicago. In the recent
engineers and firemen's movement the
I first attack was on the eastern lines
/ the reason given being that the west
/ ern schedules were higher than the
eastern. that there was little or no
/ difference in the work or living con-
/ dltons and, therefore. the paw should
/ De more nearly on a parity. As
result of this movement, the rates were
/ improved. Following this the south
] eastern lines followed and then the
western lines were presented with the
claim that as a differentiaI had al
I ways existed and as the eastern move
ment had wiped this out, in a measure
( the differential should be re-esta b.
/ hshed on the western lines 1t was
beca use of this circular movement thar
we believed it better to consent to con-
slider the questions of the eight-hour
/ day and time and a half for overtime
IN a conference that would take in the
Whole country. In order to prevent
4 the working of the so-called ratchet
! movement, the railroads in consenting
/ to meet with the unions to consider
/ these two subjects, stipulated that Ger
Uon objectionable items already exist
ing in the schedules should be also dis
7 cussed with a view to their eIirnina-
/ ton.
As an illustration 1 might cite cases
where men are now paid twice for the
same time As result of this move
/ ment practically all of the railroads
of the country delegated to a commit
tee of twenty authority to deal with
the entire subject This Committee
met the representatives of the men
| numbering over 500, and it at once
became evident that the men would
not agree to any of the proposals of
the roads, and, therefore. there was
nothing to do but refuse the demands
of the men. The men next took a So
/ called strike vote 1t was in reality
j a vote to give the men handling the
matter supreme authority. We be-
lieve that the most Unfair means were
used to get this vote-there was no
secrecy-the men were told that if a
unanimous vote was given to strike
there would be no strike: threats were
made that men voting mo- would be
expelled from the brotherhoods on
some pretext or other and that they
would thereby lose their insurance
One method that seemed decidedly
unfair was changing the laws of some
of the organizations so that the strike
vote was taken territoriaIIy instead OF
by roads. In this way we do not
know whether all the orders voted tc
strike on our road One thing was
brought out in the strike vote that
was interesting. The older men OF
those in the ranks. of conductors and