Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-08-17
PRESIDENT OF GREAT NORTH.
ERN ROAD REFUSES TO
ARBlTRATE.
GOV. JOHNSON TAKES HOLD
DECLARES THERE HAS BEEN
sTAGNATloN OF BUSINESS IN
SMALL TOWNS,

~. dul, aug. 1Z.-The telegrapherS'
Strike on the Great Northern and the
Northern Pacific is a fight to a finish
president James ]. Hill of the Great
Northern railway yesterday put an end
10 the hopes of the striking telegra-
phers 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
likewise 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 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-
lutely nothing to arbitrate with men
who go out without notice."
That Mr.. Hill has been kept well
posted as to the telegraphers' 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 to Mr.. Slade yesterday.
Gov. Johnson'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 general strike Of
telegraphers on the Great Northern
system much hardship and inconven-
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.
"In view of this unfortunate condi
ton, 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 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 Photographers, who
represents the striking employees I
have also forwarded 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 Great
Northern have announced that they
consider the strike 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.