The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1905-08-17
PRESIDENT OF GREAT NORTH
ERIN ROAD REFUSES TO
ARBITRATE.
GOV. JOHNSON TAKES HOLD
DECLARES THERE HAS BEEN
STARVATION OF BUSINESS IN
SMALL TOWNS.

81. Paul, Aug. 12.-The t~elegrapherS'
strike on the Great Northern and the
Northern Pacific is a fight to a finish.
President James j. Hill of the Great
Northern railway yesterday put an end
to the hopes Of the striking telegra-
pliers and of Gov. Johnson. expressed
In his letter to Mr.. Hill, that he would
submit the differences to arbitration.
1t Is understood, from previous state
ments made by him, that President
Elliott, of the Northern Pacific, will
likeI Use turn down the proposition,
though no word has been received
from him since Gov. johnson made his
appeal.
Nothing to Arbitrate.
President Hills final answer was
given in a telegram sent from New
York yesterday to General Superin-
tendent Slade. 1t is as follows:
Reported here commercial bodies
st. Paul petitioning company to arbi-
trate telegraphers' strike. Have abso-
tuSSiy bolllIS ~ diDlJldIc Will m6l
who &c out without notice."
That Mr.. Hill has been kept we'll
posted as to the te~legraphers' strike Is
demonstrated through this and other
kilograms which were made public
yesterday. They show that it was
through the express order of Mr.. Hill
that the officials of the road made no
attempt to settle the difficulty by ar
bitration.
Within the last few days there have
been numerous suggestions, the most
important being from Gov. Johnson,
that the matter under controversy be
submitted to arbitration, and Mr.. Hill
has been requested to accept arbitra-
ton or intervene in the matter. His
feeling is expressed in the telegram he
sent 20 Mr.. Slade yesterday.
Gov. J%ohnson's Letter.
Gov. Johnson's letter to President
Hill was as follows:
complaints from commercial bodies
and citizens throughout the state have
been sent to this Office informing me
that because of a general strike of
~telegraphers on the Great Northern
system much hardship and inconveo-
fence is being endured by the general
public in the matter of freight trans
portation; that stations on that road
have been closed to the public; and, in
view of the fact that the new crop is
almost ready to be moved, great loss
will come to the people of our state.
Suggests Arbitration.
I'm view of this unfortunate condi
ton, I would suggest that a proper
consideration of the welfare of the
public demands that the differences of.
the employer and employee be submit
ted for arbitration. To that end l ten
der the Offices of the executive depart
ment of the state to bring about an
amicable settlement of the present
difficulty.
II herewith enclose you a letter to
Mr.. H. B. Perham, president of the
Order Of Railway Telegraphers, who
represents the striking employees. I
have also forwarded a letter to Mr.
Howard Elliott, president of the North
ern Pacific railway, urging arbitration
of the differences named above"
Horn Agrees With Hill.
General Manager Horn of the North
ern Pacific communicated with the ex-
ecutive department to the extent of
sending a message that there was
nothing to arbitrate; everything was
running smoothly.
The Northern Pacific and Grea,
Northern have announced that they
consider the strike a closed incident,
and claim that traffic is moving salts
factorily.
Freight Delayed.
Despite their assurances, however.
business interests are being more or
less Inconvenience. Travelling men
IN several instances have been called
to st. Paul because goods cannot be
sent to customers by freight, and re-
port that on branches scarcely 10 per
cent Of the stations are open.
The Great Northern has refused
shipments Of freight within the past
two days, and both lines discourage
the movement of perishable goods.