Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-17
Railroad Mems Opinions Of the
Great Northern Trouble.
WHAT DIFFERENCES ARE
Mr.. Gray Has Notified Shippers to
Pay No Attention to the
RumOrS,

According to the sensational news sent
out from St. Paul by the Associated Press
several days ago the strike Of the Great
Northern railway trainmen is scheduled
to take place today.
The road is running as usual and at a
late hour today there was no indication
Of the much talked of tie up.
Among railroad men who will talk,
the concensus of opinion is hat the strike
agitation is a bubble that is about to
| burst of it's own imitation. Well informed
railroaders who passed through the trying
times of 1894 say that no strike will oc-
cur.
AS far as the Inter Mountain can learn
the only point Of difference between the
men and the management is whether or
| not they shall be paid for switching in
terminal yards if the time so consumed is
\ within the ten hours they are allowed for
freight n
A days freight run is approximately 100
miles. If the 100 miles is made in seven
hours the men are credited with pay for
a day of ten hours.
The men ask that n switching they
may do shall be considered as overtime.
For instance, if they consume an hour,
switching during their run hat they be
credited with a days pay for the run and
an hours overtime for switching.
The company has refused consider the
proposition maintaining that the switch
ing is reimbursed sufficiently by the gen.
eral credit for the days pay.
Mr.. Archibald Gray, assistant general
freight agent Of the Great Northern rail-
way, and who has charge Of the freight
traffic of the road in Montana says there
will be no strike. From his intimate
knowledge of most of the men as we'll as
the management he is in a position to
speak with authority.
Il have been advising all the large
smelling and mining concerns whose
operations depend largely on Great
Northern service to pay no heed to these
sensational rumOrs, the grounds for
which seem to be more newspaper sensa-
~tionalsm than solid facts" Said Mr..
Gray:
This so-called grievance committee rep
resents the various labor unions in the
railroad service and is in fact in almost
constant negotiations with the manage
ment concerning relations as between en-
ployer and employees. The nature Of
these negotiations is not always griev-
ances. Naturally railroads employinx
so many men in SO many various capaci-
ties have differences of opinions as to
methods of performing certain work as
well as compensation. These details on
the part of various organizations among
the employees are looked after by COM
mittees who are almost continually in me-
gotiation with the railroad company.
This does not only apply to the Great
Northern system but to all the large all
way systems of America. 1t appears,
however, that negotiations with the Great
Northern have received more publicity
than the situation warrants. This it is
stated is due to the antagonism of a GER
tain newspaper in the east whose officers
do not seem to be in favor with the Great
Northern management. 1t is true there
are certain differences not yet adjusted.
but both the officers and the men are con-
f1dent that amicable settlements of them
all can be reached. All the employees
I nave talked with have declared them
selves as unwilling to strike. They are
all being well paid and fully appreciate
the value of their positions but feel that
if they can better their condition by diplo-
matte negotiations with the management
that it is their privilege. The manage
ment seems also to recognize this right
of its men.
above the average intelligence and they
have seen the deplorable result of strikes
too often to be in sympathy with them.
The strike in these modern days would be
the last weapon employed by the railroad
organizations and the local employees feel
satisfied everything will continue to run
as smoothly as has heretofore. They
all hove confidence in the management.
! Speaking of the condition Of affairs at
Great Falls the Tribune of yesterday
said:
The news from St. Paul and other east
. ern points to-day ia to the effect that the
trainmen On the main line Of the Great
Northern have either voted not to accept
the new schedule of the company, or will
do so. Unless the company recedes this
means that a strike is imminent in the
near future.
At the meeting Of the trainmen held
here yesterday, q vote was taken which
resulted in the refusal of the company's
schedule. AS there were many conduct
ors and brakemen who were not present
at yesterdays meetings the men are to-
day circulating circular ballots among
, these absentees, in order to get a full
vote on the proposition.
The men are very close-mouthed about
the results of the meeting n it is hard
, to get any information from them. but the
above may be relied upon as being cor
rect. There has been some Ill about
wal.ing until it Is known what the men
on the main line intend to do before de-
Gliding here, but yesterdays action would
go to show that such action was not con-
templated.
e. S. Wyman has arrived at Great Falls
to succeed p. ]. Pheeney, Great Northern
railway agent. who resigned several days
g A petition signed by many Of the
prominent WoOlgrOwera has been for
warded to General Superintendent Ward
asking for the retention OF Mr.. Pheeney.
DIR. DODD. EYE SPECIALIST.
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