To The Public And All Shop
Employes, Rock Island
Lines:
In view of the rumors of an im
pending strike of the shop em
ployes of the Rock Island Lines,
and recognizing the right of the
the Dublic to have full In
formation on a question that in
volves its welfare, as well as one
which involves the surrender to a
committee of employes the right
to say in what manner the corpor
ation shall perform its services to
the public, the following state
ment is submitted:
The policy of the company has
always been one of fairness to
ward its employes. It has with
held retrenchment of forces as
long as possible. It has always
paid wages equal to those of con
tiguous lines. Its men have always
served under working rules and
conditions as favorable as those of
contiguous lines.
In view of these facts and the
present business conditions of the
country, this company could not
consider anything that contempla
ted an increase in its expenses,
and the General Committtee of
Shop Employes, at the beginning
of the conferences, over four
months ago, were fairly advised
of this.
But, notwithstanding that no
tice, the above committee insisted
upon pressing negotiations that
finally terminated November 10,
1911.
Briefly, the issues upon which
the employes' committee justify a
strike are as follows:
I. They demand that the pay
ment of tivo hours minimun over
time shall commence one hour
earlier than at present.
The company declines this, be
cause of increased expense, with
no compensating return.
II. They demand that any em
ploye called to work overtime
shall ''be released upon completion
of the job called or held for, un
less emergency work arises which
requires immediate attention and
he is the only man of bis craft on
duty."
The company declines this, be
cause of increased expense, and
for the reason that man is given a
minimum of five hours' pay if he
works after six a. m. or p. m.
The company has a right to the
use of the man for the time paid,
even though the job for which he
is called may not consume all of
that time.
III. They demand that laying
off and employing men shall be
governed exclusively by seniorty.
The company declines this, for
the reasou that its schedules with
all other employes provide that
ability of the individual shall be
taken into consideration in em
ploying and promoting men and
in reducing forces.
It is the duty of the company to
treat all employes' alike and give
all fair and equal consideration, to
the end that the most eficient.
honest and diligent workmen shall
be given steady employment, and
for the further reason that if
forces were to be reduced in the
manner demanded by the em
ployee it would permit them to
indicate those to be laid off there
by prohibiting. the company from
ridding the service of the less de
sirable employes, and thus em
barrassing it in its efforts for
economical operation.
IV. They demand that only
"running repair" work be done
when shops are closed; that time
and one-half be paid to men em
ployed in regular hours, when
shops are closed, upon miscella
neous repairs to locomotive or
cars, or upon what is commonly
known as "dead" work.
The company declines this, be
cause of increased expense which
would result from an idle force of
such men, a greater part of the
time, as are necessary to be em
ployed in keeping up running
repairs when shops are closed, and
declined for the further reason
that it prevents the company
from exercising its right to con
duct its own business in the most
economical manner.
V. They demand that no fore
man. either regular or temporary,
be permitted to work at any time
when mechanics are available.
The company declines this, for
the reason that such a rule would
prevent the company from retain
ing its foreman and thus main
taining its organization in times
when shops are closed.
VI. They demand that appli
cants for employment "shall only
be required to give the name, pos
ition wanted, address and address
of nearest relative."
This question also involves the
right of the company to secure the
personal records of applicanants
for employment, and, indirectly,
although not appearing in the de
mand, the ability of the company
to apply its pension system alike
to all employes.
The pension system, created to
care for aged employes, is frankly
opposed by the committee repres
enting the employes in the me
chanical crafts.
The company declines for the
reason that it has one application
blank for all candidates for em
plovment. It cannot and will not
make any different rule for ap
plicants for employment in the
mechanical department from that
made for applicants for employ
mants in other departments. All
much hn t.rpfttfid alike.
The pension system that has
been established must govern al
employes from the highest to the
lowest. This company has the
undoubted obligation to its em
ployes, as a class, to insist upon
these things, and, further, to know
the history of the men it is to em
ploy, as far as it is able to so de
termine.
In addition to the above ar
Saturday
25
We recently received a large assort
ment of fine stationery. We find our
selves crowded for room. In order
to move this at once and make way
for Christmas goods, we are going to
sell on SATURDAY ONLY, 25, 35, 40
and 50 cent stationery, your choice
cnts
and give 500 EXTRA VOTES
on our Piano Contest with
each sale of box paper.
