La Grande evening observer., February 07, 1916, Image 2

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 191?,
" PAGE TWO
LA GRANDE EVENING OBSERVER
HUG
STRIKE
E
PLANS READY
CAMPAIGN BY RAILROAD EM
PLOYES BIG.
Enormous Possibilities Seen Roose
velt and Wilson Figure.
PLANNING GREATEST OF AMERICAN STRIKES.
New York, Feb. 5. A simultaneous
strike on every steam railroad of the
United States, tying up more than
250,000 miles of track, paralyzing the
nation's freight and passenger busi
ness, is the plan of leaders of the
four great national railroad unions,
should demands to be presented to the
railroads after March I bo refused.
Jan. 10 a referendum vote was Bub
mitted to the 3G0.O0O to 400,000 mem
bers of these four unions upon the
question of authorizing the officials to
present certain material demands to
railroad owners. Information reached
labor leaders here yesterday that au
thorization had been voted by an over
whelming majority, although the of
ficial count will not be made until
March I.
Want 8-Hour Day for 100 Miles.
The labor union leaders will be em
powered to ask for an eight-hour day
"or 100 miles instead of a ten-hour
day or 100 miles, except in passenger
service, with pay for overtime at one
and a half times the new higher pro
rata rnte instead of the old pro lata
rate for overtime.
An official copy of the demands has
come into possession of The World,
which received yesterday an authori
tative outline of tho campaign which
the labor leaders have prepared to en
force thorn. It is of course subject to
such modification as later develop
ments may -necessitate, but at pres
ent the essential points arc these:
Upon completion of the count of the
referendum vote union leaders will
present the demands to every steam
railroad President in the United
States, allowing thirty days for n
definite reply.
Offers to arbitrate, if mnilo, will be
rejected immediate!" as will first of
fers of compromise, if made.
If the railroads refuse to meet the
demands, as the union leaders antici
pate, they will ask authorisation of
.their members, by vote, to declare n
nation wide strike.
With this authorization negotiations
will be resumed directly with rail
road heads, and no irenoriil strike will
be declared until tho bittnr have been
given "full opportunity to Wo the
right thing." If they fail to do this,
as union leaders fully exneel, a gen
eral strike will be declared.
First Nationwide Labor Movement.
The United States for the first
time in its history is facing a con
certed labor movement which is nn-tion-wido.
Heretofore the battle
ground between labor and capital has
never extended beyond one section of
the country. Tho enormoijsiiens of
the interests involved is conveyed by
the following summary:
Capital securities directly affected,
$20,247,300,000: number of men to be
called out in case of strike ,')(!().00() to
400,0011; mileage affected, 250.000;
roads involved, every steam railroad
(in the United States; wages paid men
directly involved (1014), nearly $100,
000,000; wages paid railroad em
ployees, all of whom would be direct
ly or indirectly affected Ui'H),
400,000.000; operating rove nies of
railroads involved (1914), $3,047,019,
908; proportion of gross railroad rev
enues from freight and passenger car
rying paid employees, 45 per cent.;
proportion of total operating expenses
paid labor (1914). lib" 2-11 pur cent.;
estimated increase granting of the
demands would make in operating
expenses (estimates by railroad man
agers), 25 to 40 per cent.; total oper
ating expenses of railroad (1914), $2,-
JU(i,ji,i,io9; number of stockholders,
affected, 000,000; overtime wage in-1
crease asked (estimated by railroad!
managers), 87 1-2 per cent.; unions in- i
volved, Urothcrhood of Locomotive i
Engineers, Brotherhood of Locomo-!
tivo Firemen and Enirincmon. Order I
of Railway Conductors, and the!
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. j
Carter Organized the' 'Movement.
W. S. Carter, President of the!
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen i
and Enginemcn, with a membership
exceeding 70,000 is credited by labor!
men and capital alike as being the i
originator and chief orgnnizer in this!
nationwide movement. W. G. Leo,!
President of the Brotherhood of Ra',1-:
road Trainmen, which has a member-j
ship of approximately 100,000, is be-1
lieved to be his chief lieutenant. I
tabor men informed Tho World
yesterday that Carter and I.eo have
preached the doctrine that those fol
lowing circumstances con bo turned
through concerted action to gain ma
terial advantages for railroad employ
ees and will prove the decisive fac
tories in the fight they are undertak
ing: 1. That this is a Presidential elec
tion year.
2. That the threat of nearly half
a million labor votes will be powerful
enough to influence Congress and
President Wilson; tho first sufficiently
to prevent unfavorable legislation and
perhaps the passage of desired legis
lation; the second, enough to prevent
Federal action in the event of a strike,
to throw Wilson influence in favor of
the strikers, or at least to make him
"be good."
Hope to Use Roosevelt.
3. That Theodore .Roosevelt is a
member of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Firemen and Enginemcn, lie
can be used either to forco the Ad
ministration to "behave" or, should
Wilson not yield to the Roosevelt and
other threuts, the solid strike vote
would force the Colonel's nomination
and election, insuring an Administra
tion favorable to the strikers.
