The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-04-11
NILKINSON's SAY.
The Jenkins Congressional Invests.
cation Now In Full Swing at
Milwaukee.
Grand Master of the Brotherhood of
TrainMen Takes the Stand and
Testifles.
How Strikes Are Ordered I'm His
Organizations, Knew of No
Violence.

investigation did not attract much of a
crowd. One OF two attorneys and o 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 Strikes Are Ordered.
In reply to an inquiry by Chairman
Boatner as to how strikes are ordered,
MIR. 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 IL it Ia not adjusted.
It requires q two-thirds vote Of the
members, and the unanimous consent of
the committee to cause Q strike; al he
can do is TO consent to o strike, bat q
strike cannot be ordered without his
consent. No steps toward . strikeh ad
been taken by the Northern Pacific
trainmen. In answer to o question from
Congressman Stone, sWilkinson 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 800, OOU trainmen
in the United States, and about 90 per
cent Of them belong to the order. He
is not in the employ of any road, and
vas not affected by the order, only
through his official position.
Had Not Been Violence.
Replying to q question as to whether
there had been any violence in the
strikes he ordered, MI. Wilkinson said
there had been 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 q cross ex-
animation by MI. Curtis Chief Wilkin-
son said o strike had been ordered Jan. |
/, and had the order been obeyed it
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 q legal
right to confer with the employees of the
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 il he came in contact
with the court he should be- liable TO
imprisonment.
Made n Statement.
When his examination had been con-
Mr.. Wilkinson said he desired
to make q statement. He said the men
hal thought il the court could reduce
their wages 10 per cent and compel
them to work, 1t could reduce the wages
DO per cent and there would be no end
to 1T. He said he did not think the
court had any more right than q COM
pany had to compel the men to work,
whether it had power or not. In answer
q question put ty MI. Terry
said the men considered
the labor organizations of very
great Importance; that without
them they would be little better than
that the organizations had i'm.
the condition of the men at
least 90 per cent, and that they We're OF
great benefit to the company as we'll az
The men. Mr.. Wilkinson said the en-
of the Jenkins order would
tend to destroy the unions, and he
the receivers of the road were
bent upon destroying the usefulness OF
Lhe organizations for the time being at
east.
Will summon Receivers.
Sergeant-at-Arms Kehr is armed with
m which he will serve
lpon the receivers Of the Northern Pa
;ific road, and some of their attorneys.
IS soon as the labor leaders are through
- @~& Il