South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-25
HAPPENINGS IN AND ABOUT TOWN

some OF them, have been compelled
TO work IS hours This is especial
~ true when big events are being
held in the city.
Asked whether the men had made
any demand for pay, for shorter
hours or had threatened 10 strike.
r. /. Hardy. general manager Of the
road, said that they had made no
such demands.
officials OF the road were in con-
ference in the offices of Mr.. Hardy
practically all night. They were
much in the dark as TO what exact
steps were being taken by the men.
Hardy Explains Contract.
When a man enters the emplOye
OF the company" Mr. Hardy told a
News-Times reporter Tuesday
night "he signs a contract This
contract states that no organization.
Of a few individuals or Of many in
dividuals. shall be recognized by
the company.
There is a provision in the con-
tract. for the benefit of both the
com any and the men. which says
that II an emplOye feels that he is
being underpaid, or has any trouble
whatever with the company he shall
submit the complaint 10 the COM
pany officials in writing.
1T is taken up by the officials and
If no agreement can be reached
within 80 days, there is a clause in
the contract which says that the
II,
service commission OF Indiana. Both
company and empioye bind them
selves TO adhere 10 the decision Of
the commission.
Get Every Consideration.
THE only thing / know of that
the men would have any complaint
bout is that Of wages. They are
given every consideration in their
work that it is possible for the COM
pany 10 give. None Of the men have
made any complaint and l do not
know what they intend to do
This contract form of agreement
was put into effect three years ago
and was signed at that time by
every man in the employe of the
company. New men who have en-
tered the service always sign the
agreement"
Under the present scale of the
company the men draw 20 cents
per hour the first six months they
work. p cents the second six
months. - cents the second year.
% cents the third year, "a cents the
fourth year and % cents the fifth
year.
we have 100000 cash on
hand" Pres't w. ID. Malone, In
ternationaI Garments union repre-
sentative. told the South Bend mo-
tormen and conductors. "In addi
ton TO this sum-" lie continued.
I'VE have behind US from 100000
10 100000 on which we can CAL
at any time And we have thou
sands and thousands OF carmen in
the United States and Canada in our
organization.
Says Pay Here il Poor
Here i'm South Bend YOU have no
organization. 1t appears that you
lack the gumption of the street car
employees in Boston and other cities
displayed in their successful strikes.
The 20 or - cents an hour you re-
ceive here after years of service is
poor remuneration in these days of
high prices.
Back in Boston the L railroad
employees struck in 1912 and after
eight weeks arbitration the strike
was successfully concluded. They
were successful because their pow
erful organization fought for it's
wants II was affiliated with the
international Garments union and
during the eight weeks of the strike
the employees received benefits.
The lowest rate the Boston L
employees get now is % cents an
hour and it runs up as high as 80
cents. Hours are we'll regulated
and the employees OF the company
are respected because they are or
ganized. Even the girls in the Of
noes and the scrubwomen belong TO
the unions and they all benefit.
Now, / want to say that / have
no personal interest in urging you
TO organize am one OF you
have my daily run in Boston and
am getting wages just as YOU are. I
wear the same kind of suit you do.
Ny purpose in coming here TO help
organize is purely for your good.
If you want 10 continue getting
poor wages. then there is no need
of Organizing l am here To help
YOU if YOU are DESTROYS Of lettering
yourselves. If YOU do not wish 10
organize then IL will be useless for
me TO stay hereabOuts. l can east
IL go back east and will lose moth
ing in so doing.
But I say men. an organization
is what YOU need. If you see III
10 get into the union / am certain
YOU will benefit accordingly. You
will have a favorable opportunity
10 arbitrate on any difficulty that
arises. ! shall be here the next
few DAYS 10 aid you to the best OF
my ability 1t is up 10 YOU TO take
whatever action YOU see tit"