The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-12
ON THE WAITING LIST
Judge Hanford Gives Strikers
No Preference.
PRAISE FOB son-unIos MEN.
p..s.aan of Lake shore strikers Denied
and Coed Advice Gfsen-whss
q Strike Means.

The petition Of fifteen striking eI-efn'
ployss Of The Seattle. Lake Shore q East
ern railroad flied in the United states
court, asking thai the reesiyers Dc IN
stracted 70 give them back either their os1
places or employ them in otherJ positions
was passed upon yesterday BY Judge nan
ford. characteristic decision sAs rem
dersS IA the matter, and Judge Haniord
upheld those men Tho aided the COMPANY
10 operate trains daring the strike AMI
said shst, while the officers Of the court keE'1
no black list, the petitioners we're GrsceiF-
ing fair treatment in bsing put upon the
waiting list. The receivers vii be allowed
10 employ such men IS they see IT Win :
out any luterlerence from the court The
whole decision is As follows:
ssThe petition 10 re-instate former efp-
moves az the Seattle Lake Shore q Eask-
srn railroad. in the positions which they
respectively held prior 70 the late genera
railroad strike and boycott. presented 70
me in their behalf by Col. James hafgii-
ton Lewis and his argument ~ support
thersof has been duly considered. and 1
am constrained TO refuse 10 make any or
der controlling the discretion OF The re-
ceiyers as prayed for in the petition, Tor the
following reasons:
Tins petltion sets forth no accusation
against the receivers or their subordinate
officers, nor any grievance whatever.
regard il as an application for employment
from men who by experiences and past
service have become proficient In the
operation Of trains upon this road and IN
that light il merits respectful eoasidera-
fion. 40 far as 20 weigh the reasons FOR and
against making the order q. prayed.
'.For answer 10 the representations
made by the petition as to the character
and past behavior of these eG-egnpioyes
who are now asking 10 be reinstated ia
the positions which they held prior 10
going out IS they say from the employ OF
the company out Of respect ana deierence
10 the order Of which as a fraternity
and brotherhood We were members. II
a. sufficient 10 say that no charges lave
been made against the1A and they were
not discharged for any fault On the con
srary they oil voluntarily quit the service
under snch circumstances as to not only
leave the superintendent free to engage
other men TO iii their places, but under
the necessity OF either doing so or sus-
pending the operation Of the road. FOrtu-
nately for the road and the communities
served By IL the management was not
lacking In will or ability to keep the road
open. Competent and worthy men were
found so I'LL every vacancy. 50 that every
scheduled passenger and mail train made
its run during the continuance OF the
strike.
while appreciate the good intentions
of the business men of Seattle and others
who have joined in making this appeal,
and while | consider that these ex-
employees should not be blacklisted and
that il Is desirable that they should be
employed. cannot forget that il is impos-
sble to reinstaLe them without turning
out OF employment an equal number of
worthy men, who not only possess the
ability but also the courage necessary TO
handle trains during turbulent times. Mr..
Bird, Mr.. Brooks and others now in
charge OF engines on this road rank with
the most competent railroad engineers in
the United States. They have lived In
Seattle for q long time and have families
dependent upon their labors for sup
pert; for no otfsnse other than
doing honest work, they have
been.s~ss..jeered AT and abused by
crowds of people subseryient 10, or ia
sympathy with Debs; the cabs in which
they ride show the scars made by
stones and missiles hurled at their heads.
To deprive them of their situations at
this time would be an injustice TO them.
aud base ingratitude on the part of their
employers. / shall not order the receivers
60 pursue any such policy. and IL is not
necessary for the court TO make an order
authorizing or requiring the receivers TO
employ again any of those who were for
merly in the service OF the company, for
the reason shat without such order the
superintendent will place all applicants
upon the waiting list, and call them 10 Til
places for which they are competent, rs
fast as vacancies occur, without directions
from the court. The officers OF this court
keep no black list.
Il do not wish my statement 10 the
a. a.
charged for any fault on their part 70 be
misunderstood as an assent on nav part to
the proposition advanced in tails petition
that the ex-employes joined In a general
strike without having any intention OF
interfering with the successful manage.
ment of the road or that such action may
be properly regarded as nothing more than
q misfortune 10 themselves and as involS-
Ing no degree of eulpabllity. have only
intended to make the point that as-they
were not discharged they are not now en-
titled 10 have al opportunity for Winds
eating themselves and tho court is not
called upon TO settle any controversy
between the receivers OF the Foaa
aud their employes. The action Of these
men in Joining a so-eAiled sympathetic
strike olherN sc known In this country
as a boycott. must be condemned as ancat-
tempy. without Justification or EXCUSE. %
destroy the business which had heretofore
yielded them wages. and the misfortune
watch they now comp.aln OF IS entirely a
result al their own folly.
A strike hy men em ployed 20 operate a
railway always has FOR is object the OBJ
straction of travel and a hlnfFaace Ito
tFailic on that line. and means oppression
g. all he are dependent upon il Tor means
OF transportation and an attempt by the
nea SO employed. a hen th6y have no Eriev
suce ~ their own. 30 deprive inuocvnt ueo
PIE Of their rights and 10 opprcss ths
public for The purpose OF sublecting the
parties on one side % a pending contro.
teFsy t. such an Irresistible pressure a. g.
compel them 10 yield acs0ai or supposed
Flghts, IS necessarily intended 80 iD{lict in,
iuFy upen Others. and must be condemned
b. all rghtminded people as an iaten
tsonal wrong.
''by joining in strike under such condi
tlens aad fov saoh purpose thsss en- Roy G,
lave a6salycd their employers tJofn o.
obligations - accord them any rrefcronc,
rsght 10 employment ever others by rca
son of their past services IAsy are r.
esiying FAR treatment ~ being phase,
spon the waiting list"
REArTLE's ORIENTAL TRADE.