Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-10
The Stand Taken by the Rock Island
Road Toward the Burlington.
It Refuses to Injure All Its Patrons
Since 1t Can't Help One.
Western Roads Generally Refuse tt
Handle Burlington Cars.
An Injunction Asked to Compel the
Rock Island to Accept Freight.

/ CHICAGO, March S.-General Manager
Stone, OF the Burlington road, to-day ad'
dressed a letter to General Manager st
John OF the Rock Island, in which, referring
to the declination of the latter road to re-
cei.e freight from them, he asked that the
easons for the nonintercourse be stated
In reply General Manager St. John sent
the following letter to Mr. Stone:
ST JOHNS REPLY.
THAT there may be no misunderstand-
ing as to the position OF the Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific Railroad in regard to
change of traffic with the c., B. & Q K. K.
Co., | desire to add to my hastily written
note of the 9Th instant, the following: This
company ia willing to perform all the duties
imposed upon it by law as a common
carrier, and will do when able. 1t will not
refuse to perform such duties to all because
it is rendered by circumstances for which
it is not responsible unable to perform
them as to one. It VIII not suspend the
,neration OF it's entire line and intiCt in
calculabte injury upon communities depend
ept upon it for transportation because
circumstances
RENDER 1T IMPOSSIBLE
for it to exchange traffic with another rail-
wav company. Its engineers and hremen
positively refuse to handle freight received
from or delivered to your road We have
done nothing to induce this resolution. To
discharge them would not enable us to ex-
change with YOU, while it would render it
impossible to carry for anybody else. We
occupv no attitude OF nOn-intercourse,
but do refuse to injure all OF our patrons
because we cannot help you. cannot see
how bringing about general suspension OF
operation of railways in the West can aid
you in YOUR present struggle, while can see
that it would work great injury on the con-
trary. We are not willing to attempt the
impOssible with the knowledge that the at
tempt will iniure many and benefit none"
ARrHuR's OPINION OF THE LETTER.
Far oyershadowing in Importance"
said Chief Arthur tonight. in summing up
the result of the days battles, FAR above
the incident of the Burlington's attemptto
seek relief in the courts, is the stand taken
this morning by the big Rock Island sys-
TEN. The letter sent by General st. John,
boldly declaring he would not infiict great
;niury upon communities depending upon
his road in an attempt to do the impossi-
bic is very significant indeed, perhaps con-
tains the key to the situation. 1t is
good. manly letter, and carries out the
Rock Islands pledge OF neutrality"
"You may be sure" edged in CHIEF Sar-
gent, who stood near by, THAT that letter
will not be without it's effect upon the gen
eral managers of other roads"
. Chief Arthur dismissed as if OF no COM
narrative Importance the petition filed by
the Burlington managers to-day for an in
junction against him. "If the court enjoins
me from doing certain things said he,
"most assuredly will not do them
THAT will not prevent other mem bers OF
the Brotherhood from doing certain things
would it," quered a bystander..
Arthur did not reply to this question,
but resumed consideration OF st. John s
letter, which he seemed to enjoy.
THE ATTITUDE OF OTHER ROADS.
The Lake Shore has been receiving freight
to and from the Burlington road to-day,
without protest from their engineers.
Most Of the eastern roads have slgnlhed
WILLINGNESS to do the same, but with the
exception Of the Union Paclhc, az western
reads remain firm in tf.ei. refusal to hanHle
Burlington cars. The brotherhood Issued
q long statement, setting forth once more
the various phases of their position and
that OF the railroad company, saying they
are ready and willing, and always have
been willing to arbitrate the questions ID
dispute in anv manner decided upon. iheH
ast if more can he expected OF them
They ssv in conclusion the Brotherhood
CANNOT RECEDE
from their demands on the wages question
and maintain either their self respect or
their organization. On this point they
must win or die Officials OF the Burlng-
ton road claim their business is improving
right along. To-day they began trans
porting live stock for the first time since
the strike inaugurated. Their passenger
trains they say are in good shape.