Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-04-27
DEFIES DEBS' UNION
Hill of the Great Northern
Starts the Trains.
TOTAL FAILURE OF NEGOTIATIONS.

A. Il. L. Men Being Determined to Make
No Concessions from, Their First Demands
Nor Agree 20 Arbitration, the Railway
President Determines Not to Recognize
the De5s Organization snd War Is De-
ciared-A Long Line to Operate and
Defend.
ST. PAUL. April 27.-AH overtures for a
peaceful settlement of the Great Northern
railroad strike have been declared Off and
the company ard the American Railway
union have begun a test of strength that
may cause considerable bloodshed before
it ends. The Great Northern railroad eX-
tends from this city 10 the coast with many
branches in this state and the Dakotas
an,i its Ass miles of track go through
considerable comparatively new country
where no other means of transportation is
to he had, and where the conditions OF So
ciety allow "a somewhat rougher element
to get control of affairs. The result is that
i II such sections, wien the road begins to
run its trains with new men. there will
be war to the knife and perhaps with the
knife. 1t is believed to have been this
fact almost as much as the desire 10 give
his men every cEal ;e to make known
their grievances that induced President
Hill to wait two weeks without an at
tempt TO get out any other than mail
trains.
HilI's Challenge Il q Fro ight Train.
But he started TIE first freight fer two
weeks yesterday and tie battle may he
said TO have been Joined. Naturally he
would prefer Il peaceahle settlement. He
offered to arbitrate wit hout having secured
tle services Of 4 single new man, but the
men refused to arbtrate under any cir
cunStances. it was two weeks today
that the strike was declared. and the men
oa Tie western divisions al the road went
cut, to De followed 10y all the men on Il C
road IS far east as -. Cloud. Mimi. ana
all traffic has heeE stopped over the entire
road except in the handling OF mail on l.,
Dakota and Minnesota line. Even tins
has Ueeu done under difficulties and with
the assistance OF a large force of United
stttes Inar>haIs, and their presence WAS
not enough III Il few instances 10 prevent
the men breaking up the mail trains and
preventing their passage.
Conference Ends in War.
The officials Cf the road secured the is
suance by the United States courts in this
s.ale and Dakota and also il Montana of
restraining orders ordering the men not to
interfere III any way with the handling of
the road. Under this order deputies are
sent out on all mail trains. ana beginning
yesterday they went ca. on the freight
trains rs we'll During the time that the
strikers have been thus ,r ventiu. the
running OF the road Il coinmist .e OF thirty
three members of the \ r L. employees of
the road assembled in this city in accord
once with a reply favorable to their re-
quest for conference with the officials of
the road. This conference was actually in
session one day, and the result came in the
declaration OF war.
Resume of the Negotiations.
AT the start OF the conference President
Hill announced his willingness to arbi-
t"ate. but agreed to try the possibilities e
a conference first. When they came to-
g,ther the men demanded as the first con-
dtion that the road grant all their de-
manGs FOR the renewal of the wage schet!-
ules in force prior TO last August This
Hlll declined, but the men remained for 4
further conference, thinking they might
gain something 10y il. 1t closed with the
Two sides 10 nearer agreeing than at tie
start. 1t was TO have been resumed YES
terday, hut the men went into conference
alone, asking an extension OF time from
Hill, winch WAS granted.
Hin Throws Down the Glove.
Their conference lasted nearly ali day
and late III the afternoon they sent Il brief
communication to President Hill uncondi-
uonaliy REJECTING his proposal for arbItr;i-
ton, renewing their demands for the Old
schedules and giving him to understand
that this was their ultimatuu. Hill sent
reply to the men last night in which be
says that the action of the men ends all
conferences and negotiations as far rs he
Is concerned. He will no longer recognize
the American Railway Union and will at
once proceed TO operate the Great North
ern road without regard to that organiza-
ton.
THE EiEIT Ic pnruco ,,NtOttc