St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-02
EARLIER IN THE DAY
The Public Expected That Some
thing Was About to Drop.

The Public Expected That Some.
thing Was About to Drop.
1t was the general impression yester-
day that the strike cloud was slowly be-
Ing loosened at all points. and that the
end was near. The active interest be-
tokened by the energetic movements
of the conference committee OF the
Twin City commercial bodies was
looked upon as good omen. Success
full in their own enterprises, to them all
silently appealed, believing that they
had the power to formulate satisfac-
tory solution of the difficulty. Confer.
ences were the order of the day, and, as
all were held behind closed doors, but
little could be learned definitely. The
Great Northern officials, the A. Il. U.
men and the members of the conference
committee were uncommunlcative.
President Hill was waited upon at 10
O'clock in the morning by the committee
to get the statement which he promised
to lay before them, giving the COM
pany's side of the questions in issue.
This he read aloud, and it contained, rs
foreshadowed by the GLOBES inter-
view with Mr.. Hill published yesterday
morning, "a succinct history of the
matters leading up to the present
affair."" He reiterated his former offers
to submit all matters to arbitration, but
that this must be fair board. G. A.
Pillsbury, chairman of the joint CONF
mittee, thought it not proper at this
time to give out to the public Mr.. HilPs
statement. and in this view he was in
dorsed. Mr.. Hill himself. usually very
willing to fur nish desired information,
in this instance agreed, practically, with
the committees view, deeming that the
statement was now in the committees
hands. The contents of this important
paper were promised to the daily press
later.
When the committee had finished its
deliberations with Mr.. Hill it was al
ready II o'clock. ALI this time the
strikers were holding session at Labor
hall, and to them was sent word to join
the business mems committee. This
Invitation was accepted Immediately,
and all proceeded to the official head
quarters of the A. r. u, at the Sher-
tious 4ACu lOOluo vi tnC Ots L tiul
Jobbers' union we're made the objective
point, where all at one proceeded. Here
another star chamber session was held.
the same secrecy being observed as be-
fore. President Debs, of the A. r. u.
was not opposed to the newspaper
scribes being present, but the majority
ruled. This caused the st. Paul corps
OF reporters, who were we'll recruited
by the Minneapolis contingent of Faber
pushers, to make general hegira.
The afternoon hours dragged YEARLY
along with nothing of Importance until
about half past 8, when George r.
Finch. P. Il. Kelly and several others
of the conference committee called
upon President Hill, evidently to ar
range for general gathering of the
clans. These gentlemen, together with
President Hill, President Samuel Hill,
Vice President ClOugh and General
Counsel Grover, had quiet little con-
fab in President Hills private office.
Soon after the order went forth that
big talk was coming next,
and clerks of the company began
bringing in chairs to room u. Shortly
after MT. Finch, Mi. Kelly and the
others Withdrew, III company WlthaC.
A. Pillsbury. who had. in the meantime
came in. About 4 o'clock the entire
conference committee, the strikers
committee, President Debs and the
others arrived. Then ali hands pro-
ceeded to Room 81.
just before the committees went into
session a GLOBE reporter approached
MIR. Pillsbury and stated that, as every
one felt that the probabilities were that
the meeting was the eliminating
point-that matters were likely to be
brought to focus-he desired TO be
present so as to get accurate informa-
ton. Mr.. Pillsbury put the matter
speedily to vote. and the strikers vocit-
erously shouted "N0" There was
nothing then to be done but to wait.
Men walked up and down the long halls
wondering at what was going on behind
those barred doors. The newspaper
men, who have been so long under a
tiresome strain. yawned in the window
seats with ennui.