The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-01
manned by men not members of the
Statements Are Made.


union.
Statements Are Made.
President Hawley of the Switchmcn's
union, stated the tieup is complete, every
man having gone out.
General Manager G. T. Slade of the
Northern Pacific stated at seven points
on his road the men had refused to go
out and traffic, while delayed. was NOV
ing.
Mr.. Hawley's statement follows:
81 have definite reports from every
point. affected and my information is
that the strike order has been obeyed
to the man.
"I am informed that the road men re-
fused to do the work of the switchmen.
I don't think there will be sympa-
thetic strike. The strike is the most
complete and determined I ever saw"
Mr.. Slade gave out this statement:
Railroads Hopeful.
1.-THE indications from the railroads
standpoint are very favorable. The
men refused to obey the strike order in
seven Of the yards on the Northern Pa
cific road and are working as usual
While passenger traffic has been delay
ed somewhat, it is moving along all
right and we are moving some freight.
In a few days think the conditions
will be about normal. The same gen
eral conditions apply to 1.-The Great
Northern road"
the Twin Cities alone. The following
roads are affected:
Great Northern, Northern Pacific,
Chicago Burlington & Quincy, Chicago.
ST. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha; Chi
cago, Milwaukee & ST. Paul; the Bridge
& Terminal; the Railway transfer;
Minneapolis Eastern; Minnesota West
ern; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific,
and the Chicago Great Western.
The first effect Of the strike was 4
ch 40 hyrJ in, he mir ne WI N
the Chicago grain market. AS the
roads entering the Twin Cities AMI
Duluth and Superior are largely grain
carriers from the west the prospect of
a long interruption to this traffic Will
mean something.
The railway managers committee
have issued the following statement:
1.-The switchmen in the northwest
territory made simultaneous demands
on 13 road companies centering in the
Twin Cities The demands were for
double pay for Sundays, holidays and
overtime; an advance of go cents per
day of 10 hours in the wages, modif1-
cation of the rule providing for the
payment of penalty in case of failure
to permit switchmen to secure their
meal in the middle of their shift at a
stated period, which contemplates
double pay in cases where it became
necessary to work a portion of the meal
hour; and the elimination of the phySl-
cal examination and the age limit
placed upon switchmen entering the
service.
Five conferences were held in st.
Paul in which the swltchnen in no
detail receded from their demands
V hich if conceded. would have entail
ed an additional expense for switching
service of from 40 to 45 per cent The
mana gers committee offered the
switchlren an increase of 20 cents per
day of ten hours in the rate of pay
of switchmen employed in the terri
tory west of Havre. Montana, on the
Great Northern railway. and west of
Billings. Montana. on the Northern Pa
cific.
Average 800 Month.
1.-The attention of the switch1nen was
called that ir 1906 the switchmen were
granted a larger percentage of increase
than any other class OF employees in
train service. At the present rates the
wages of the switchmen average over
500 a month
The statement then recites that on
November %, after discussion of the
proposal to arbitrate under the terms
of the Erdman act at the suggestion of
President Hawley, of the SW1tchmen'S
union, a joint telegram was addressed
to Martyr A. Knapp of the interstate
commerce commission and Charles P.
Neill, United States commissioner of
labor, seeking them to act as medita-
tors under the Erdman law
COnI10ulnR the SldtSIHtul Says.
Monday, November 29, was selected
as the day for conference between
Knapp and Neill and the representa-
.tlves of the roads and sw1tchmen at
ST. Paul.
About November % before the con-
ference with Messrs. Knapp and Nefll
had begun, despite the understanding
reached in the conference that media
ton under the Erdman act should be
evoked, and without the knowledge OF
either the managers committee or
mediators a strike order was issued by
the switchmen's committee directing
the switcnmen of the 13 northwestern
railroads to cease work at o'clock,
November 80. in the event that their
full demands had not been conceded.
This violation of the good faith so
embarrassed the negotiations that sue
cessful mediation became impossible
and led to the demand by Messrs.
Knapp and Neill addressed to both
the managers committee and the
switchmen that the controversy be
s@x, %l,p