4. The general prosperity of the,
railroads throughout the country, and '
the tremcnkus business certain Kust- J
ern roads have, would be a powerful
i " r- - ' tl
W.O. LEE . KAILPCAD TRAINMEN 1 y""
'"
WSCARTER-FIREMEUENGINEMEN
AB.GARRET.S 0N-RA1LWAV
CONDUCTORS
, These four men, chiefs of four-great organizations of railway employees,
embracing about 400,000 men, ure now planning a strike, or rather de
mands on the companies which may lead to a strike that would be the
most gigantic in American history.
iW. S. Stone is c.Mcf of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers; Wil
liam G. Lee is president of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen;
Austin I!. Garretson is president of the Order of Railway Conductors,
while W. S. Carter is president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men and Enginemen. They ask fo r an eight hour day with increased ex
tra pay for overtime. -
itcg. Trado Walk. U. H. Fit. OfflM.
The one perfect front-lace
corset with that exclusive
VENTILO back, and VENTILO
front shield. A model for every
possible figure and a price for
every purse. $2.00 and up.
MRS. ROBERT PATTISON
CORSETIERE.
Other models at $2.00 up.
Residence 1702 Oak
Phone Red 3221
S K
Influence with them to "share" prof
its ratiier Chan lose them all.
5. That public opinion would "be
with the employees in the case of u
national railroad strike, for the rea
son that the general public would not
tolerate any lengthy interference with
its business.
Whether a national strike would in
volve the strikers in a conflict with
interstate commerce laws is a ques
tion which is giving the labor leaders
grave concern, it is stated. Labor
men, however, say that Carter and
Lee have met this with the answer:
"Who will enforce interstate com
merce laws in a Presidential election
year against a solid labor vote of half
a million?"
Have a Political Lever.
Carter, responsible labor men have
informed The World, has conducted a
comprehensive Roosevelt campaign.
According to this information, Presi
dent Carter argues as follows:
That Col. Roosevelt is already con
sidered a candidate of the combined
Republicans and Progressives; that
the votes the strikers could swing
would make or unmake him; that
both Col Roosevelt and President
Wilson would be acutely conscious of
this fact, and that the railroad union
men therefore hold the key to the
political situation and are practically
in a position to dictate terms to any
party cr ombination thereof, and that
it won' be nohin j le; t'.ian
J'ocllvirdy to throw such patent aJ-vnntiig'-s
away.
On the other hand, bitter opposition
has already developed within the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engine
men and Firemen to Carter's leader
ship. The headway this opposition
has made is illustrated by tho fact
that last Saturday night in New Hav
en Henry M. Walker of Taunton, one
of Carter's chief lieutenants in his
own union, was defeated for general
Chairman by a vote of 6 to 3. James
P. Farrell, a strong supporter of An
drew P. Kelly, who is being, groomed
to oppose Carter for the Presidency at
the union's general convention in
Denver next summer, was elected.
His opponents chnrgo that the de
mands nnd tho national strike plan
were evolved by Carter not in the
interests of the employees so much as
in his own. They say his real plan is
to involve the union in a strike nt the
time his own re-election conies up,
thereby leaving his own union in a
position where it can do nothing but
re-elect him.
Carter's supporters say, as do a
large body of men who havo sided
actively with neither, that, settling
aside all questions of Carter and his
alleged motives, the demands he has
formulated are fair ones.
tabor's argument is that engineers
deserve more pay and shorter hours
because of tho excessive strain under
which they are forced to work, a
strain which, they say, has materi
ally increased m recent years. The
same argument is advanced in be
half of the firemen. And they sav
further that the referendum vote
shows the existence of a general nnd
honivst demand for more ;pay and
shorter hours.
Results of Demands Were Granted.
The railroads see in tho situation
grave menace. They declare that to
grant the demands would force them
to got the money "for the additional
millions" they would have to add to
thi ir payrolls in one of four ways- -reduce
tho wages of the million and
a half employees oitsido the train
service; .jeduca payments for inti--est
a ad dividend.-, to their security
holders; curtail tho betterment ex-p'-nditures
for now stations, reduction
of grade crossings and other non
productive improvements demanded
by the public; or ask the Government
to allow a proportionate increase in
freight rates.
The railroads have determined upon
a concerted appeal to public opinion,
j They say the engineers, firemen, con
! ductors ami brakemen are 19 per cent.
of the army of railroad employees,
but absorb 28 per cent, of the total
payroll; that their demands for
higher pay increased their yearly
earnings from 1910 to 1914 by more
than $70,000,000 without any increase
in tho number of men emnloyed; that
even a "green" breakmini gets $800 a
year, while some of the engineers re
ceive as much as $4,000.
Railroad managers believe that if a
deadlock is to be averted it will be
through the failure of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers and the
Order of Railroad Conductors to join
in the national strike movement when
it conies to a show-down.
They have information that W. S.
