Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-19
The Missouri Pacific Railway
St.Louis, Iron Mountain &Southern R.R.
B. +. BUSH, Receiver
st. Louis, Mo-, March, 1917.

General Managers Association that at Six O'clock M Mon
day, March 10TH 1917 all Engnemen and Tranmen the
Missouri Pacific and Iron Mountain Railways will refuse to
our trains.
You are familiar with the issues which have eliminated
in this strike order being the which resulted in the strike
order last September The Representatives of the National Or
drs of the Engine and Tranmen demanded increase in
wages of approximately Twenty-Five per cent by insisting upon
the wage for the so-caed Eghour day that they had
been receiving for tenour day under existing contracts,
with overtime at increased rates. which demand they
willing to submit to any impartial tribunal.
To Avert the strike last September upon the issues,
the Adamson Act passed by Congress- which, in effect
placed upon the carriers of the country the increased de-
mandd by the The Procedure by which this Legislation
secured from the legislative branch of our National Govern
ment is part of the History of this Strike movement
The only left to the Carriers under existing
form of unless trustees for the Public and the
properties which they represented and they yielded to the de-
mands made by the representatives of the engnemen and
tranmen for increased without hearing the Just
such demands submit the question Of the validity
of this law to the only forum provded E. the courts.
Unless the arbitrary demands of the employees of the
either for increased for shorter hours for other
concessions which, under form of government legitimate
Of contract and between employer and
poye to be acceded to without dispute whenever presented
the issues to the courts orderly by the
res should have been permitted proceed to final decision
before the representatives the employees attempted again
take the issues into their own hands.
Upon legitimate issue concerning life property the
trainers of constitution intended that hearing should be
had court of competent jurisdiction unless the issues by
agreement submitted to arbitration and unless force in
stead of law to control the rights of property this principle
of our government should be strictly adhered to.
Before the promulgaon of the present strike order the
General Managers Association for the Railroads again offered
to submit the issues to the Goehas committee named by the
President under the Adason Act and to abide by the decision
of that committee which proposition the National Representa-
tves of the Engine and Tranmen have again fay refused
Under the arrangements made last fall if the Adamson
Law upheld by the courts the Railways agreed pay the
increases established by that law from the st of JAN
uary 1917 This agreement is also ignored the strike
order the existing agreements establishing tenhour
day the Unit of service and the provisions in existing
tracts that thirty days notice shall be given of termination
of the contract relation existing between the Railroads and
these employees.
No notice has yet been given by the Charmen of these
ganizaons to officers provided in the contracts they
should have DONE But all these contracts have been rated by
the National Representatives of these employees holding the
carriers by log chain but not binding the employees by
much sken cord Since connection with the properties of
the Missouri Pacific Iron Mountain Companies in return
for my efforts render the Public efficient service have at
all times received the Loyal Cooperation and support
officers and employees without the skill and cooperation of the
officers and employees the rails and locomotives would
have been useless mechanical devices in the service of the
public.
have always believed the great majority Of citizen
ship believed in government by law distinguished from
by force have in the past believed and shall al
believe that the engnemen and ranmen in the service
of companies patriotic and awabidng any other
class of citizens country But just at this critical period
tying up the transportation facilities of the country will do
injury national defense than aid that could be
furnished coun enemies AS the receiver of these prop
critics appointed by the United States District Court my
bounden duty to attempt to continue to the Public by the
operation of lines In the performance of this duty both
the public and the employees who ready and willing to assist
entitled to the protection of all awabidng citizens be-
of the grave problems confronting the Admnsa
on country needs the loyal support all citizens engaged
in interstate before The president of
country has appealed to people support the
In this time of need appeal employees not only for the
property which the past has furnished the of Susie
for the families of officials and employees but for the
benefit of the public the injured innocent party in this strug
ge and in the country to which allegiance is
paramount to perform the full of their duty this
crisis. B. F. BUSH
Receiver