The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-25

The crisis in the Great Northern strike
situation must. II is reported. be reached
at 10 o'clock midnight October 3. This IL
said TO be the substance of an ulsimatnm
given the officials OF the road, no. by the
general grievance committee a. work in
ST. Paul. but by Chiefs Clark, Of the Or
der OF Railway Conductors: Sheehan, OF
the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen:
Arthur. OF the Brotherhood OF Locomotive
Engineers: Powell, OF the Order OF Rail-
way Photographers, and Sargent, OF the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Firefnen. the
Joint grievance committee has placed the
matter in their union representatives
hands, who have had a conference with
Superintendent Ward, and declared what
must be done or a strike would be order
ed. Other than this. so far as local repre-
sonta,ives are advised, the situation is I'M
changed.
The men In charge Of the details here adj
NIT that from now on they will not oe
kept posted on the details OF the work IN
ST. Paul, as has heretofore been the case.
The uitimatum Is said 10 contain pro-
posal of arbitration which In itself Is most
satisfactory to the men, at least on the
Pacific coast division. When the question
OF arbitration was first preached by the
grievance committee. three weeks ago.
and was then refused by the road, II was
proposed 10 have the road select two men,
the employees to select two men and the
four thus designated 70 choose nth man.
Whether or not this Is the status OF the
newly proposed arbitration Is not known
and probably win not be until events nave
eliminated and resort has been HAD to
either a settlement or strike.
The federation, IL is claimed, is now most
thoroughly complete all over the system
The Montana Control, the Spokane
Northern and the Minnesota branch lines
t. --sI do I'D hnir tttt,~ nnac
to come in. The Montana Central engi-
neers iiremen and brakemen are loud in
their support of the general committee.
while the conductors IL is said, favor a set
Element by arbitration. While the different
divisions will not hereafter receive the de-
tails of the progress made In st. Paul,
sufficient amount of news will be furnish
ed each day. unit. Saturday night, that will
keep the federation complete and in a con-
dition 10 act al An hours notice in case
a cali-out order is issued.
The prevailing opinion Is that arbitra-
ton will be agreed upon and general
strike ayerted. The men are confident that
II such arrangements are made they will
win and rely solely upon the existing con-
ditions 10 bring abou, this result.
The claim is made by the men that they
are watched by special employees OF the
road for the purpose Of ascertaning who Is
talking about the strike and who Is TAX
ing an active part. For this reason many
have been inclined 10 keep quiet until the
time for action comes.
Traffic Manager J. W. Blahon, when seen
yesterday and asked if he had any new
facts In connection with the trouble, said
he had not
My department." he continued. lis In
terested only on account of traffic. The
last advice l had from ST Paul was TO the
effect that there was no strike on and none
was contemplated Now. IL other condi-
lions existed would certainly be advised
During the past several days employees
have come into my Office and assured me
that they were In no way implicated In
the trouble and were not talking about it.
II has always been the ambition Of the
road TO make its employees fee! satisfied
By doing this they work better 10 the in
terests of the road. AT the present time, IL
there is any trouble IL will probably be
adjusted to the satisfaction OF the men
without any resort to a strike. At the
present time the road finds itself with a
large volume OF business on hand and as
natural consequence has asked It's en-
ployes 10 assist In handling il. When any
serious situation arises / will most prob
ably be advised and viii gladly make II
public
When a settlement between the road and
Its employees IS effected 4; IL said. II will
Include disposition Of the rumored con-
templated action of the Great Northern
to consolidate the five divisions OF the road
and rcdivide them into four divisions from
81 Pau! 10 Seattle. The men say that II
this is done Il VIII furnish longer runs on
an hour basis Of pay and that 1, will be
more than likely. owing TO Increased
switching, they will be unable to make the
time.
lie the conditions as they may. all agree
thaS there VIII be- no action taken until
after Saturday midnight by which time
ii is hoped the road Will agree IN arht,ra-e