The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-03
WILL NOT STRIKE
GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY EN-
PLOYEs DECIDE TO ACCEPT
THE SCHEDULE
PRESENTED BY THE ROAD
RESULT OF THE BALLOT AsGER-
TANNED BY THE NATIONAL
OFFICERS YESTERDAY
CONFERENCE rs THEN HELD
Chairman McGraw, After a Confer
ence With Supt. Ward, Declares
That the Question Is Settled and
the Incident CIosed-The Superin-
tendent Makes a statement-Trou-
BILE Over Ambiguous Paragraph.


tendent Makes a Statement-Trou-
BILE Over Ambiguous Paragraph.
The vote taken by the Great Northern
employees on the question of accepting
or rejecting the schedule offered by the
road was canvassed yesterday The re-
suit indicated a majority in favor of the
acceptance Of the companys terms, and
the grievance committee, accompanied
by Chief E. E. Clark, of the Order Of
Railway Conductors, and Assistant Grand
Master W. G. Lee, Of the Order of Rail-
way Trainmen, conferred with General
Superintendent Ward in the afternoon
and Informed him that the new schedule
would be accepted, and that the labor
troubles were at an end.
Chief Clark and Assistant Grand Mas
ter Lee arrived in the city early in the
morning. They went at once to the Mer-
chants, and, after breakfasting, began
the work of canvassing the vote. The
task occupied the entire forenoon and
more than half Of the afternoon. The
vote Of the Washington employees arrived
by express at 8 o'clock, and at half-past
the national officers Informed the COM
mittee that they were ready to accom-
pany them to the Great Northern head
quarters. The committee, Chairman Nc
Graw, E. r. Lyman, r. E. Lands and
w. G. Redding, with the two national
officers, met General Superintendent
Ward in his office, and were in confer
ence somewhat more than an hour. I'M
mediately upon their adjournment Chair
man McGraw was asked for information
concerning the. result of the conference.
He said:
1.-THE committee have decided to accept
the new schedule. The incident is closed,
absolutely. y 5s,-.se
General Superintendent Ward nadeathe
following statement to the G o b e:
1.-THE committee have decided to abide
by the schedule proposed by the Great
Northern. The vote of the men was not
in favor Of extreme measures, and the
differences which have existed for several
months are now adjusted. The chief
point of issue between the road and the
men was the matter of terminal switch
ing, and the committee have decided that
the ruling of the road on this point is
just The committee inform me that they
will accept the schedule and will abide by
it as embodied in the rule books which
have been printed and distributed to the
employees. 1g''
THE terminal switching rule makes
certain provisions not included in pre-
vious schedules, and it was more the
ambiguous wording of this paragraph,
Rule 8, than anything else which caused
friction. The Great Northern's interpre-
tation of the rule has been mutually
agreed upon. I anticipate no further
difficulties of any character"
The impression has prevailed during
the week in certain quarters that the
men would not take extreme measures,
even in the face Of their own declaration
that trouble with the road seemed in
evitable While not entirely anticipated,
the result of the conference did not give
occasion for general surprise. The vote
stood more than a majority in favor OF
the acceptance Of the schedule. The fg-
ures have been kept secret, and the COM
mittee insist that they are a part of the
deliberations of the different organiza-
tions and consequently to be regarded
as confidential. Chief Clark said last
night:
'The entire trouble hinged upon the
question of terminal switching. Before
the committee left the city after their
session of more than a month ago, the
road granted higher pay to way freight
men and made slight notifications OF
the rules which were embodied In the IN
formation sent out to the employees along
the line. This has had an influence on
the vote. The question is absolutely set
tied, and there will be no further trouble
The committee will probably return to
their different posts at once.
..Road crews will work under the new
schedule hereafter, and will do sWltch-
ing at terminals as provided in the rui-
ings of the road"