The sun., 1919-04-16

case and that OF the general commit
tee, and promised that IL would have the
receivers early attention. This the sig
nalmen Immediately proceeded to do and
are awaiting n definite answer from Mr.
Garrison before even reporting back to
their union. Mr.. Garrison differentiated
sharply between the Amalgamated and
the signalmen in the letters he sent to
them yesterday, though yesterday he re-
fused to see them together as represent
ing the union employees and not the
employees In general
The signalmen announced that they
represented 100 per cent. OF the men in
their department.: the towermen repre-
sented all but two of their men, and the
Amalgamated in It's request for an in
terview with Mr.. Garrison could only
lay claim to IS per cent. Of the en-
ployees in It's categories.
Mr.. Garrison wrote to James Sheri-
dan of the Amaigamated's Executive
Committee ignoring his union status
but addressing him at the Hotel CONT
mental, care OF P. ]. O'Brien. who Is
the visiting vice-president of the Anal
gamated, as follows:
MY Dear Sir: I received your re-
quest that l deal with committee of
which you are chairman.
Il am informed that such committee
is a committee Of the Amalgamated> As
ISOLATION OF Electric and Street Railway
Employees of America, so that in meet
Ing and dealing with It would be meet
ing and dealing with such association.
This L will not do. I so stated when
similar committees previously applied TO
me and SO informed the Mayor when an
other committee OF the Amalgamated
Association applied to him.
MY position in this matter has been
SO clearly stated that It does not seem
possible Il could be Misunderstood. To
prevent any possibility of any misunder-
standing l repeat IL.
II am in favor OF collective dealing be-
tween the company and its employees. ]
am not In favor Of dealing with groups
or classes of the employees who repre-
sent outside organizations and not the
body of employees.
"1f employees in any branch OF work
In respect OF matters particularly affect
ing such branch OF work desire to take
up such matters with me, or II the whole
body of employees with respect to mat
tiers affecting them all desire to take
such matters up with me- shall be very
glad TO deal with them. All they have to
do is to select q Representative or repre-
sentatives in any manner which gives
opportunity to all concerned to partici-
pate freely and fairly in the choice OF
their representatives.
This Is the very essence OF collective
dealing and of the democratic principles
which distinguishes Americanism. The
contrary principle Is that which is in.
sisted upon by your organization. which
seeks to force mo to deal not with rep
resentatives chosen by the free and fair
participation Of the employees con-
cerned, but with committees selected
only by members OF your organization.
This Is the opposite OF collective dealing
and Is autocratic and not democratic.
cannot assent to II.
I'm concluding desire TO say to YOU
and through you to those in control OF
the Amalgamated Association. that by
reeorting to a strike in the attempt 10
force me to recognize that association
these who are doing so are assuming a
very great responsibility. To the extent
that you succeed temporarily in Grip
ping the service, you will be incom-
moding thousands OF the travelling pub
lilo and causing them great loss OF time
and money. To the extent that you in.
duce your members to leave the employ
Of the company. you are causing them
to lose their positions and their means
of livelihood. To the extent that you
unfavorably affect the great ajority
OF the employees who are not involved
In this issue. you do them and the!r
families an inexcusable injury. To at
tempt to force me to recognize and deal
with this outside organization is the
sole motive Of the threatened strike. and
II you resort to II your position VIII be
clearly understood by the public and
am confident that your action will not
receive the support OF the public.
"Sincerly YOU'RE,
"LINpLEY NJ GARRISON, Receiver"