The record-union., 1894-04-16
special TO the REcoRp-UNroN.

Forks, n. D., last midnight, and II not
soon settled will probably reach this end
of the line in about two or three days. 1t
developing peculiar state of affairs.
The strike was ordered by the Ameri-
can Railway Union, and is being more
actively antagonized by the Railroad EN-
niayes' Brotherhoods than by the rail
way company itself. There can be no
doubt that the individuals of the various
brotherhoods are privately somewhat
dissatisfied, but they recently accepted
the revised schedules, and are standing
by the agreement with the company.
A meeting this evening of the local or
ganization of engineers looking to strike
was held, but at the close of the meeting
the Secretary told an Associated Press
reporter they were opposed to the strike,
and any engineer who countenanced 1t
or in any way assists the strikers Will do
so at his peril.
The following address to the President
OF the Great Northern Railway has been
received here:
''If firemen in your employ who are
members of the brotherhood have quit
work in the present strike they have vio-
lated the laws of the organization, and
viii be expelled. They will have no
support from the organization or be sus-
tanned by the federated committee. We
propose to stand by all agreements that
have been made and signed by author
lied committees. You are at liberty to
act accordingly. +. z. SARGENT
The following is a copy of a message
sent by Z. E. Clark, Grand Chief of the
Railway Conductors, to the local Secre-
tary at Spokane Falls, WASH, directed TO
make such use of it as he chose how:
1.-The strike on the Great Northern will
receive no recognition or support from
me or from the federated organizations.
Our mem bers' duty is to comply strictly
proper duties. II any participate in a
Strike they must abide by the conse-
uuenceS. which are we'll known"
AS far as can be learned at this hour the
road is tied up over about 800 miles of
its system, the mum Der of men now idle
being much greater than the number OF
actual strikers. So long as the strikers
can prevent the making up of trains the
crews, although willing TO run trains, are
helpless. At a number of points along
the line the citizens have openly espoused
the cause of the strikers. 1t is not thought
any lawleSsness will be permitted at any
point.
The company this evening handed to
the Associated Press the following copy
who had sent a message back for state
ment as to the extent and cause of the
strike:
'sST. PAUL (Minn.), April 18th.
$50 the Hon. j. Q. Curtin, Helena,
Mont: After full consideration of the
rules and schedules of wages, the hours
of work were approved and adopted by
the Grand brotherhood officers of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
and Firemen, by the fully authorized
committee of the men in service and re-
duced to writing. These took effect
March lst. Since then no changes in
these schedules have been made, OF
thought of. Proposed changes in similar
schedules for conductors and trainmen,
making slight reductions In special cases,
but leaving large proportion of the
wages unchanged, were formulated by
the officers OF the company and the prln-
cipal officers Of the respective orders and
of the employees affected, and have been
submitted to the men themselves for ap-
proval by vote. No change in any previ-
ously agreed upon schedule has been
made. No reduction Of pay or increase
in those of the switchmen or yardmen or
anyone was under consideration, and the
proposed changes in the schedules oi
trainmen and conductors were subject to
a vote of the men, soon to be taken and
reported to the company.
''U ndA Athese conditions the company
had no thought or notice of the trouble
until n telegram reached Butte, and
signed by james Egan. was received by
General Manager Case, stating that unless
the former wages were restored the men
would strike at noon the same day.
'Thus the strike was precipitated
without notice to the company from any
+ of its employees through the officers OF
their respective orders or otherwise, that
wages or terms OF service were unsatis-
factory. All rumorS of statements 10 the
company proposing to replace its en-
ploves has been false. The company is
not responsible for the strike by which
men are thrown out of employment in all
industries and the business of the several
communities along its line is made 10
suffer loss. The company has at al
times been willing to discuss with lis
employes, or with its duly authorized
REPRESENTATIVES, any questions affecting
W.. s or terms Of employment.
JAMES j. HILL, President.
SC. w. CASE, General Manager
The correspondent of the Associated
Press at Superior telegraphs there is nc
sign of strike at that point yet, several
trains on the Minnesota branch OF the
Great Northern having started to-day
without any interference. No trouble Is
anticipated there
a QlSpaIch iGcGlN6Q Dy iHO SoAtct
Press from Summit, Mont, on the Cas-
cade division, says no one is working on
that division.
At DEVILS Lake the strikers have pre-
vented any movement of trains troia thai
point for forty-eighS hours. The COM
pany, with their crew OF the train that
was stopped there yesterday, tried to
make up train to-day Tor the East. but
were prevented by the strikers. They
allow the baggage car and the mail cars
TO proceed, but will forcibly prevent the
coupling of any passenger trains. The
baggage car is exempt from interference
as it has mail matter in it. A special
meeting of the council decided to-day TO
hear any warrants the company might
swear out. and enforce them, The
strikers are orderly and have been keep
ing the peace. 1t is understood that ali
ofthem who may become disorderly Will
be promptly locked up by the strikers
themselves.
THE STRIKERS SIDE OF THE QUESTION.
GREAT FALLS MONTY, April l5.-In
answer TO the circular issued from the
Great Northern headquarters at St Paul!
announcing the abandonment OF trains
on the Montana Central Railway through
the strike of employees, Chairman Rikel
a; noon to-day issued counter circular
stating that the strike was practically ths
same; that President Hills assertion tha
THE strike was run by a man never IN the
employ of the company was false: tha
complaints had been made by empioye:
and never attended to; that notice of ths
strike was not given the company wa:
y