The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-24
Field, Schlick s. 60.

work along the line, fomenting trouble
and trying to force the men out We
have not heard so much strike talk on
this division as have the men through
the West, but my opinion is that If there
had been less talk, there would have
been little occasion to fear a general
tie-up"
In speaking of the present difficulties
Great Northern fireman said yesterday:
Il thought a week ago that the broth
erhood firemen would be called out with
in thirty days. / have paids.s3 particular
attention to the discussion which has
been occasioned by the possibility Of such
action, and have not seriously thought
since the matter first came up that the
entire road would be tied up. At present
1t does not look to me as If there would
be any strike at all. My reasons for
thinking as 1 do are that the present
volume of business is so great that IL
the employees of the road undertook to
force the management the trouble in
shipping and receiving merchandise and
freight which would Immediately result
would be so great that public sympathy
would be alieniated from the strikers at
once. The public will not stand for any
thing which will cause the financial loss
that a strike on such a system as the
Great Northern would. I think also that
strikes are poor policy. The benefits Sc
cured from the last one were not sub
stantial, and that event alone was the
cause Of a feeling between the officers and
men which leaves traces even yet. In
case we strike, speaking as If it were al
ready decided we have the choice Of win
ming and gaining what we wish, the
chances being against US, or losing
every advantage which We have
gained. the chances being with US strong
ly. AS business proposition 1t would
not be advisable"
freight conductor viewed the matter
in the same light. Said he:
There is little doubt but that if the
employees wished they could ire UP the
system That would be true on any road.
But we do not for moment think such
a condition will come to pass with traffic
as heavy as it now is. Freight conduc-
tors are paid $50 and upwards month.
Brakemen are paid 2 cents a mile and
engineers get 4 cents. Freight crews are
paid mileage Our demands are not SUCH
that they cannot be settled by fair ar
bitration board. 1 do not care to itemize
the exact particulars of our demands,
as there is no necessity at present
The engineers will be the last branch
of the service to act in case matters go
that far One of them said:
1--WE are not anxious for strike ana
would throw our influence against it II
the matter was up to US. We have had
no delegates in any of the sessions held
in st. Paul and Minneapolis, and 50 far
as I know have taken no action what
ever. l have spoken tosa large number
of engineers and%they all seem ato think
as I do. 1t is better to avoid an open
break, If possible" 49, '~i't'sa con
The requests made by the firemen are
for additional help at terminals. an in
crease from $3.50 to $2.75 per hundred
miles for work on the new hog freight
engines, and from 81. 80 to 81. 40 per hun
dred miles on passenger engines. The
request Is also made that men be fur-
nished at coal chutes to break up and
load coal, giving the firemen chance to
eat their lunches and clean their fire.
boxes.