The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-11
The G. n. STRIKE
IN THE BALANCE
Conference Is in Progress The Sit
uation Seems to Have
Changed.
Gen. Mgr. Ward Makes a Tentative
Proposition Which Men Dis
cuss Secretly.
To Informal Delegation, Ward Says
Road Will Agree Not to In
crease Double Headers.

No strike on the Great Northern, to-
day. at least. is probable. A tentative
has been submitted by the
road.
The conference Of the two grand officers
OF the trainmen's orders, Messrs. Garrett
son. and Newman, and the sixteen COM
mitteemen with General Mana ger #. E.
Ward of the road began at IL o'clock this
morning and adjourned temporarily at
1850.
Mr.. Garretson, who is spokesman for, the
interested employees, refused to say even
when the conference would be resumed.
The committeeman were equally non-com-
initial.
Mr.. Ward admitted that he had made Z
tentative propositions. He said that an
other conference would be held. probably
this afternoon. The committee represent
Ing the men had retired to discuss secretly
the proposition and would meet with him
afterwards-at what time he had abso-
lutely no knowledge, as that lay with the
committee.
The turn in affairs rather complexities
the situation, as 1t was understood that
the trairmen's committee had no alterna-
tive following the. poll but strike, and
that the road absolutely would not recede
from its stand OH the double header uues-
tion
A conciliatory feeling seemed to prevail
all thru the conference.
Poll Favors Strike.
The committee who took the poll OF the
Great Northern trainmen and conductors
last week on the question Of supporting
the committee, even to the extent. of a
strike, filed into Mr.. Wards Office in st.
Paul at II o'clock. This conference fol-
lowed a gathering of the members of the
committee earlier In the morning at the
Merchants hotel to canvass the vote.
which was just completed by the arrival
OF the vote Of the Cascade division, the
other, divisions having reported Sunday.
The meeting with Mr.. Ward was by
agreement to report the result of the poll,
which is understood to have been a strong
Endorsement Of the grand officers In their
position of refusing to make an agree
ment with the road because OF its stand
on the double-header question.
AT the conference were General Man
ager Ward for the Road, A. B. Garretson
for the conductors w. T. Newman for
the trainmen.. Chair nnan d. #. Miller OF
the sconductors committee, Chairman
mittee and sixteen .eonni tteesnen. Be-
fore the meeting all interested persons
refused ito give Sout any thing as to the
result OF the vote OF to what the outcome
might be.
A Protest Against Striking.
The lobby Of the Merchants hotel was a
busy place this morning. Some thirty or
more Great Northern trainmen, many Of
them veteran employees, gathered in eager
discussion. These were the same men
who on Saturday held the meeting to pro-
test against a strike. It was surmised
that these conductors had been called In
by the officers Of the road In the inter
ests Of d harmonious settlement About
twenty five. Of these conductors called on
~. a. ->>Sg
delegated to act officially for the conduc-
tors organization, but acting on their own
initiative. Mr.. Ward said Of this Sunday
meeting:
'This meeting was entirely informal
and really forms no part of the negotia-
lions with the committee. The men did
not come as representatives of the or
ganiza alton and in fact their action could
be in no way binding on the organization.
They are simply a number of the older
| employees of the road who are interested
| in bringing about an amicable settlement.
My assurances to them were not materials
| ly different from the position took with
| the committee, altho perhaps more spe-
officially stated. I told them it was not
the purpose of the company to nullify
the increase in wages by increasing the
number of double headers, and assured
them that the present proportion of dou-
BILE headers, which is but per cent.
/ ~
! II have not received any formal notifi-
cation of the result OF the poll Of the en-
! p1oyes, but we have expected they would
| vote to sustain the committee, and un-
derstand that they have done SO. How
ever, confidently anticipate that an
amicable settlement will be reached.
The conductors, later in the day, after
a short conference met with the members
i of the regular committee, and a1tho the
proceedings were kept absolutely secret,
They expressed belief that the differ
ences would be sttled amicably.
-. "A Good Natured Conference.
4 Several bursts Of laughter in the con-
q ference room this morning indicated at
least that the controversy had not yet
4 come to blows. However, those acquainted
: with. the temperament of the grand Off
GERS and Of the committeeman, expressed
the belief that strike would be or
i dered unless the road receded am this
a both President James j. Hill and General
Manager F. E. Ward have asserted hither-
, to the road would not do. Mr.. Hill hav-
ing added that he had 1000 men already
engaged to take the places of trainn1en
who might strike.
May Not See Ward Again.
Mr.. Garretson said late this afternoon
that it did not necessarily follow that q
4 conference would be held again with Mr..
/ Ward. Mr.. Ward had made a statement
rather than tentative proposition, and
it was not necessarily effective. AS ia
whether this was in the nature OF a con-
Icession, he intimated that 1t was as USE
"A less to discuss that as to discuss the ques-
ton whether there is nay principle in.
. voIved in the position the road has taken
Mr.. Ward thought there was; the mer
, thought there was not. Mr.. Newman
q who wa present, intimated that any con.
, lcession was in the roads favor
SENTIMENT Is GROWING
Small Likelihood That Rockefeller
i Offer Will Be Accepted.