The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-04-20
THE RAILWAY STRIKE,
w. |. Riker of the American Labor
Union Gives His Views on
the Case.
He Gives the Terms Which the
Men Will Accept from the
Railway Management.

w. /. Riksr, chairman of the board of
adjustment Of the Great Northern sys-
tenn, gave the following tateme nt
Friday on the causee of the present
strike, and gave a synopsis of the view
Of the case taken by the local branch
Of the American Railway union at Great
Falls and requested it's publication in
the columns of The TRIBUNE:
mo strike was thought of until l re.
ceived a telegram from st. Paul to the
effect that men we're on the way to take
the places Of the members Of the A. r.
U. in Great Falls, Helena, and Butte.
A meeting Of the A. r. u. was called, the
matter thoroughly discussed, and a vote
taken on the question of q strike, which
was carried. 1t vas a matter of self
protection to tie up the road. Word had
been received here that a number Of men
were on their way over the Northern Pa
ciic road to Great Falls, but were
stopped at Fargo, while another con-
tingent coming over the Great Northern
was stopped at Grand Forks. There are
now a number Of men in the city who
were sent here to take the places of
union men in the West side shops. The
action Of the employees was not hasty. It
was inevitable. Mr.. Bryan. general su-
p~erintendent, and Mr.. Currier, acting
superintendent Of the Great Northern sys-
tenn deny that men were being sent here.
They both requested me to reconsider
the ordering Of the strike. / had no au-
thority to do otherwise than what has
been done, az / was working under my
superior. We did not want to strike,
but circumstances compelled it. We
are acting upon a matter Of principle
and propose to fight it out on that line.
There have been numerous strikes
throughout the country which have
been failures from the fact that the
community were perfectly ignorant of
what the demands Of the employees we're
and should they have known that their
assistance would have been any benefit
to them, undoubtedly would have
granted it.
III wish to state that the men engaged
in this strike are all honorable gentle
men and have worked faithfully for the
company which gave them employment.
"The salaries of the telegraphic de-
partment at the present time are based
on a minimum of $3.50 per month.
which is far below the salary of any
railroad corporation in a like depart
ment that is paid in the east. In regard
to salaries Of the transportation depart
ment l cannot truthfully state, but 1
will say as a representative Of this large
body Of employees that their salaries as
taken at the present time are insufficient
to support themselves and families and
clothe their wives and children as re-
spectacle and civilized people would
wish to do in a land where the stars and
stripes rule.
"Inasmuch as this strike has taken
place from st. Paul to the coast, every
man in every department is determined
not to go to work until the terms which
l give below have been properly signed
by the management and a representative
of the employees. They are very simple
and from any point of view l leave it to
the Great Falls people and the commun-
ity at large to say whether they are not
Just and right.
1.-THE only terms by which the en-
ployes of the Great Northern system
(now out on strike) will return to work
are as follows:
'First-That the scale Of wages in all
departments of employees, as paid pre-
vious to the first cut, prior to August,
1893. be restored.
'Second-That the switchmen of Great
Falls, Helena and Butte receive the
same rate of wages, the rate to be
adopted which is now in force in Butte.
'Third-That the management pledge
themselves to sign the schedules Of each
department of employees, the same be-
{~~ ko,nl ,nop tho roto nj uanoc No
paid prior to August, 1898, as above
stated.
'Fourth-That should it be necessary
to reduce expenses in any department
that the working hours will be short
ened instead Of a reduction Of force,
unless absolutely necessary to the
contrary.
'Fifth-That there will be no prejudice
the part Of the management against
any particular employe or department Of
employees who have taken part in this
adjustment Of the affair of wages which
has terminated in this strike.
'Sixth-That the management pledge
themselves to meet a committee repre-
senting the employees at Minot, Havre
or Great Falls within five days as here
after arranged and there to sign the
different schedules of wages with rules
and regulations to govern as above
''All we request of the company is fair
living wages and just treatment. in
which we will endeavor to reciprocate by
our untiring efforts in laboring in their
behalf.
Believing that l am in the right, and
being duly authorized to take this
course, l trust that the people of Great
Falls and community at large will look
at this matter from a practical point Of
view, and not condemn until they are
thoroughly familiar with all facts which
are plain to be seen. l also trust that
they will give US as a body of men,
laboring for the cause Of justice their
heartiest support. l would also state
that this strike concerns the people Of
Great Falls and community as much as
- l-o. .,k.l,,, NY D