Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-20

4VSsHO IS AA.AVOAsSs5 S00@ NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. u0
Durgan. the master mechanic. waiting
for him In the hotel corridor when he
came IN from Z late luncheon at tho
Camelot club.
Can you give Us q few minutes, Mr..
Loring I" asked M'Tosh, when Loring
had shaken hands with them. not -
subordinates. =.=ss. ). ..55sz
Surely. My time is not very valu-
able, just at present. Come In, and I'll
see II Mi. Kent has left me any cigars .
"Humph!" said Durgan. when the
ex-managor had gone into Kent's room
to rummage for the smoke Offering.
And they give us the major in the
place OF such q man as that!"' with .
jerk Of his thumb toward the door OF
the bedroom. -.
''Cot1e off," warned M'Tosh: hell
hear yoN." And when Loring came
back with the cigars there was dry hu-
NOR in hia eye. !. r. IS: S.:
"You muEtss't let your loyalty to the
old guard get you into trouble with the
receiver" he cLa4oned; and they both
smiled. - r..
''The trouble hasn't waited for our
bringing" said M'Tesh. THAT is Why
We are<here. Durgan has soured on his
job, and I'm more than sick of mine.
It's hell, Mr.. Loring. have been ut it
20 years, and never saw such crazy
railroading in any one Of them"
Dad management, you meant"
bad management at the top, and
rotten Generalization at the bottom as
natural consequence. We can't be
sure of getting train out of the yards
without accident. Dixon Is as careful
man as ever stepped on an engine.
and he smashed a farmers wagon and
killed the farmer this morning within
two train-lengths of the shop juno
ton"
Drunk" inquired the ex-manager.
"Never a drop: Dixon's prohibi-
ZIONIST, dyed in the wool. But just
before he took his train, Halkett had
him in the sweat-box, lacking him up
for not making his time. He came
out red in the face, jumped on his en-
CINE and yanked the Flyer down the
yards 40 miles an hour" -.
"And what is your trouble, Durgan?''
| asked Lorins.
Another side of the same thing.
| wrote Maj. Guilford yesterday, tell
ing him that six pit gangs, all the
roundhouse emergencies and two out
door repair squads couldn't begin to
keep the cripples moving; and with
in week every one Of the labor unions
has kicked through its grievance COM
| mittee. His reply is an order an
nouncing blanket cut in wages, to &c
into effect the first of the month. That
means a strike and general tie-up."
Loring shook his head regretfully.
| 1T hurts me-" he admitted. 1--WE
had the best-handled piece Of railroad
in the west, and give the credit to the
men that did the handling. And tc
have it wrecked by gang Of incom'
petent salary-grabbers-"
The two left-overs nodded.
That's just it, Mr.. Loring,' sale
M'Tosh. "And we're here to ask YOU
if it's worth while for us to stick tt
the wreck any longer. Are you folk.
doing anything?"
1--WE have been trying all legal mean:
to break the grip of the combination
yes"
"And what are the prospects?" L
was the master mechanic who wanted
to know. p" r--~ So d
"They are not very bright at pres
ent, must confess. We have the en-
tire political ring to fight, and the odd.
are overwhelming"
"You say you've been trying 'lega
MEANS" M'Tosh put in. Cant w
down them some other way? be
lieve you could safely count on thu
help of every man in the service, barr
ing the politicals."
Lorins smiled.
Il don't say We should scruple to us.
force if there were any way to appl,
it. But the way doesn't OFFER"
81 didn't know" said the trainmas
ter, rising to close the interview
But if the time ever comes, all 70,
or Mr.. Kent will have to do will b'
to pass the word Maybe you can thinl
of some way to use the strike. I
hasn't been declared yet, but you cal
bet on it to q dead moral certainty"