The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-31
THE JAPANESE MUST co
White Labor to Take Their
Places on the Great Northern.
THEY ARE NOT COMPETENT
Orientals Must Make Way for the eau
casian-It Is Victory for the
Labor Unions of
Montana.

1t is claimed that through the efforts
of the Butte labor unions the Great
Northern Railroad company has de-
cided to replace the japanese labore-s
employed on the various section gangs
along the entire line of the road with
white men. An order to that effect, it
is stated, was sent out from the gen.
eral offices a few days ago, and as soon
as white labor, a good portion of which
the Butte unions have undertaken to
supply, can be obtained the change will
be made. The Seattle observation-disclosures
has the following on the subject:
THE cause alleged by the railroad
company is incompetency and on good
authority it is learned that within 60
days there will not be a Japanese sec
rion 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
furnished employment to nearly 1000
Japanese, a large portion of whom were
shipped out from Seattle for section
work. AS the various inspections of
track by division roadmasters We're
made periodically, it was noticed it is
said that the roadbed was not material
ly improving. although large forces
were constantly kept ait work. On
some divisions, it is claimed, the ties
have been rotting underneath, while
on the surface they are apparently
sound. The japanese, 1t is stated, have
been slow to discover this and the de-
cay has been allowed to run on for such
a length of time as to leave portions Of
the roadbed in bad condition.
These facts, it is reported have been
known in St. Paul for some time, but it
has been almost impossible to secure
white labor, and the condition was al
lowed to remain as it was until a more
favorable time 1t will now, it is al
legged, cost the road many thousands of
dollars to rectify the alleged errors of
the Japanese and Mr.. Hill, it is sad,
has decided to get rid of them.
while all of this is said to be the oil
rect cause of the change there is an
other reason back of it which to all in
tents and purposes might be called a
victory for labor unions in Montana.
Ever since the Japanese laborerS were
imported into the state the white labor
unions have been opposing them. On
three different occasions, it is alleged
the Japanese ait work have been as
saulted, 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 road
bed becoming impaired. as is alleged,
through japanese handling, the unions
found a way to enlist the sympathy of
the Order of Railway Trainmen
"A committee was appointed, and in
person explained to Mr. Hill the dan
gers to which they were exposed by
reason of japanese section gangs. The
matter was made so plain that Mr..
Hill, ii is said, ordered report from
ph division SUPERINTENDENT.
reports were furnished only a few days
ago, but Immediately thereafter an or
der for the discharge of the japanese
was received.
while men are scarce in Washing
ton, 1T is said the labor unions at Butte,
Mont, have undertaken to supply a
good portion of the labor to take the
place of the japanese and all men Of
fered are being taken on.
THE other lines employing japanese
in the northwest are the Northern Pa
cific and the Oregon Railway s, Navi-
cation company. The men employed on
these lines are not especially chosen be-
cause of their nationality, but because
at the present time it is next to an i'm
possibility to get cheap white labor
The Oregon Short Line Railroad COM
pany has been made defendant IN an
action brought in the district court at
Salt Lake City by the Postal Telegraph
Gable company of Utah, to require the
defendant to give right of way along
the Short Line track from Salt Lake
northWard TO the Idaho line. The plain
tiff prays that sufficient of the Short
Lines right of way be condemned SC
that the Postal Telegraph-Cab com
pany may construct. maintain and oper-
ate alongside the railroad track from
-------