Here is a fine chance to get a bargain
in writing paper and at the same time
help out your favorite candidate on
some of the special prizes and the
Pianos.
HAS. TAYLOR. &"G
Phone 107 Liberal, Kansas
"The Rexall Store"
tides, the committee demands an '
increase of two cents per hour,
which, with the articles dealing
with compensation outiined above,
a tremendous increase in the ex
penses of the company, without
comtemplating any return in the
shape of additional service or ol
economy in any form.
Articles not dealing directly
with compensation seek to take
from the company its right to con
duct its business in its own way
and to protect the interest of its
employes at large.
The mechanical committee seeks
to create a different set of rules
for one class of employes from
that which exists for all other em
ployes. They seek to deny the
company the right which belongs
to every citizen and employer to
require persons entering his ser
vice to give evidence of good
character and sound health. A
departure from this practice, as
outlined by the rule as proposed
by the employes' committee,
would permit the employment of
diseased, incompetent, inefficient
and immoral men. No honest
man need in any way be embarras
sed by complying witli the rules
of the company in the matter of
employment.
To the final proposition of the
Railway Company, the men have
answered advising that they will
strike if tho company does not
come to satisfactory settlement
with the committee.
The negotiations are thus edded
bv the shop employes' committee.
In order to have the employes
thoroughly understand the condi
tions under which they are work
ing, the compang hereby an
nounces its intention of continu
ing in effect until further notice
the rates of pay and working con
ditions as ontlined by the sched
ules in existence at the time of
their cancellation by the commit
ree.
W. A. NETTLETON,
Gen'l Supt. Motive Power
W. S. TINSMAN,
General Manager, 1st Dist.
A. E. SWEET,
Gen'l Manager, 2nd Dist
W. M. WHITTENTON,
Gen'l Manager, 3rd Dist,
Chicago, III., Nov. 17, 1911.
New Building
Tho ground was broken the first
of this week for the new brick
building on North Kansas Aye. on
the lots north of the Hotel Nation
al. The firm of Bever & Gray of
Guymon will occupy the new
building with a new and second
hand furniture business. The
structure will have a double plate
glass front, of 50 feet, and will bb
75 feet long. Contractor Woods
says the one story structure wil
cost about $1000, and work on the
building will be rushed.
Mrs. Chas" Taylor was ill the
first of the week.
Fall House Gleaning
The Man with a Vacuum Cleaner
PHONE 288
WELL MATCHED
Not only the horses but the
Harness, If you have good
horses it is essential that you I
snouia nave tne
BEST HARNESS
obtainable, and here is the
proper place to come for
all Horse Goods. The more
you look into this the surer
we are of selling you a set of
Harness.
li I. Nichols
PHYSICIAN
AND SURGEON
SURGEON ROCK ISLAND RAILROAD CO.
Office on Kansas Ave., 2d Door South Taylor's Drug Store
f
A. L. Knisley ardhsurgaeon I
Office Over P.O. Res. Phone 180. Office Phone 235 f
EATING
THE
We make anything
you want
that can be made
out of
Sheet Metal
UBSBSSSIS3SS3ECSB3S.Z '
Plumbing
A
Specialty g On E 2nd St.
TINNER
LIBERAL
KANSAS
JS33SBBMSB SESSEBXi-
Born, to Mr. and Mrs. W. S.
Wilmarth, on November 16, a girl.
Mrs. (). M. Woods and the
twins have returned from a visit
with relatives at Hooker.
J. G. Triudle returned the lirst
of the week from Missouri where
be was called by the death of his
father.
W. C. Whims has been confined
to his room this week as the re
sult of an operation performed
Monday.
John Kellcy of Hugoton return
ed Tuesday from a week's visit
with his family in Topeka, where
his daughters are aetending Wash
burn College.
Bro. Mayes of the Ashland
Clipper says: The vacant land
around this town should be taxed
until it would not be held for
speculation; and the personal prop
erty representing the toil of the
owners should not be taxed. It
is the reprehensible system of tax
ation which fines a man for bis
industry.
It is probable that some people
might be found here who would
agree that the same applies equal
Ij well here. r '
WRIGHT a BURNS
ALL KIN S OF
Dray and Transfer Work
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
OB'FICE PHONE 333
And Save Retailers Profits.
PRICE $2.50 PER HUNDRED
Bolin-Mall lilng Co,