Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-02
MAY TIE UP SYSTEMS
Strike Of Railway Telegra-
piers in the West.
LONG CONTEST LIKELY
COMBINATION OF employees
THREATENS ROADS BUSINESS.
Managers Of Lines Hope to Be Able
to Prevent Any Interference
With Traffic.
LONG CONTEST LIKELY

ST. PAUL, Mimi. August 2-The strike
of the telegraph operators of the Northern
Pacific and Great Northern railway systems
today settled into what promises to be a
long-drawn-out contest between two of the
largest railroads of the west and a COM
bination of employees who claim to have the
power to tie up the money making end Of
the two railroads.
President Perham and his assistants in
the employees organization began the day
with an attempt to close up all the loose
ends Of the strike, which was ordered last
night to counteract the lockout ordered by
the railroad officials yesterday. At strike
headquarters kilograms were arriving by
the score from every point along the two
systems from loyal unionists, stating that
every telegraph operator to a man had gone
out and that complete tie-up was effected
On the other hand an equal number of tele-
grams were being sent out to heads of
unions at various points inStructing the
strikers to set picket lines.
There is nothing to say now except that
we have a full-f1edged strike on, and that
so far our reports go every man is out
on both lines" said Mr.. Perham
Perham's Statement.
II ordered this strike after we had tried
all other ways of settling our grievances
against the railroads and after the railroads
had locked out our men because the men
would not sign impossible agreements. An
other thing that made me call this strike
was the statement of the general manager
of the Great Northern that so per cent of
the men remained loyal to the road. That
and the fact that about 400 non-union men
were on the way from Kansas City to fill
the vacancies on the Northern Pacific
caused me to decide to show them that
they were wrong in their estimate to
the number of loyal men. Well, all our
men are out and our advices are that the
ue-up Is complete. The roads are not run
ming any freight trains. They may be run
ming passenger trains on time, and l hope
they will do so, as l do not want to in
terrupt the travellers"
"On what basis would you be willing to
call OFF the striker" was asked
"Oh, still in a peaceful and ami
cable mood" said the leader, land will be
reasonable. If Mr.. ]. J. Hill will talk bust
ness ness and meet my proposition fairly we
Will settle. But as soon as his hired men
began to prod US we made up our mind
to prod back, and the fight is on for keeps
We have now $50 men out on the Great
Northern road and LOO on the Northern
racine These are our figures. and you
may take them for what they are WORTH
Railway Men Are Hopeful.
Although general strike was called by
President Perham of the Order of Railway
Photographers last night on the Great North
ayers say 1t has not interfered with the
running of passenger trains. General Man
ager Slade of the Great Northern railway
said today that all trains had come in on
time so far today, and that no great incon-
Venfence had been felt. For year past the
railroads have been installing telephone sys-
TENS for just such an emergency and by
this means trains are being run without Sc
rious hindrance.
President Perham claims that before night
% per cent of the operators will be out, re-
sulting in complete te-up of the two big
systems. Mr.. Slade of the Great Northern
and Manager Horn of the Northern Pacific
said they would have something to say
later.
The Effect in Montana.
HELENA, Mont, Aug. 2.-Dispatches from
Montana points indicate that the strike or
der was generally obeyed by the telegraph
ers on the Northern Pacific and Great
Northern. In this city, which is relay
office, sixteen operators, including two wire
chiefs and two operators in the yard, quit
upon receiving the signal from President
Perham.
All operators on the Montana Central went
out except the dspatchers. At Missoula the
entire Northern Pacific staff except two
men quit work. One train was brought into
Missoula by hand-car signals. The entire
Rocky Mountain division of the Northern
Pacific is reported to be tied up by the
strike.