The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-05-15
NAY SETTLE DISPUTE
BUSINESS MEN SUCCEED IN De.
LAYING STRIKE ON THE
GREAT NORTHERN.
OUTLOOK NOT SO GLOOMY

Hopes for IN Amicable Adjustment Of
Differences Far Brighter Than at
Any Time Since Negotiations Were
Observation-Disclosures Conference to
BE Held at Which Final Action Will
Be Determined Upon.
st. Paul, May 14.-There is likely to
be a settlement Of the Great North
srn's labor controversy today.
The conference among the st. Paul
and Minneapolis jobbers, the train
mems committee and General Man
aver F. 3. Ward will be continued,
and there is a probability that an
agreement will be reached, settling
the trouble in an amicable manner
One thing is certain, today's meet
ing will decide finally what action the
men and the company are going to
pursue.
For six long hours yesterday the
Twin CITY jobbers did their utmost in
IN attempt to bring about an adjust
ment of the difficulty, without having
the men resort to drastic measures.
At times it looked as if their efforts
were in vain, but patience and di-
plomacy triumphed, and the session
closed at 6:15 o'clock last evening,
with hopes far brighter for a peaceful
settlement than they had been at any
time since the negotiations were s
nondod Tuesday afternoon. -
On what ground the proposed set
Element is to be effected, none OF the
parties interested would say last eve
ing. They preferred to await today's
action before making any statement.
General Manager Ward, A. B. Garrett
son, w. T. Newman and j. w. Cooper,
all declined to be interviewed. They
were giving no information regarding
the progress of the negotiations.
Two Sessions Held.
Yesterdays conference was held in
two sessions. It opened at 10 o'clock
with a large delegation of business
men and the full trainmen's commit
tee present. j. w. Cooper, who was
one of the st. Paul jobbers instrument
tai in arranging the meeting, was
elected chairman. and presided at
both sessions. The morning meeting
was informal, but detailed discussion
of the questions involved. A. B. Gar
retson, Of the Order of Railroad Con-
dnstors. and w. T. Newman Of the
Railway Trainmen's organization, pre-
scented their side of the case.
Several of the jobbers asked ques-
tions and r. A. Kirk. E. N. Saunders,
w. ]. Dean. T. B. Walker and others
delivered short addresses explaining
the business mems position and ask
ing the men to carefully consider the
Industrial interests of the Northwest
before they resorted to drastic cas-
ures.
The afternoon meeting al execu
tive. A committee Of eight business
men represented the jobbers, Messrs.
Newman and Garretson were present
in the interest OF the trainmen, and
Manager F. E. Ward attended a part
of the session. Mr.. Ward was not at
the morning meeting, nor was any
representative of the Great Northern.
One Of the jobbers asked why the
question could not be arbitrated. w.
T. Newman. of the trainmen's organi-
cations replied that it had been by
other lines, and that the proposition
now offered to the company was the
decision of the arbitration board. He
then gave a history of the fight with
the other transcontinental lines.
Negotiations Resumed.
From 1870 o'clock until $40 the
1obbers' committee discussed the sit
uation with the two grand officers who
represented the trainmen.
Tho fro1r~op than ro%iroI a~H No~
eral Manager Ward arrived, and the
conference reviewed the company's
case for an hour and a half. Then
Messrs. Newman and Garretson were
again summoned.
Mr.. Ward withdrew from the con
ference as DON as the grand officer:
came. but was later called into the
conference and the negotiations be
tween the men and the company
which had been broken off Tuesday
were again resumed through the. me
dunn of the Minneapolis and St. Pau
business men.
During the hour following the meet
Ing OF the grand officers and Mr.. War
there was much earnest discussion
At the eleventh hour a small comprC
mise was reached. The grand officer
agreed to continue the conference
True 1t was small, but by the cor
cession made a peaceful settlemen
may finally result.
Instead of a strike declaration b.
ing made at 6 o'clock as threatened
the grand officers and business me
left the committee room fifteen mir
utes after that hour, feeling that tn
continued conference will certainly b
productive of favorable results.
BEFORE THEY AR5lTRATE.