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Show TALKING Of Strike Vote Is Being Taken on Western Railroads I , Chicago, Dec. 3. Representatives of approximately 5,000 conductors and trainmen employed on tho sixty jallroads west of Chicago, who have tb'inauded an increase. In wages averaging aver-aging about 15 per cent, are holding dully conferences here with the gen- eral managers In presenting their arguments ar-guments for tho advance In pay und Improvements In working 'conditions. It is estimated that tho now scales neked by the men will exceed In ' amount those asked by the engineers iccently, which aggregated nearly $3,-("oo.ooo. $3,-("oo.ooo. The employes are represented by S3 graud chairmen of the organization organizat-ion on dlffereut roads, two from oach read In the case of tho larger systems, sys-tems, and by A. B Garretson, president presi-dent of the Railroad Conductor, aud W. G. Lee, grand master of the Brotherhood Broth-erhood of Railway Trainmen. Returns of tho strike vote being taken on tho western roads by the brotherhood of Locornotivo Engineers since tho breaking off of negotiations with the managers several weeks ago, are being sent from the various roads to the headquarters of tho organlza- , lion in Cleveland and will be assembled assem-bled and counted la a meeting in j Chicago on December 10. ' It is reported that tho engineers of several of the big western railroads ! have already completed their votes, showing 99 per cent in favor of a strike unless their demands for a fif- l ten per cent advance are granted. j The railroads offered an advance of j fbout 9 per eont. |