Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-03
President Perham Says 81 Per Cent Of
Them obeyed the Order
FREIGHT TRAFFIC PRACTICALLY TIED U
Through Passenger Trains Are Running on
Gard Rules.
STATEMENT BY RAILWAY OFFICIALS
Nay They VIII Have Enough Conn
petent Men TO Restore Normal
Conditions within Ten
Days Time.


way officials making every effort to main
tain traffic the telegrsphers' strike on the
transcontinental systems of the Great
Northern and Northern Pacific railroads,
has taken on the aspect Of war to the
finish Hundreds of men have gone out
On both lines, necessitating the closing of
scores of stations, and immense hindrance
has been caused in the moving Of trains.
Through limited trains and time freights
by great effort have been kept almost on
schedule time, but attempts have been prac-
ticany abandoned to maintain local freight
and passenger service. The greatest inter
ference In schedules has been on the Idaho
division some of the fast trains being de-
layed five hours where the striking opera
tors had turned the signal boards or opened
the circuits.
Freight Matter Refused.
reight matter in less than carload lots
Tor intermediate points was refused at the
freight receiving offices in st. Paul and
Minneapolis during the day. Large guam
titles of perishable freight were handled by
rAe express companies, Prepayment on
express traffic was almost invariably de-
manded, and toward evening guarantees of
delivery were refused, signed releases being
required.
The rail way officials say tonight that
tLey are well satisfied with the situation
and that inside Of ten days they will have
enough men to hll the places of the strikers
and maintain a normal service. Bureaus
have been established in the principal
cities in the west. where men are hired.
The officials say that the greatest care is
being taken in the selection of men and
that only thoroughly competent operators
will be employed Meanwhile trains
run on time card rules and in sections, and
IN this manner satisfactory progress is
made.
No accidents have occurred so far.
Rumors we're circulated that there had
been one or two collisions in points in
North Dakota, but these are declared at
the railroad offices to be absolutely false
and spread with malicious intent
Statement by Perham.
President Perham Of the telegraphers de-
clared that 81 per cent of the union mem
bers are out, and that they will stay out
until they receive what the union officials
have decided will be a square deal. Mr.
Perham says that 90 per cent of the men
were both station agents and telegrap phers
and where these went out the stations
were closed in almost every instance. He
states that a number of train dspatchers,
while not members OF the union, went out
in sympathy.
There is nothing to say now except that
we have a full-fedged strike on and that
so far as our reports go every man is out
on both lines" said Mr. Perham today.
II ordered this strike after we had tried
all other ways of settling our grievances
against the railroads and after they had
locked out our men because they would
not sign impossible agreements. Another
thing that caused me to call the strike
1wns a statement from the general man.
NACSr of the Great Northern that so per
cent Of the men remained loyal to the
'oad. That and the fact that about 400
onunion men were on their way from
ansas City to hll the vacancies on the
,orthern Pacific caused me to decide to
/ show them that they were wrong in their
estimate as to the number of loyal men
Well. our men are out, and our advices
are that the tie-up is complete. The roads
are not running any freight trains. They
may be running passenger trains on time
and I hope they will do so, as 1 don't
want to interrupt the travellers"
When asked on what basis he would be
willing to cah of the strike, the strike
leader would only say:
I'VE are in a peaceful and amicable
mood. II J. j. Hin will talk business and
meet my proposition fairly we will settle
We have now $50 men out on the Great
Northern road ana l.lOo on the Northern
Pacific"
General Manager Talks.
General Manager II. ]. Horn of the
Northern Pacific made the following state,
ment this afternoon:
In response to President Perhams strik,
instructions, the telegraphers on the North
The order was generally obeyed on all o,
the ten divisions of the system.
IhS situation has not, however, tied VI
cihc system. Passenger trains over nj,
entire line are running very close TO thei
The strike has interfered 70 some de
@gree with the movement of freight Owe
The system, but not In such proportions az
ito produce blockades OF serious conges
Telegraphers at headquarters in St Pau
Sveyed the strike order. Wires are stll
working at the headquarters offices how
-yer and communication is being main
The refusal OF the men to remain at thei
duties Is an inconvenience, but the bust
the same. In a fairly satisfactory man
ner. subject only 20 inccnveniences,
on the Dakota division substantially III
same condition prevails. The situation OF
the Yellowstone, Montana, Rocky Mountain
and Idaho divisions Is much the same Tn
Pacihc division is in good shape and train
between Portland and Puget Sound point
:hs sound and kienSurs. IN eastern p1STsf Wssh
ington. are not quite so good.
Men Obey Orders.
General Superintendent Slade OF tn
Great Northern railway, said:
! The strike order Of last night has bee
observed by number Of telegraphers VIII
have heretofore expressed their willingness
70 accept the new schedule and who ar
entirely satisfied with Il.
With but few exceptions the telegTa pher
who have been interviewed by our super
intendents have stated that their obllga
tions 10 the order OF Railway Telegrapher
require them 20 strike, regardless OF thei
feeling u loyalty 10 the company an
duty 10 the public. Some employees VIII
had at nrst refused to accept the schdul
have, since the strike was called accepte
the same and returned 10 work.
Trains due here today were on time wit
II the exception OF one. which was detaine
by causes having no connection with IN
strike. Our fast freights are on time an
Continued on Second PaEs.)