Stone, head of the former union, who
first declared against arbitration, has
more recently said it might be advis
able in this case. And they believe
that both engineers and conductors
are well contented with their present
wages and would not vote to strike.
THE IDEAL HUSBAND.
Some Observations on the Side and a
Dogmatic Conclusion.
i'ou are probubly a womau. Few
men would (muse to read an article
beaded "The Ideal Husband." Man
knows bis fellow men too well.
Of course It ts true that nearly every
married woman lias at some time in
her life claimed to have found the one
ideal husband, but not for long. He
is not a stable article; lie is only a
looting glimpse.
Shortly after a young married worn-
I an declares hers to be the ideal hus
band be exhibits a tendency to crum
ble bis crackers In bis soup or to place
a slice of broad in tils empty dinner
plate and submerge It in gravy. These
things "are not done."
While a man is still engaged held
under optton.'as it. were, but not defi
nitely contracted for he is for a short
while considered ideal. However, be
Just begins to enjoy his perfection
when it Is discovered bv his general
manager elect that he. rests his knife
and fork half on the tablecloth and
half on his pinto, while they should bo
draped artistically across ' his plate
midway between meat and potatoes.
To save time, probably he also cuts
bis meat into small pieces before start
ing to cat It.
lie lias good reasons for doing as he
does, but they do not excuse him. His
sort of conduct and perfection simply
do not walk band In band.
No young couple should be engaged
long enough for either one to discover
the other's shortcomings. So long as
a man and a girl arc so mutually mes
merized that tho eyes of one never
leave the eyes of the other he is per
fect, but the moment be allows her
glances to stray below his Adam's ap
ple, the moment he loses control, he
loses ulso perfection. She ronllr.es that
his knowledge of esthetics was glean
ed from an abridged edition; that his
tie is not In vogue, that his collar is
too loose and too low and therefore too
comfoi lable.
All tne! I have strayed from my
ruhjrvt the Ideal husband. Let me
return to It nnd proceed.
Thci la uo such thlug. Paul Wing
In Century.
KING COAL
Does Not Talk, It
SHOUTS
when it comes to lasting
quality.
A fire built with King
Coal does not require
constant attention.Build
your fire, regulate your
draft, and go on to bed;
your room will be warm
in the morning.
We Handle dry 16 inch
Wood.
LA GRANDE! FUEL
COMPANY.
106 Fir St.
PHONE : : MAIN 700.
Opposite Thome & Wilcox
Grocery.
"Some Snow
99
BUT TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE PHONE MAIN 70
FOR A SACK OF
Snow Drift Flour
WE ARE DELIVERING TO ALL PARTS OF THE CITY
PHONE YOUR ORDERS EARLY FOR GOOD SERVICE.
HARRIS GROCERY
PHONE MAIN 70 FARMERS PHONE B 192
408 North Fir Street, Cross Track
f
NOT1C,
Owing to the increased cost of delivery the
price of coal and wood is advanced this
(Thursday morning to $10.00 per ton for
coal and S7.50 per cord for wood.
We will not contract for any large amount
of fuel. This notice is printed to shoiu the
people that we are not trying to hold them
up, and as soon as conditions are such as to
warrant it prices will be put back to where
they were.
SAWYER-CtARK CO.
LYNCH & STEWART
P. V. STILES
LA GRANDE FUEL CO.
Your Eyes
Their Care
When Normal
"V" ) PROTECT
I CS f ENLIGHTEN
' ENTERTAIN
You watch this space and from
time to time we will give you
information on the proper care
of your eyes not generally
known.
We have absolutely the only
plant in Eastern 'Oreon that
grinds and polishes the sufrace
of a lonse.
We have the most up-to-date
fitting parlors and manufactur
ing departments in Eastern
Oresron. Call and examine our
plant and compare with others.
The firm that tries to deceive
yon with fictitous advertisement
is unreliable, beware of them.
The New York Store Is
The Workingmaris Friend
LOW PRICES NOW
Men's suits $5.00 to $10.00
Men's hats and caps 85c, $1.50, $2.00
Men's shoes and rubbers 75c, $1.35, $2.50, $3.00, $3.50
Men's work shirts ' 40c
Men's work shirts, wool $1.25, to $1.45
Men's heavy underwear 39c
Union suits 95c to $1.75
Cotton glaves and sox and handkerchiefs 5c, 10c, 15c
Cotton gloves and sox wool, 20c, 25c
Overalls, Union 50c, 75c, 85c, $1.00
Suit cases, trunks and bags $1.25, $1.50, $2.00, $3.00
We buy and sell all kinds of jewelry. We keep open until 9 p. m.
214 Depot street, La Grande, Oregon
WE BUY ALL KINDS OF RAW FURS IN TRADE.
THERE ARE MANY REASONS
WHY EVERY HOME IN LA
GRANDE SHOULD HAVE
ELECTRIC LIGHT.
Eastern Oregon Light &
Power Co.
Always at Your Service
Telephone Main43
J.H. PEARE&S0N.
La Grande's Leading Optometrist.
1 won
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