The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-13


The first advance must come
from the company. The men are willing
to make concessions, but only after the
road has shown its disposition to meet
them by making some more favorable
II will say this for Mr.. Newman and
myself said Mr.. Garretson of the con
ductors this morning, that we will allow
no MAJ to surpass us in yielding, when
spirit OF yielding lis once shown by the
other side,
The employees applauded this statement,
and Mr. Cooper for the business men
thanked Mr.. Garretson for the expression.
The Cancellation committee consists of
r. w. Cooper. 3. N. Saunders, r. a. Kirk
and John F. Kelly, of st. Paul; z. B.
Walker, b. r. Nelson and II. M. Hill OF
Minneapolis.
they met in the offices Of the st. Paul
Jobbers' union at 1870 this afternoon.
About the only thing for them to do was
to wait on General Manager Ward; and
ask him to hold out some promise Of con-
cession to the men. There seems little
Hope that they will succeed.
The meeting this morning was attended,
by the conductors and trainn1en's commit
tees and by about twenty business men
of the twin cities. T. w. Cooper Of st.
Paul presided B. F. Nelson started the
proceedings by asking what per cent
Of the men were affected by the double.
headers In controversy. A. B. Garretson,
the chosen spokesman for the employees,
said that the question could be answered
only in connection with q general expla-
nation on the situat ton, which he was then
invited to give. 49, * z2a s:- sss
Garretson States the Case.
Mr.. Garretson made a clear and temper
ate statement of the committees position.
He said that the offices Of the business
men had not been solicited by the men,
but they were accepted In the same spirit
as offered. The business men we're nat
EEiiralIy Inclined to see the railroad side
Of the case, so he would ask them to ac-
Iecept his statements OF fact. Some months
ago the Associated Trahlrnen Of lines west
OF Chicago and ST. Louis made certain
demands for Increased pay and. other con-
lcessions. They affected all roads except
where contracts existed and took in all
the transcontinental lines. The final
| proposition. with regard to double head
<ers was that they would be allowed only
within certain specified limits where the
gradient required. It. This has been ac-
l$cepted or is. about to be agreed to by all
1 the lines except the Great Northern.
These terms have been. rejected, by. the
Great Northern. The company says only
I 3 per cent OF its trains are double headed.
That amounted in. the nine months end
ling March 81 TO .1s7. 40 miles: The COM
pany has claimed there is a principle al
i stake. the right to manage its.ow prop
i erty. Such a principle, IL it exists, has
! been yielded many times. The men, fol
their part, are contending for a principle
The word of the organization has beer
pledged to the competitors of the Great
ENorthern. That pledge must be kept. .
You: may say that it is sentiment
said Mr.. Garretson; Il won't dispute that
Il But more men have decided for sentiment
s %IS<,a So ~.
I ready. to meet any reasonable: proposition
8 but ours has been refused and insultingl.
}refused.' -
a Difficult Proposition.
/ AS to the percentage Of men involved
he said that while 1t would only affec
II 8 per cent IN any one day, the shifting o
4 crews meant that every man was iabl
i to.be affected by it..
{ You gentlemen in trying to find a so
z luton, are; T. am free to say up agains
difficult propositions" continued Mr.
q Garretsor. The vote. of the: men is AL
q expression of their wishes, and honestl
taken. Over So per cent declared .thei
q willingness to leave the. employ of tn
company unless concessions were made
II the company maintains its position, TIL
!, will of the men llsbe carried out. I'm
s der ordinarys conditions with the powe
that isl our hands, men do not tenn
lporize. from Sunday until Wednesday, an
8: we told Mr., Ward yesterday that we .ceuI
Il only give until the dinner hour to day
IIWesWi1lsgo as far as anyone for peace
SIful ssoluti ion, but since the negotiation
81 began, JAN. 8, the. company has not re
cededsa one: iota from it's position. Will
we may be lovers Of peace and harmony
we have no contract to- furnish all til
harmony.
TT is in your hands; you know the in
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