The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-04-20
AN OPEN
W. /. Riker, Chairman of the Committe,
on Adjustment of the American Rail-
way Union, Speaks.

w. I. Riker, Chairman of the Committee
on Adjustment of the American Rail-
way Union, Speaks.
The following was handed to THE
TRIBUNE for publication at 1l:3O a. m,
Saturday by w. I. Riker, chairman Of
the committee on adjustment of the
American Railway union:
II wish to state for the benefit of the
press and the public that the situation
regarding the strike on the Great North
ern remains practically unchanged 80
far as a settlement 10 concerned. OF the
1900 men out on strike all are
loyal to the cause, and not a wheel will
be turned, nor any work whatsoever
done, until the terms heretofore stated
have been agreed to and signed by the
managers.
"The action of the striking employees
has the approval Of the mayors of Great
Falls, Havre, and, / understand from
reliable sources, also Helena and Butte,
| have wired the postmaster general at
Washington, the superintendent of mails
at st. Paul, and the governor of the state
of Montana, that the United States mail
has in no way been delayed by the strik.
ing employees. Any detention so far has
been caused by the officers of the rail
road themselves.
sin conversation over the wire with w.
w. Currier, acting superintendent, and
r. W. Bryan, general superintendent, l
stated to them the terms which were al
ready drawn up we're ready for them to
sign at any time after - o'clock Friday.
April 13, 1894. They understand the
situation Thoroughly and it IL not neces-
sary for me to make any comment on
their slow action in regard to settling
this trouble.
"The sympathy of the people all along
the line Of the Great Northern system is
with the strikers, aud | understand from
reliable sources that the men in every
department of the service who did not
go out at noon yesterday went out this
morning to a man
'In regard to the men that have been
on the way to fill the places of the Amer
lean Railway union employees, they have
been stopped at Fargo, Grand Forks,
Pocatello, and Lethbridge. The mayors
Of the different towns along the line
have wired east that it will not be safe
to import men to take the place of strik-
ers. The striking employees are taking
every precaution to protect the com-
pany's property at all hazards, and 100
Of the striking employees at Great Falls
have been sworn in by the mayor as
special deputies and armed for this pur-
pose.
"The seat Of wal practically is at
Great Falls, and the different aids have
been 80 instructed and will receive all
directions which pertain to a settlement
from this point.
81 wish to thank the press of the city
for their truthful statements, and the
public for thir uniform support, which
has in a measure been voluntary, and
should this strike be a failure (which l
am positive will not be), then farewell to
all labor organization throughout this
land Of freedom and equal rights.
IL understand that Mr.. w. w. Currier,
acting superintendent, is now on his
way to Great Falls, for what purpose 1
do not know, but if he is authorized to
act, under the instructions from his
superior officers, to attain a settlement
in this matter, l will cheerfully grant
him a interview or his arrival.
very respectfully,
"W. l. RIKER,"
Chm. OF the Board Of Adjustment"