Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-21
HILL AND DEBS.
Once the Railway Magnato Met His
Match.

Most of us are inclined to look upon
James J. Hill as sort of Colossus IN
the railway and the wider business
world-as a many-sided man of many
eNpedlents, somebody whorn it would
be hard to down" on almost any prop
osition that he might choose to set MN
self upon. But he has met his equal
once. at least--so the story floats IN
here from Minneapolis.
Some years ago when there was a
serious strike on HIS road, and one
labor union after another kept going
out, thus tying up trains, closing con-
structlon and repair shops piling up
freight at numerous points and almost
paralyzing trade and general business
all along the lines and in the tributary
territory. the boards Of trade in MIN
neapolls and st. Paul appointed con-
ference committees 10 work for settle
ment. and these were clothed with pow
er nearly approaching those of an ar
bitrator. They were to ST as a SORT Oh
court and hear both sides, Hill ap-
peared for the railroad interests, ana
the strikers were represented by Eu-
gene V. Debs, the then labor leader. Inc
locomotive engineers on the I'M INES
were still at work, with every prospect
OF keeping out Of the strike entirely
and this helped materially to strength
en- Hills hands and to give him the
nerve with which he faced the situa-
ton,
He was grave, stubborn, unyielding,
after he had stated his case briefly put
clearly and forcibly-and then he lis
tened with marked patience to all OF
Debs arguments.
~ guess" said the railway magnate,
as he arose after Debs had sat down,
81 guess, Mr.. Debs, you have played
your last card-haven't you?
NO" returned Debs quietly, II think
| can play another, II necessary"
do you mean," demanded Hill rather
feroely, that you can call out the en-
gineers?
eyes, / can call them out In five min
utes, II / want to-"
"Humphl" muttered the magnate, Il
doubt IL. But suppose you CAM Let
me remind you that railroad companies
have before now won out against strik-
ers even when their locomotive engi-
neers have quit work."
81 know what you mean retorted
Debs spiritedly now, you refer to the
burlington, Let me tell you something,
Mr.. Hill--and you mark every WORD |
saw The Burlington had a surplus or
Sc 0O0. 90 with which TO fight its strikers,
engineers and al-and they made II
spend every dollar OF that war fund
before they surrendered. You maven
got any sS,OOO,OO0 surplus, haven't got
any war fund at all. There's one dif-
ference, Mr.. Hill.
Now then there is hardly an exc
cutive official of the Burlington VINO
was in the fight and who remains In the
company's service today. Did YOU ever
think Of that, Brother Hill? Now. it
might transpire. II you still prolong TINS
fight and thus waste your company
resources and destroy its business, that
even you and your co-oilicials won pe
IN the cOmpany's service after the
smoke OF the battle clears away. Stock
holders and bondholders have way
OF firing out railroad officials who get
into trouble with their men and throw
away the company's money. ] thank
you Mr. Hill, for suggesting the Bur
lington's case. Now, to business! what
points viii you yield7"--and Debs be-
gan reading the formal demands OF
HnTs men with great impressiveness.
The hearing was rather abruptly adj
1ourned. and within a week the strik-
ers got about everything they had
asked from Hill, and the strike was de-
clared off.-N. Y. Commercial