The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-05-02

- spokans ~ very intense and considered
the circulating Of these rumors ooly . part
Of the conpany's policy to dishearsen the
men and make them suspicious Of each
other
THE coxYEKExcE ZOE PEACE
sreshsrhssds HsIa On - TAsls Asshes-
ssv-Afbssssssss xsJeessA.
The fan reports Of tbs conferences BE-
tween President Hill and other Great
Northern officials and the American Rail-
wsy Union committee on April Is. which
are contained In the ST. Paul and Mime
spoiis papers Of April %, show that the
controversy hinged on the question
whether the men in the train service are 10
be considered rs represented by the Amer
lean Railway Union committee or by their
separate organizations. In correspondence
which psecsdsd the confersncs on the
same day, Mr.. Hin claimed that the COM
pany hsd existing agreements With some
Of the men and asked the committee 70
show What men in the company's employ
II actually representa- To this Mr.. Debs
replied that the new schedules had not
been accepted by the men and we're there
fore not regarded - in forcs or - having
any binding effect whatever; also that the
committee Of the American Railway
Union represented ell classes Of employees
and was fully empowered 10 oct for them
and was unit on the following PROPOSE
ton:
Terms by which the employees Of the
Great Northern system (now out on ssrikel
will return to work.
"Ths only terms By which the employees
o: the Great Northern system. nov out on
strike, will return to work. are ~ follows:
THAT the rate OF wages in oil depart
ments Of employees ~ paid previous to the
nrst cut prior to August. is9S, Be restored.
THAT the switchmen in Great Falls,
Helena and Butte receive the same rate Of
wages. the rate to b adopted which il now
in force In Butte.
That the management pledge them
OF employees. the same being based upon
the rate OF wages paid prior 70 August,
lss3, ~ above stated.
THAT should 10 b necessary 70 reduce
expenses In any department: that the work
ing hours will be shortened instead of .
reduction Of the force. unless absolutely
necessary TO the contrary.
THAT there will DO no prejudice upon
the part OF the management against any
PARTICULAR employs, or department. Of en-
ployes. who have taken part in the lust
menf Of the affair Of wages which has ter
minated in this strike.
That the rate Of pay ~ per this agree
msns BE- an force from the time the en-
pioyes return to work"
At Mr.. Hills invitation. the conference
followed. and was opened by Mr.. Hin
asking the committee to show that Il rep
resented >the men IL claimed to represent,
- Il would lead TO no good II the company
made IN agreement with il and then had
to take the question up again with other
organizations Mr.. Debs replied that the
committee represented majority Of the
men IN the train service: that dissatis-
faction existed with the submitted sched-
uics without regard to organization. Mr..
Hill rsjoined that IN agreement had been
made with the engineers and firsmen and
said: "They say that when they want it
changed thsy will ask for II through their
organizations" Mr.. Dcbs contsnded that
the schedules had not been legally sc-
cepted. ~ the vote of the committee stood
4 to and IL was carried by the casting
vote Of tho chairman. who thus voted
twice; that the schedule, not having been
legally accepted, Was not considered bind
ing on the men.
Then followed . controversy between
Mr.. Dsbs and Mr.. HUI az to the position
OF the brotherhood chiefs in the present
difficulty. and especially ~ to the position
Of Mr.. Arthur. Mr.. Dsbs asserted that
Arthur had defined his position to him a.
neutral one; that he considered the
brotherhood had nothing TO do with it.
and that no would not lay Q straw in the
way OF the union. Mr.. Hill declared that
Arthur and Sargent both told him their
organizations had entered into wage agree
ments. and that. until IL was changed by
them, IL would remain in effect. The train
men. Mr.. Hill asserted, also took . like
position.
Decisive claim to represent majority
of all the men in the service of the various
departments of the company, and the men
are dissatisfied with the recent schedule.
Then followed some sparring a. to
whether the committee realty was entitled
10 represent the employees.
Mr.. Debs contendcd that il the men Sc
iected committee without regard to or.
gAnixasions that would be representative
committee. Mr.. Hill met this with state
ment that until Mr. Dshs had made hi.
statement he had no notice that the men
wished to be represented by any one but
the officers OF the brotherhoods, who had
always heretofore represented them.
Mr.. Dshs stili commended that his com.
mittee represented the Hen and asserted
further that II had been given assurance,
of support from the brotherhoods. and
that no organisation had protested asains,
being represented by it,
Mr.. Htii-Lf you win say this commit.
tee from the union WAS selected 70 renre-
sent the men regardless OF organizations II
would put things IN . different light
You understand that she chairmen of the
different committees OF the brotherhood,
are here claiming TO represent the men.
In the course OF the discussion which
followed. Mr.. Hin tossed . bouquet TO Mr..
pees, eomplimenting him on his frank.
ness. lie continued by obiectins to a
liked schedule for traekIayers. Al thex
were Heating population and were seat
cur IN gangs OF varying size. The debate
continued all morning. Finally the sub.
committee which bad been acting un In
thsf time brought In the whole committee
OF nfty-iwo naea and the members were
roased, shosiHg thai there were engineers
nremea, conductors. bEakemen, seitch.
men. car wipers, shop men, yard men.
sioTenoase employees, . cook aud a section
hand. AR. Hal said that during the noon
recess he had heard from the hrotherhoots
ana they eaid most positively that the
American Railway Union did not rrn-s.
sent them nor draw It's membership from
them 10 any extent. lie then explained
IRE dilemma In which ne MAS placed be.
tween rsva! organisations both claiming 90
represent sas sasn. the difficulty OF MAKING
binding agreement ~itA either faction
IS the men might claim that, as IL had NOT
been made with their separate orxanisx.