The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-04-20
WILKINSON'S SAY.
The Jenkins Congressional Investi-
CATION Now In Full Swing at
Milwaukee.
Grand Master of the Brotherhood Of
Trainmen Takes the Stand and
Testifies.
How Strikes Are Ordered In His
OrganizatiOn-He Knew of No
Violence.


investigation did not attract much of a
crowd. One or two attorneys and a few
latoring men came in and got seats
early, but except for the newspaper men
the room was deserted up to the open
ing of the session. Chief Wilkinson of
the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen
was the first witness. He related facts
concerning the conference of the North
ern Pacific at the time OF the threatened
strike. The men had thought they
could not leave the employ of the rail-
way. After a great deal of discussion
as to the right Of the chiefs to consult
| with the men, he and his associates
came to the conclusion that they could
not advise the men to leave the employ
of the receivers, but could advise them
to remain. To do otherwise would be
in contempt of court.
How Striker Are Ordered.
In reply to an inquiry by Chairman
Boatner as to how strikes are ordered,
Mr.. Wilkinron said aggrieved trainmen
had to make written complaint to their
lodges and these complaints were re-
ferred in turn to the local and general
grievance committees. The matter
finally reaches him if it is not adjusted.
1t requires n t%wo-thirds vote of the
members, and the unanimous consent OF
| the committee to cause a strike; all he
can do is to consent to a strike, but a
strike cannot be ordered without his
consent. No steps toward a strike had
been taken by the Northern Pacific
trainmen. In answer to "A question from
Congressman Stone, Wilkinson said a
strike required a months time to start.
He denied that he had any power to
order a strike WITHOUT action by the
employees. There are $50, 00U trainmen
in the United States, and about 30 per
cent of them belong to the order. He
is not in the employ Of any road, and
was not affected by the order, only
through his official position.
Had Not Been Violence.
Replying to a question as to whether
there mad been any violence in the
strikes he ordered, Mr.. Wilkinson said
there had beer no violence, and that
violence does not always accompany
strikes. A conference with the re-
ceivers had been arranged for when the
order was made. During a cross ex-
animation by Mr.. Curtis Chief Wilkin-
son said q strike had been ordered Jan.
/, and had the order been obeyed il
would have resulted in stopping the
traffic of the road, and that the stoppage
would have lasted as long as the men
held out. He thought he had a Legal
s.~1k 20 onnfar with tho a,,pInvoa nf fh6
Northern Pacific road to order a strike,
but the road being in the hands of re
ceivers affected his right to some ex
tent. He realized if he came in contact
with the court he should be liable t(
Imprisonment.
Made q Statement.
When his examination had been con,
cluded, Mr.. Wilkinson said he desired
to make a statement. He said the mel
hal thought if the court could reduc'
their wages 10 per cent and compe
them to work, it could reduce the wage
30 per cent and there would be no enc
to it. He said he did not think tn,
court had any more right than a com
pany had to compel the men to work
whether it had power or not. In answe
to a question put Ly MIR. Teri!
Wilkinson said the men considered
the labor organizations Of yer.
great Importance; that withou
, them they would be little better thar
serfs; that the organizations had i'm
proved the condition of the men a
least 80 per cent, and that they were o
great benefit to the company as we'll a
the men. Mr.. Wilkinson said the en-
! forcement of the Jenkins order woul'
: tend to destroy the unions, and b
thought the receivers of the road wer
bent upon destroying the usefulness o
the organizations for the time being a
least.
n. viii summon Receivers.
Sergeant-at-Arms kehr is armed witt
seven summonses which he will serv
upon the receivers of the Northern Pa
a ciic road, and some of their attorneys