The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-27

The japanese iaborers employed on the
various section gangs along the entire line
OF the Great Northern must go. Such II
the esiict sent out from the general ofnees
OF the road. 3 few days ago and as soon as
white labor can be secured 10 take their
places the change viii be made. The cause
alleged by the railroad company Is inconl-
potency and on good authority it Is learned
that within sixty days there will not be
Japanese section hand at work on the road.
In new construction work alone will this
class of labor hereafter be employed by the
Great Northern.
During the past year the road has fur
nished employment TO nearly 2,oo japanese,
a large portion OF whom We're shipped out
from Seattle for section work AS the vari-
Gus inspections OF track by division road
masters were made periodically. Il was no
ticed, II Is said. that the road5sd was not
materially improving, although large forces
were constantly kept at work. On some d.
visions, II is claimed, the ties have been
rotting underneath, while on the surface
1t Is stated. have been slow to discover
this and the decay has been allowed 10 run
on for such length Of time as 70 leave
portions of the roadbed in bad condition
Investigation Was Ordered.
These facts. It is reported, have been
known in ST. Paul for some time. but IL
has been almost impossible to secure white
labor. and the condition was allowed 10 re-
MAIN as IL WAS uIill a more iaSutdpie tiine.
Ii Will now, IL Is alleged. cost the road
many thousands of dollars to reetify the al
legged errors OF the japanese and Mr.. Hill. it
Is said, has decided to get rid OF them.
While all of this is said TO be the direct
cause OF the change there is another rea-
son back OF 1t which TO all intents and pur-
poses might be called a victory for labor
unions in Montana. Ever since the Japa-
nese lahorers were imported into the state
the white labor unions have been opposing
them. On three different OCCASIONS. il Is
alleged, the Japanese at work have been
assaulted, and In TWO instances death is
stated to have claimed some. OF the vic
TINS. The unions, however, kept up the
fight. and with sections Of the roadbed be-
coming impaired. as Is alleged, through
Japanese handling. the unions found a way
10 enlist the sympathy of the Order OF
Railway Trainmen.
A committee was appointed. and In per-
son explained to Mr. Hill the dangers to
which they were exposed by reason OF Jap
anese section gangs. The matter was made
so plain that Mr.. Hill. IL Is sad, ordered a
report from each division superintendent.
days ago. but Immediately thereafter an
order for the discharge OF the Japanese
was received.
No Cheap Labor In WashfngtOn.
While men are scarce in Washington, il
is said, the labor unions at Butte, Mont,
have undertaken to supply good portion
OF the labor 10 take the places OF the Japa-
on,
The other lines employing Japanese In
the Northwest are the Northern Pacific and
the Oregon Railway & Navigation Com
pany. The men employed on these lines are
not especially chosen because of their ma
tsonaiity, but because at the present time
it is next TO an impossibility TO get cheap
white labor.