The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1894-04-26
TO BE ARBITRATED,
GREAT NORTHERN STRIKE LIKELY
+ TO BE SETTLED. u

GREAT NORTHERN STRIKE LIKELY
TO BE SETTLED.
Governor Nelson sus :~ats snch . Course
aud President Hill Replies That He ii
Ready to Adopt 1t In Case the Men Are
w,lliu--Extracts From tho Corres'
pondence. esf
ST.. PAUL, April 24.-There is little
doubt that whatever difference exists
between the Great Northern and It's en-
ployes will To settled by arbstratlon'
and contending labor organizations can
settle the question Of supremacy as tney
please so long as no other interests tnan
their own are made to suffer.
For some time past Governor Nelson
of Minnesota, in which state the Great
Northern took its original charter, mas
been receiving appeals from citizens
who are suffering from the strike to 90
something to have traffic resumed: Inc
governor received visit from Messrs.
Debs and Howard of the American
Railway union at noon and Shortly
afterward sent letter to President hill
of the Great Northern asking whether
sit were not possible by some plan OF
arbitration to adjust and settle the con-
troversy involved in this strike, and to
suggest to you that earnest efforts 90
made in this direction as speedily as
possible and in such a manner as TO
avoid further delay and interruption to
public business and loss to all con-
cerned."
Reply Of President Hill.
Mr.. Hill Immediately sent a reply to
the governor. After reciting the man
ner in which the strike was brought
about he says:
"To meet the suggestion contained in
your letter that earnest efforts &c MADE
to adjust and settle the strike, even If
the dispute has to be referred to arbltra-
ton this company is willing to leave
to a board of three disinterested men,
who have knowledge and experience IN
railway service, the question of rates OF
nav to its various classes of employees.
and in order to prevent further loss and
Inconvenience to the public, to the men
themselves and to the company. it shall
be provided as condition OF arbitra-
ton that the men will without delay
return to their work, and the company's
business with the public shall be at once
resumed, This will enable the men, in
their own time and manner, to select
their representatives, who will represent
any and every class of employees before
the board Of arbitration, and the board
of arbitrators can hear them as soon as
they are ready to be heard. The men,
bers of the board Of arbitration to be
named as follows: One by the men on
the company's pay rolls or their repre-
sentatives; one to benamed by the COM
pany; and in case the two so chosen do
not agree on the third member, the
Hon, r. r. Nelson or Judge A. D.
Thomns, or both judges together, shall
name the third member of such board
The finding of the board to take effect
as to rates If pay on the date when work
is resumed.
President Dets of the American Rail-
way union, also sent a letter to the gov
ernor stating that he would use all pos
sible means to reach an amicable agree
ment.
Debs Interviewed,
After the publication of the cor
respondence between Governor Nelson
and Mr.. Hill, Mr.. Debs was inter-
viewed. He said:
''While Mr.. Hill practically states all
the grounds on which arbitration should
be carried on, there is no disposition on
my part to block its progress. We will
have a committee of 1evel-headed men
who will look at all sides of the ques-
tion.''
''What about the men returning to
work, as requested by President HillY'
my opinion is that as soon as arbi-
tration has been agreed upon every
thing should assume its normal condi-
ton and traffic resume"
'sWill the men return to work.
81 would advise them to do so If
called upon. But, inasmuch as the con-
ference is close at hand, I prefer not to
say very much about that. The men
will be at hand in the morning, and
they can settle the matter for them
Selves.'