The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-04-20
AMERICAN RAILWAY UNION.

Chairman Riker Of the American Railroad
Union Issues n Reply To the Circular
of the Great Northern Railway.
The following circular wac issued
Sunday by W. 1. Riker, chairman of the
board of adjustment of the American
Railway union:
GREAT FALLS, Up. m. April Ii, 1894.
There is practi ;ally no change in the
strike. l wish to verify and also contra
dict some statements that appear in the
city papers this morning.
81. j. Hill, president Of the Great
Northern, states that the strike was in
augurated by a party who is not or has
not been In the company's employ. I
wish to contradict that statement as l
have been in the employ of the Great
Falls Office under Mr.. G. H. jerks, super
~intendent, until he wal succeeded by w.
W. Currier-time of service dating from
June 10, 1893, to date Of strike.
He also states that the strike was in
augurated without any complaint or
notice from the men. / wish to say in
regard to this that numerous complaints
have been made by the different depart
ments OF service in writing but no atten-
tion was paid to them. These complaints
were made between July 1893 and April
Ii, 1894.
IL verify the statements that no notice
was given to the officials by the employees
that a strike was to take place, nor did
the employees think of the strike until
we received reliable information that the
company was making preparations to fill
the places OF the American Railway
Union employees. 1t did not think that
it would be policy to notify the officials
that a strike was impending consequent.
ly immediate action was taken upon our
part to protect ourselves.
There was no intimidation intended
on our part to any branch Of the service,
but the employees to a man walked out
when they we're fully aware Of the stu
alton, as aforesaid.
"Mr. Hill also states that it is the
wish of the company that all employees
shall continue in their respective duties,
and that the company will see that all
matters OF wages, promotion, ETC., would
be satisfactorily arranged. Denying
this statement, / wish to say that the
employees have been the faithful slaves
of this soulless corporation until forbear-
ance ceases to be a virtue, and as no
prospects of relief we're coming from the
company we thought it best to assert
our rights as workingmen and citizens,
and our action in this matter is, l be-
lieve, sanctioned by the whole commu-
nifty, which is by this time fully aware of
the circumstances which caused the
II wish to verify the statements made
by Grand Organizer Hogan, who re-
ceived a message from Eugene V. Debbs,
commander in chief of the American
Railway union, stating that a strike now
would be almost suicide, and indeed We
all thought so until these kilograms from
eastern sources informed us that our
places were to be filled by non-union
men as above stated, and then the wave
of indignation was insurmountable, and
a strike was declared by an unanimous
vote.
II wish to state from reliable informa-
ton received. there has not a train left st.
Paul for the west since Friday evening at
1850. Although there are statements to
the effect that theirs is no strike east of
Minot, nor is there likely to be one, it is
very easy for the st. Paul officials to
have any statement that they desire
published, which would further their in
terest, and have a tendency to dishearten
the striking employees.
II would caution the people of Great
Falls and community to be as economical
in their fuel and provisions as possible,
as l verify believe that if this strike is
not settled within the next twenty -four
hours that it will be a long tedious
and may be the means of much
suffering il the necessary precautions
are not taken. W. I. RIKER,
Chairman of the Adjustment Committee
Of the American Railway Union"