The San Francisco call., 1905-08-08
ARMED GUARD
IS MURDERED
Mangled Body of Northern
Pacific Waterman Found
Oh Track Near Butte
ARBITRATION HINTED AT
President Perham Is Willing
to Submit Grievances of
the Striking Telegraphers
Special Dispatch to The Call

SpecldI DlsPdtcH 10 1He Oall
BUTTE, Mont, Aug. 7-Mystery sur
rounds the death of Joseph Whitford, q
special watchman employed by the North
ern Pacific during the recent strike, whose
mangled body was found on a streetcar
track beneath viaduct two miles east
of here this morning. Indications are
that Whitford met with foul play From
the appearance of the body 1t was evil
dent that IFhitford had been murdered
and his body placed upon the car track
to cover Zip the crime.
At many OF the stations in Montana
where non-union operators are employed
the company has placed armed guards to
protect the telegraphers from violence at
the hands Of strikers. Three wrecks have
occurred on the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific near here during the
past two days The railway officials
claim the accidents were due to spread
ing rails and BROKEN fianges, but the
strikers assert that the wrecks resulted
from poor telegraphic communications.
The strikers gained distinct advantage
day when the railway conductors re-
fused to accept any more train orders
given over the telephone
ST. PAUL, Aug. Persistent rumors
were current to-day that a move had
been inaugurated by the Northwestern
Farmers Exchange and merchants as
sociations along the line of the Great
Northern and Northern Pacific to secure
arbitration of the telegraphers strike. So
far as could be ascertained no official ac-
ton in this direction has yet been taken
Pre- sident Perham of the telegraphers
stated to the Associated Press that the
matter had not come before him officially,
although he had reports that such move
ment was on foot.
1.-The telegraphers,' said Perham, 'are
willing to submit their grievance to any
unbiased body of men, and would well
come a propC sition to arbitrate coming
from this source.
General Manager Horn of the Northern
Pacific had heard nothing of such a prop
osition ard declared that there was no
occasion for arbitration.
$50 far az the Northern Pacific is cor
cerped," said he. there is nothing to ar
bitrate. Conditions are improving each
day and en- some divisions are already
normal"
General Superintendent Slade of the
Great Northern was equally emphatic in
declaring that there was no necessity for
| arbitration. So far as could be noted To-
cally conditions on both of the roads
showed material Improvement to-day.
Transcontinental passenger trains were
running nearer to schedule time than
they have done for several days, and
both roads are receiving perishabIe
freight, although commission men say
they are shipping it only subject to delay.
President Perham said that he still be-
| lieves that Mr.. Hill will take steps to
end the struggle as soon as he reaches
st. Paul.
MISSOULA, Mont, Aug. 7-Strike con-
ditions on the Rocky Mountain division
are serious. 1t is true some trains are
running into division headquarters, but
others are from four to six hours late.
Wires, commercial and others, have been
broken during the last few days and Mis-
soula has been practically isolated. Rush
business has been subjected by the West
ern Union, but flags have been working
on the railroad. Perishable freight has
been and is being refused by the North
ern Pacific Yesterday the trainmen held
meeting and decided they would accept
no more orders by telephone, as they feel
danger confronts them.
Superintendent Gibson says he has re-
ceived no such communication from
trainmen, and his report to Manager
Horn at st. Paul says everything is mov-
ing here. Fruit shipments are not being
accepted, and trains on the Bitter Root
and Occur d'Alene branches are working
carefully Division headquarters claim
that the strike is won, but Chairman
Kelly for the operators asks for a show
down on schedule of time demonstrated.
BILLINGS. Mont, Aug. THE car
clerks working for the Northern Pacific
! here quit to-day because Agent Hoyt
would not reinstate Samuel Foster the
call boy. who was discharged for creating
disturbance around the dispatchers' Of
! fee The clerks claim their action has
nothing to do with the operators strike.