Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-08
MAKE MOVE FOR MEDIATION
Report that Railways and Operators will
Be Asked to Arbitrate.
OFFICIALS SAY BUSINESS IS MOVING
Dispatches from Points in North
Dakota and Montana Say TrRmc
is Seriously Inter-
rupted.

were current today that move had Deen
inaugurated by the Northwestern Farmers
exchange and Merchants associations along
the lines of the Great Northern and North
ern Pacific to secure arbitration of the tel
esraphers strike. So far as could be def
niteiy ascertained no official action in this
direction has yet been taken. President
II. r. Perham of the Order of Railway
Telegraphers stated to the Associated Press
that the matter had not come before him
officially. although he had reports that such
a movement was on foot.
'The telegraphers," said Mr.. Perham
ARE willing to submit their grievances 10
any unbiased body Of men and would well
come proposition to arbitrate coming from
this source"
General Manager Horne of the Northern
Pacific, however, had heard nothing off,
cially of such movement and declared
that there was no occasion for arbitration
He said:
So far as the Northern Pacific is con-
cerned, there is nothing to arbitrate C'u-
6itons are improving each day and on SOM
made arrangements to handle this years
crops better than 1t was handled last year
and farmers and merchants along our line
have no cause TO worry. We are and will
continue to take care of them in good style.
General Superintendent slade of the Great
Northern was equally emphatic in declaring
that there was no necessity for arbitration
Mr.. Slade said
So many operators are returning to work,
and freight and passenger traffic is moving
with such regularity, that so far as our
road is concerned the strike is at end.
We have made complete arrangements to
handle out business and do not expect any
dtfhculty in doing so.
So far as to be noted locally conditions
on both of the roads showed material i'm
provement today. Transcontinental pas
senger trains were running nearer to
schedule time than they have done for sew
eral days and both roads are receiving
perishable freight, although commission
| men say they are shipping it only subject
to delay.
| President Perham took occasion to deny
| a published statement that he had given
up hope of securing the Intervention of
| President ]. J. Hill. He said that he still
| believed that Mr.. Hill would take steps to
| end the struggle as soon as he reached st.
Paul.
| Conditions in south Dakota.
| SIOUX FALLS, s. D., Aug. 7.-(SpeciaD-
The local situation in reference to the strike
of the telegraph operators on the Great
Northern railroad continues unchanged.
| Trains are running between Garretson and
Yankton as best they can and the train
crews continue doing all the station work
at all of the small stations.
| The schedule said to have been submitted
| by the company to the men for their sig
natures was placed in the hands of two of
the men on this end of the line, and its
conditions are said to have been quite diff
ferent from the present schedule, but is
stated not to contain any provisions as to
a contract with the telegraphers that will
insure them against a change to the old
| schedule at any time the company should
desire to change.
This schedule 1t is further stated, did
not bear the signature of the general man
| ager or other officials of the Great North
| ern Railroad company, and when the two
delegates reached Sioux Falls with their
proposition Saturday and asked the local
operators to sign 1t they discovered that
such schedule would have nothing to bind
and assure its enforcement.
The operators on this division of the road
to man refused to sign anything that
does not bear the signatures of the mem
bers of the strike committee. This was re-
garded as a practical test OF the operators
and the result is pointed to as showing
that they mean business and that nothing
| in the form OF a schedule that does not
emanate from the committee will be con-
sidered by them.
The line from Garretson to Sioux City is
still in the same position in regard TO oper-
ators. Only one man stayed by the COM
pany, and he is at Lester. According to
late reports he is still at his post of duty.
II is the opinion of a number OF all of the
striking operators in this city that the
strike will last at least ten days longer.
Confidence continues to be expressed that
they will he able to hold out until their
demands are granted.
MIssOula is Isolated.
MISSOULA, Mont, Aug. Strike con-
dItions on the Rocky mountain division are
regarded as serious. 1t Is true that some
passenger trains are coming into division
headquarters on time, but others are from
four to six hours late Wires, CONNER
cially and otherwise, have been broken
during the last few days and Mssoula has
been practically isolated. Rush business
has been accepted by the Western Union
but flags have been working on the rail
road. Perlshable freight has been and /:
. refused by the Northern Pacific. Yes
3 terday trainmen held meeting and de-
-lNrw.z ,,