The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-06
REPLY TO Mr.. WARD MINI. IS YEARS Old
Committeeman for Great Northern
Trainmen and Conductors Issue
a Statement.
Say Roads Men Are Not Contented
as Asserted by the General
Superintendent.

n Messrs. A. B. Garretson and w. II. New
man., grand officers of the organizations
OF conductors and trainmen, respec actively,
returned to-day to watch the final stage
OF the differences between these bodies
and the Great Northern railroad.
s Both declare the circulars issued by
General Manager Ward to5fthe linen re-
specting the differences win have com
paratively little effect. Both alphabetically
deny that the committeeman made any at
tempt to influence the vote by arguing
that the Great Northern would not allow
the trouble to proceed to the extent of a
general strike. They know the road has
opened an emp1oyment office. in Chicago.
But, as we know something Of the Ia
Dor situation In that city, this does not
alarm us in the least, said Mr.. Garrett
SON.. 8 - tssS5 s. II {.
T Messrs. Garretson and Newman are still
hopeful that an agreement will be effect
ed. but say that the position Of the men,
as indicated In the vote. will be adhered
&c, by themselves and blythe committees,
members of whichc are expected to begin
reaching the city tomorrow and Friday.
comnitteemen's Statement.
!. Messrs., Garretson and Newman die
tated an interview in part as follows:
If double heading is not practiced
nothing Is involved, except: that its extern
sion furnishesEa means to more than neu-
tra1lze 10 per increase in pay. The
handling OF a train by VITO engines In
creases not only risk but labor and re-
sponsibility and will affect not only
every man now in the service who does
not now handle them. but those now in
service who you'd be deprived Of positions
by the extension of the practice
Strlkes OF these organizations are al
most unknown, as only three, times in
twenty-five years of their existence has
such necessity been forced upon us.
From the efforts made by the Great
Northern management to not only Justify
their position before the people, but to
influence their men, it would appear that
the serene confidence that distinguished
the manager during his conference with
his committees and with the representa-
tives of these organizations had been
somewhat rudely Jared.
No Satisfied Mem" s
His position from start to finish was
that all Great Northern. men, with the
exception of the committee, were thoroly
contented and that they would not by any
possibility uphold the position of the COM
mittee.
The facts are, there are no satisfied
men on the Great Northern road, nor have
there been since the Great Northern Rail
way company wilfully abolished the agree
ments that existed ON their line with the
conductors and trainmen, three years ago.
1t is true that some months ago Mr..
Ward advanced rates of pay to $3.15 and
$40, which was a slight advance on the
fat rate, upon the only other lines imme-
d1ately surrounding him on valley mile
age. (bnt not even approaching the rate
paid by. some of his competitors.) The
fact is that the conditions of service under
which the men labor amounts on the
average road to, more money than any
or per cent increase in the fat rate.
zs Mr.. Wards Circular.
MIR. Ward issuance Of circulars to his
men and the announcing Of his effort and
intention to hire outside labor to replace
them, should they abandon his service,
show clearly that heTknows that his men
almost unanimously are parties to- the
contention of the committee that the de-
mand originated among them and not in
the : :. - !