Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-05-06
WHAT STRIKE is FOR.

WIN
Minneapolis Times: Railroad men
throughout the country are watching
between the employees of the Great
Northern road and their employers,
for the controversy admittedly in
wolves not merely the double-header
question, which is a minor matter,
but is in reality. say the best informed
railroad men, a fight to determine
whether or not the trainmen can force
the railroads of America to agree to a
standard train-a unit to be as potent
in determining wages as the time the
men put in.
The leaders of the trainmen have
repeatedly admitted the inconsistency
of their position, in demanding that
a train crew shall draw twice the pay
for their labor if the train is drawn by
two engines of light power, than if it
is handled by n engine of great
power. The question is not this, how
ever, but is considered rather to hinge
on the establishment of a standard
train.
This is why the men are SO insistent
upon their demands, inconsistent
though they be, and why the Great
Northern is equally obdurate in re-
fusing to grant their demand as to the
double header question.
The era of great power. and larger
train units has vastly aided the eco
humical management of railroads. and
Increased the earning power of train
crews. One of the most important re-
forms in railroads since the introduce
of the plan OF running freight trains
on a tonnage basis. whereby each en-
CINE is required to pull its full tonnage
capacity, whereas previously it was
customary to take up about SO many
cars. regardless of the load they con
tanned.
hlo luCdIt a &c luCItdSc III liz
size of trains. and in the company's
dividends.
Then came the heavier and more
powerful engine n the larger train
unit, until one train crew now handles
several times the freight as it did a
score of years ago. To get a share of
thA.0 iporooco1 10 -, iN =. a. ,--.,o
purpose of the trainmen's %organiza-
ton. admitted by its officers to rail-
road men in previous conferences. and
they propose to do it by establishing
a standard train, and nus limiting the
mount of traffic that m crew shall
be called upon to handle for the regu-
lar wage.
The doubleheader proposition is but
the forerunner of this greater move
ment that railroad men say is bound
to be fought out to a bitter end.
1t is claimed that several of the
roads were persuaded to accede to the
trainmen's demand as to the double
htdueI pTOpOSltlOH klOWlnS Iull well
that the Great Northern. the foremost
exponent of heavy trains. would fight
the proposition. II is also alleged by
those mel who are well informed that
the trainmen knew that some road
would make a fight upon the PROPOSE
ton. and that they early determined
that if possible the fight should be
with the Great Northern, convinced
that the Great Northern wonld fight
the proposition. no matter what action
was taken by other roads. and wanted
but one fight on their hands.
Just what the organization will ask
AS a standard train is not known, if
the trainmen have already decided up
on the matter. The chief concern for
the present. however, is the indorse-
ment OF the principle that the train
men have a right to establish a limit
to the size of a train to be handled
by n crew for the regular schedule
of wages. Once the principle is ac-
k~nowledged, and railroad men say the
unit OF a train, like the schedule of
wages. will be easily adjusted.
Dan E.. Richter, formerly a Lari.