The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-08-05
Every Operator is Asked to Sign
Away His Rights, and Those
Who Refused to Surrender
Their Manhood Were Quickly
and Unceremoniously Fired.
A Strike Might have Been Avert
ed, But Lockout was Forced by
Impulsive and Smart AEck Of
ficials who are greatly overesti-
mated as strategists.

The railroad officials are putting up
a good front and pretend to believe
that they will be able to put the Order
Of Railway Telegraphers out of business
in short order, but the fact still re-
mains that they are up against a hard
proposition-harder than if the engin-
eers had struck, for after all what
safety can be assured the travelling
public with new and irresponsible sta
tion agents along the line of any rail-
road.
structions were given to accept no more
shipments, and perishable freight was
positively refused. This does not look
as though the railroads were any toe
secure in their position.
1t is not known what the railroad
brotherhoods will do during this lock-
out. While it is not expected that
they will go on a sympathetic strike,
yet for the safety of themselves they
should insist that full quota of oper-
ators be kept in the service.
Under the law railroads are not liza
BILE for damages because Of accidents
due to the incompetency or negligence
of employees. For instance, an incom-
petent operator may be responsible for
the collision of two trains, and in the
wreck several Of the train and engine
crew are severely injured.
The courts in a like case have re-
Gently held that the railroads were not
liable for damages. This being true
it would seem that there is but one
course for the engineers, firement
brakemen and conductors to take as a
matter of protection to themselves.
The Labor World is not very familiar
with the grievances Of the telegraph
ers, but we do know that they are the
poorest paid men in the railroad SER
vice. Their organization is affiliated
with the A. F. Of L., and for this rea-
son it will get both the moral and
financial support of the great FEEDER
alton. The operators can hold out as
long as the railroads, for there is q
whole country to draw from for finan-
cial. aid, and strike breaking as an
,5k only
might dangerous. II es1 $500, 7,
From the latest news reports we Gull
the following which seems to give a
fair account Of the situation up to
date:
ST. PAUL, Aug. 2.-With the te1e-
graphers almost to q man remaining
loyal to their union and chiefs and the
railway officials making every effort to
maintain traffic, the telegraphers' strike
On the trans-continental systems Of the
Great Northern and Northern Pacific
railroads has taken on the aspect OF a
war to finish.
Hundreds of men have gone out on
both lines, necessitating the closing Of
scores of stations, and immense hind
rance has been caused In the moving of
trains. Through limited trains and time
freights by great effort have kept al
most on schedule time, but attempts
maintain local freight and passenger
service. The greatest interference in
schedules has been made on the Idaho
division, some of the fast trains being
delayed five hours where the striking
operators had turned the signal boards
or opened the circuits.
Freight Is Refused.
Freight matter in less than car load
lots for intermediate points was refused
at the freight receiving offices in ST..
Paul and Minneapolis during the day.
Large quantities of perishable freight
were handled by the express companies.
Prepayment on express traffic was al
most invariably demanded, and toward
evening guarantees OF delivery were re-
fused, signed releases being required.
The railway officials say tonight that
they are we'll satisfied with the situa-
tion and that inside Of ten days they
will have enough men to fill the places
of the strikers and maintain a normal
service. Bureaus have been esta blished