St. Tammany farmer., 1922-09-02
ILLINOIS CENTRAL SYSTEM.

1-.II1N0Io ] - - y
Chicago, August 25, 1872.
TO THE SHOpMEN OF THE ILLINOIS
CENTRAL SYSTEM:
u Since the leaders Of the railway shop
crafts ordered the strike Julyl1 against
decisions of the United States ARaifroaI
Board, constant efforts have been made TO
find basis Tor a just settlement Z Il be-
lieve you are familiar with those neg0tia-s
tiOns and the unsuccessful efforts to bring
about q settlement which have been made.
by the Labor Board and individual mem-
bers Of the board, by members of the.Prss
ident's cabinet, Dy Representatives. yafl-
bus organizations, and by the President
himself.
- The final conference in New York
August % further demonstrated that tue
differences which exist are Of such a fun
damental Qatu1e that they cannot be COM
posed We Of the Illinois Central Sys-
tenn believe there is nothing to be gained
by further negotiations on question
which admits of no compromise More
over, we believe the situation has been
unfaxorably affected by reports frequently
sent out by leaders of the shopcrafts thai
nationwide settlement was about to ne
effected, and that it can serve no good
purposes to continue to hold out these
false hopes. While we are deeply inter
ested in the general situation, we believe
that we can accomplish a great deal more
for that part Of the public served by us,
for our employees and for ourselves If We
concentrate cur future efforts largely up
on the conditions on our own railway
system.
No one regrets more than we the I'M
fortunate situation of our former en-
ployes who gave up their positions upon
orders from the leaders of their crafts.
On June IA, when the strike vote was
taken, We addressedaa letter to all Illinois
Central System shopmen in which we ap-
pealed to their better Judgment and coun-
seled them not to vote in favor Of placing
in the hands OF their leaders the power to
call strike. We were of the opinion
then that II they placed such a power in
the hands OF their leaders it would be
unwisely exercised and a strike would pe
called, resulting in untold suffering and
hardships to the strikers. We had the III
terests of our sLopmen at heart and did
not want to,face the situation Of having to
fill their places. We appreciated that in
any emergency which might arise the pub
lie welfare demanded that our trains DC
kept running. t
On July 10, ten days after the strike
had been called and some Of our shopmen
had complied with the orders of their lead
ers to desert their posts, We again address
ad them The nnblic had to be served
with TRANSFORMATION and If our shopmen
who laftzonr service were not going to. re-
tnrn r. their noc;tions. new men had to he
.emnloved ia rfll the vacancies We did
not want Sto amnloy new men until we
we're ahsolnte;v sure that those who went
ont would not return. It therefore, he
came necessary fer us7 to fix a time within
which those who left their nositions cou1d
return without less of pension. seniority
and other rights. We waited ten days
for orr former emp1oves To make I'm their
minds honing all the time that they would
VIC gave them .another whole week within
which thew could return without loss Of
anv .of their rights
Holding as we do. that service to the
nublic is our first and highest duty, we
cnnlds 5nn longer continue q waiting policy
and fins r,1n the risk of not being able
adequately to take care Of those depend
ingg upon this railway system for trans
Dortation service
After having taken every 1precaution We
conld consistently take in behalf Of tn -
men who went, out we began employing
new men. The men who took the places
of those who left our service have courage
ously and efficiently assisted us in render
ing to the public an unimpaired transpur-
tation service We believe they are en-
titled to very great consideration, not
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