The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-15
A Wise Settlement.

The settlement of the dispute between
the Great Northern and its trainnen Is
a. notable triumph for the public. The
outlook was dark and threatening. when
the business men Of Minneapolis and St.
Paul took hand in the negotiations; q
strike seemed almost inevitable. Negotia-
lions between the men and the company.
has been broken off, and that, too, with
q. feeling Of resentment on both sides.
But the moment the business mems COM
nittee appeared on the scene there was
a change Both sides admitted that the
interest Of the public in the controversy
entitled 1t to a SAY and both also well
coined the third party as medium of
compromise.
The advent Of third party with inter-
ests equal to those Of the principals in
such a controversy always affords ICON
venient way for the disputants to retreat
from a too advanced position. General
Manager Ward had declared that he could
concede nothing more, and the trainmen
had declared that they had gone as far
as they could. Mr.. Ward asserted over
and over again that he could not permit
the men to participate in the management
Of the road, as they desired to do In
abolishing double headers. The men had
frequently asserted that, as matter OF
principle, they must insist on the Adolf
ton of double headers, except in the sense
OF helpers on steep grades, because their
organizations had secured concessions
from other transcontinental roads on the
understanding that conditions were to be
uniform. But no sooner do the business
men appear on the scene than both par
ties to the dispute begin seriously to con
slider a. plan of settlement that involves
ali inroad on the principle each commended
for. and settlement is made that leaves
the Great Northern on record as having
permitted it's employees to participate Ii
the management of the company, while the
men have been compelled to grant to the
Great Northern what they denied to Other
roads.
The compromise was a matter of two
tenths Of per cent, |. e., the Great North
ern agrees to reduce the ratio Of double
header mileage, including helpers, to tn,
total train mileage of the system from
per cent to 2.s per cent. On the othe
hand, the men. after insisting that a prin
ciple was involved that caused them t
demand the abolition Of double header
except with double pay. find that the.
have still to get along with them withou
double pay. All of which illustrates tina
it is very difficult to say that any dis
pute has reached a point where a work
{, ing compromise is impossible.
On the whole this settlement, like tina
on the Wabash, evidences a great ad
vance in recent years in the adjustmer
Of disputes between railway companie
and their employees. In both cases a
apparent inpasse had been reached, BIT
the intervention of a third party afforde
a welcome means for readjustment {
the situation. In the case of the Wabas
it was the advice of Judge Adams in&dis
solving the temporary injunction agains
the mems organizations; in the case
the Great Northern, it is the appeal Z
the business interests that would be al
fected by strike. Both cases show a
Increasing realization on both sides
what a railway system owes to the pull
lic few years since both conrpanie
and employees organizations were in pus
nacious mood; they were ready to fgl
on the least provocation. Comparative
little attention was given to the publ
interests involved. And not only is it I'll
wabash and Great Northern roads TIL
have afforded proof of this change 81
the better: in the last two years the
have been sweeping changes In railws
wages all over the country. with a We
small amount of actual striking. fe
years ago such changes would have be.
i marked by universal strikes. violence, a
SON and destruction Of property.
Manila is hereafter to be only partly
walled city. A part Of the wall is to
torn down to accommodate commerce. -
protests OF those who would preserve 7
walls have been unavailing. If the wa
really interfere with commerce and t
growth of the city, they ought to cor
down 1t is desirable to preserve II
ancient and historically valuable In .
cfitecture whenever team be done wit
out sacrificing present day interests. b
m old wall can no more be allowed I'd