The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-28
LET US HAVE LAW
Seems to Be the Sentiment at
Helena, Mont.
The Great Northern is Called
Into Court,
TO SHOW GOOD CAUSE
Why Its Trains Are Not
Running.
The Strike Today Takes On
New Form.

-
HELENA, Mont, April 27.-Proceed-
ings were begun in the supreme court to-
day on Behalf of the attorney general to
compel the Great Northern to operate
its lines within Montana.
petition was filed which sets forth
the organization of the road, and recites
that on April 13. in violation of its duty
to the people of this state, and in disre-
gard of its obligations assumed in the
acceptance of its franchise, it
wholly ceased to operate any of
its lines within the state, and
still refuses to do so, or to
carry any freight or passengers or to ac-
cept either for transportation and has
wholly abandoned operations That it is
fully able to operate and run its trains.
That it has abundant means to do SO
and that there are at all points along its
line within the state a sufficient number
of competent and skilled men, who can
be engaged to do so at reasonable wages
and at less wages than are paid to similar
employees upon any other line in Montana;
that the counties in the northern part
of the state are almost entirely depend
ent upon the Great Northern for transpor-
tation facilities and that the neglect of
the. road to run trains has already re-
suited in great loss.to inhabitants; where
fore, the attorney general asks the court
for order upon the company COM
manding it to appear and show cause
why writ should not be issued COM
pelling the company to operate its road
as it was operated previous to April 13.
These proceedings will be followed by
an application to have the charter of
the road within the state forfeited on ac-
count of the failure to operate the line.
The court has taken the application un
der consideration.
A Well Laid Plan.
SEATTLE, Wash, April est has
trans pired that the Great Northern has
a well laid plan to break the strike on
this end Of the line, but it was foiled by
7 a clerk in the ranks of the strikers.
The incipient break arose from ap-
peals to the loyalty of engineers and
trainmen to their brotherhoods which
came from the east. Being promised
recognition of brotherhood men by
the strike began to cool and they
announced themselves as ready to
go to work. A conference with
the local officials at which the engineers,
conductors and brakemen were promised
concessions if they would go to work,
the engineers and trainmen promised to
accept provided that the firemen, who
were not present at the meeting, would
assent 1t was arranged that trains
should go out atregular hours this morn
ing.
The firemen, however, refused at a Sc
cret meeting to accept the conditions and
the engineers refused to go out with scab
fremen.
All operators on the line have received
orders from Chairman Jones, of the .. r.
Il. to return to their duties as the
strike was not ordered bv the order. The
telegraphers last night replied to Chair
man Jones dispatch saying they sympa-
thized with the A. r. U. and would stay
with the strikers.
The Tieup Utter and Complete.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, April 28.-The Great
Northern strike situation today was one
of quiet watchfulness on the part of both
sides so far as appearances went No
| trains. either freight or passenger were
moved in either of these and so far as
heard, none were moving along the line
plete tie-up of over 4,495 miles
! of track in half dozen
states, the other roads in this city, who
use Great Northern tracks for terminals,
were allowed to switch with their own
train crews, but no regular switchmen
were at work.
President Hill today received tele-
gram from Superintendent J. d. Farrell
| of Spokane, saying: ''All your engineers,
! firemen, conductors and brakemen here
are ready to go to work when you call
on them"
Mr.. Hill said he had more than enough
| men to go to work. The engines for
| branch line trains were standing in the
union depot yards today waiting to be al
| tacned as soon as the trains had been
backed pown. They had been broug hit
out of the round house without any diff
/ ficulty. and were manned by old engi-
| neers and tiremen in the Great North
| ern Cars. however, were not there, and
| their absence was explained by the fact
| that nobody would handle the switch en-
4 gines to move them from the yards
! In the yards there was no appearance
| of unusual excitement A number of
4 the regular switchmen were on hand
ready to work, but as there were no yard
engine crews they had nothing to do 1t
was impossible to ascertain how long this
| state of inactivity might continue. Mr..
| Hill is, however, busily engaged in COM
pleting his plans to operate the road
| Extends to Milwaukee.
| MILwAUkEE, April 2S.-A special from
West Superior to the Evening
| Wisconsin says: All the employees
on the Eastern Minnesota have
| gone -out in sympathy with the
i Great Northern strikers, and the i'm
mense yards are as quiet as Sunday.
4 1t il rumored that -four handlers at the
dock will strike but this is not believed
as,the men are receiving good wages and
have been idle SO long; all attempts to