St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-09
TWO IMPORTANT LETTERS
Bearing Directly Oh the Strike
Situation.

CHICAGO, March S.-The following
letter is in reply to one written by Gen
eral Manager Stone, of the Burlington,
III which he requests the Rock Island
company to state their reasons for re-
fusing to handle the Burlington's cars
yesterday:
Chicago, March $40 II. B. Stone,
General Manager Chicago, Burlington
u Quincy Railroad, City-My Dear Sir:
That there may be no misunderstand-
ing as to the position of the Chicago,
Rock Island q Pacific Railroad COM
pany in regard to exchange of traffic
with the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy
Railroad company, desire to add to my
hastily written note Of the 9th inst. the
following: This company is willing to
perform all duties imposed upon it by
law as a common carrier, and will do so
when able. 1t will not refuse to per-
form such duties to all because it is
rendered, by circumstances for which it
is not responsible. unable to perform
them as to one. 1t will not suspend
the operation of its entire line and
infiict incalculable injury upon the
communities dependent upon it Ior
transportation because circumstances
render it impossible for it to exchange
traffic with another railway company.
Its engineers and firemen positively re-
fuse to handle freight received from or
delivered to our road. We have done
nothing to induce this resolution. To
discharge them would not enable lis to
exchange with you, while it would rem
der it impossible to carry for anybody
else. We occupy no attitude of nom
intercourse but do refuse to injure all
Of n
YOU. [ cannot see how bringing about
a general suspension of the operation Of
railways in the West can aid you in your
present struggle, while ! can see that it
would work great injury in the country.
We are not willing to attempt the i'm
possible with the knowledge that the
attempt will iniure many and benefit
none. Respectfully yours,
..E. ST. JOHN.
General Manager"
The following communication, issued
this afternoon by the brotherhood, eX-
plains itself:
TO THE PUBLIC.
Owing to the reports that are being
circulated in regard to the attitude OF
the locomotive engineers and firemen
in the present strike which now exists,
and there being a tendency Oh the part
OF Iile press 10 lnuOrSe Tile STAND Iakell
by the railway company, we deem it
necess airy in our own behalf to state:
That the two organizations which are
engaged in the present trouble are COM
posed of conservative men, and are
ready and willing now. and have been,
to meet the officers of the Chicago, Bur-
lington & Quincy railroad and arbitrate
the question in dispute. They, the
brotherhood. are not only willing to do
this through their executive officers, but
are also willing to place the whole mat
ter in the hands of three railroad man.
ayers, and abide by their decision. Now
in all candor we would ask an honest,
thinking man if the organizations al
ready mentioned can do any more and
maintain the privileges granted them
by the constitution of the United States.
If this trouble still continues and the
public at large suffer Oh account of the
same, the blame must rest where it be-
longs, and that with the parties who
refuse to arbitrate.
The BRoTHERHoODS OF LOCOMOTIVE
ENGINEERS AND FIREAIEN.