The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-04-14
GREAT NORTHERN TIED UP.
Officials Notified Without Previous
Warning That Employees Had Quit.

SPOKANE, Wash, April 13.-The Great
Northern road is tied up from Spokane to
Great Falls, most of the men on the
kalispel ana Montana division and Mon
| tana Central being out. West of Spokane
none of the men are out. A message b as
been received from General Manager Case
denying that the Great Northern is run
ming in men to take the places of employees
| who are members of a railway union. The
men here are quiet and await further de-
| velopments.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, April 13.-It is a diff
| cult matter at this time and this distance
from the scene of the strike on the Great
| Northern system to understand its size or
| significance. In fact from all local sources
of Information the same report comes that
the strike is not general Vice Pres ident
Clough said tonight that the first word re-
ceived by the company was in the shape
of a telegram signed by some one
| named Striker announcing that the men
would go out at neon on the western di
vision.
No demands have been received from
the men and Judging by the results of the
conferences with them lately, they were
fairly well contented WITH affairs they
now exist. Over a month ago commit
tee of the engineers conferred with the
officials and finally sigued an agreement
that when the earnings OF the company
reached certain figure the old rates
would be restored.
Colonel CIough says the present out
break was not only unauthorized by the
brotherhoods and their chiefs, but is
deprecated by them.
President Hill of the Great Northern is
at West Superior. and when approached
by the Associated Press correspondent,
said:
1.-The reports are exaggerated. There
are few local disturbances along the line,
but nothing TO speak seriously Of"
No statement has yet been received as to
the number of men out.
A secret meeting under the auspices of
the local branch of the American Railway
union drew a large crowd. At the close
OF an enthusiastic meeting the chairman
said to a reporter:
The Great Northern tried to force
lockout on the western division and moth
ing WAS left for the men to do but go out
on a strike. 1t Is certain that before this
trouble is over 80 per cent. OF the men will
go out. We may conclude to go out at
this end in a day or two. Ii matters are
not speedily adjusted this may be gen
eral walk out. The men all feel aggrieyed
and there is bound to be trouble"
A Great Falls, Mont, special tn the
Pioneer Press says: 'HThe Great North
ern strike was inaugurated today at noon.
When the train from the east arrived the
bridge across the Missouri river had been
filled with uncoupled cars loaded with
coal and ore. The train was obliged to
remain on the west side of the river and is
still in the yard. The train from Butte
was abandoned at Helena and il is proba-
bic that the only outlet from this city
for time will be via the Great Falls and
Canada railroad. A prolonged strike will
close smelters here and this, it is expected,
will cause a daily loss to the Great North
ern of nearly $4,000. Laboring me and
citizens generally are IN sympathy with
the strikers.
a Helena. Mont, special says: All the
employees OF the Great Northern except
superintendent and roadmasters went
out The strike Will tie up the road, bar
ring, possibly, mail trains. The trouble
is over the new schedule of wages which
went into effect April l. This reduces the
pay of all employees, the reduction ranging
from to so per cent in the different grades
of service.
A Devils Lake special says: The presi-
dent of the local American Railway Uni
ion, which consists of leo members in al
departments of railway service here, re-
ceived "A telegram today from the presi
den ordering strike at noon today. As
The telegram was not signed by President
Dobbs they decided not to 60 out until
they hear from him.