The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-06

What will probably prove to be the
most strenuous effort of employees to
obtain a raise in salary which has oc-
CURED for many years was begun yes
terday in St. Paul and many other
cities Of the country.
A demand for a 20 per cent increase
in wages was made by the employees
of the different roads centering in St.
Paul. The demand was formally made
upon Supt. Trenholm, of the Omaha,
Supt. Ward, of the Great Northern,
Supt. GOodell, of the Great Western,
and Supt. Kimberly, of the Northern
Pacific.
The same demand was made at the
same time on the general superintend-
ents of every railroad in the country.
They had been notified two weeks ago
that such a demand would be made.
Yesterdays action was merely a for
NAL step in the proceedings of the Ia
Dor. movement.
In st. Paul the committees repre-
senting the different roads were
urbanely received by the superintend-
ent. Some of them knew the commit
teemen from boyhood up.
Here is report of the conversation
which took place in one of the offices:
Chairman of Committee-Mr Super
intendent, l submit the demands of
which [ notified you two or three
weeks ago.
The superintendent receive them,
but you know have no power to ac-
cept or reject them
The Chairman-We know that and
we have no power to do anything with
your answer if it should be given.
AT each office the agreement was made
that definite answer to the demand
would be made by Jan. or 10, and
that it would be submitted to the gem
eral committee of trainmen and con-
ductOrs in Chicago.
1t was expected that it would take
| the general committee, which has full
power to act, two or three days to
reach a decision.
The, railroad officials are unperturb-
ably silent and apparently are not
alarmed.
The employees follow their example
intentions or prospects.
1t Is Up to the Railroads.
Its out of our hands," said J. E.
| Burnham of the Omaha committee.
! eve Will stick together whatever hap
| pens and abide by the decision of the
| grand officers. We expect to win, of
| course. Beyond that I will say moth
| ing"
1t is claimed by the trainmen that
| 100000 to 100000 men will be involved.
| In the whole country the number may
| been brewing for some time. Persons
we'll Informed in labor matters declare
| that the whole labor world is back Of
the movement of the railroad men.
| If the railroad managers refuse to
| accede to the demands made by the
men the matter will come up for gener-
| al discussion and it is hoped that some
| method of arbitration like that used in
! the coal strike will be adopted. The
| idea of the sociologists of the country
| in advising the men who make the
| claims is that public discussion of
| labor troubles conducted in a fair way
| will bring about a closer connection
| between capital and labor and that the
| relations will be made more pleasant
j. e. Burnham and A. E. Harris, Of
| the Omaha road, visited the general SUI
! perintendent in the morning and
| passed the afternoon at the Hotel FO-
! ley discussing the situation.
]. N. Miller, of the Northern Pacific,
| reported the result of his conference
with Supt. Kimberly to his associates
| at the Merchants
The conductors of the Northern Pa
! cific road will not meet their general
| they had a happy time at the Windsor
/ hotel and each one refused to be a
candidate for speaker On the commit
! tee are j. B. w. Johnston, T. S. Nc
! Eachran, Charles Howard, J. HuxtabIe
/ J. Z. Flint, H. G. Williams, D. Hickey,
! ]. r. Sloan and George Cressy.
| The Northern Pacific trainmen are
| also staying at the Windsor.