Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-28
Associated Pressl

ASSOCIATED Bressl
O r. PAUL, Dec. 27.-Contrary to ex-
pectations, developments today in
the controversy between the rail-
roads of the northwest and the striking
switchmen instead of resulting in an
amicable settlement Of the strike re-
tofore existed.
Not only have the switchmen de-
clared all negotiations with the rail-
roads off, but labor leaders say there
is strong possibility of a general
strike of all allied orders belonging to
the railway branch of the American
Federation of Labor.
II. B. Perham, acting as chairman of
the railroad council in session here,
left tonight for Washington to seek
advice. declaring there may be a
more general strike"
| President Hawley Of the switchmen's
union asserted;
Several other members of the rail-
way council beside Mr., Perham left FOL
their headquarters to make prepara-
/ llOnS loF StIlhe Vi tneiT Respective
orders"
Mr.. Perham, in speaking of today's
| developments. said:
| ,"Friday we were on the verge of a
settlement. and we thought the matter
would be fixed up today. But this
morning the railroads presented a
mysterious change of front and as
sumed such arrogance that we decided
at once to have nothing more to do
with them.
To Arrive Thursday
"I will arrive at the capital on Thurs
| day As tonight's convention of state
authorities has failed. shall seek the
aid of the United States in putting an
| end to a controversy that is causing
bankruptcy and suffering among in
nocent people who have no voice In the
matter"
Mr.. Perham was non-committal as
! to which department at Washington
he would appeal He said he may seek
| to interest the interstate commerce
commission and he may take the mat
| ter up directly with President Taft
| In the controversy between railroads
| and labor leaders today railroad Off
cials refused to take back all the
switchmen at once. but agreed to re-
employ all those they have places for.
They gave until 12 o'clock Wednesday
| to accept the offer, but 1t was imme-
diately rejected.
Later in the afternoon President
Governor Eherhart and asked him TO
| invite the interstate commerce COM
merce commission to intercede
The governor replied he did not care
to act on this request until he had
consulted the attorney general, who Is
out of the city and will not ceturn until
tomorrow. Asked how long 1t would
take to call out a general strike II such
action is decided upon, Mr.. Perham
said:
"Some of the orders can be called
out Immediately There would be
some delay in calling out Others"
Morrison Explains
Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor, eX-
planned the coming conference Of lead
ers of the railroad department of the
federation as a step in the general
agitation for wage increase all along
the line.
While the four big railroad brother
Ihoods-engineers, conductors. f1remen
and trainmen-are not members of the
railroad department, Secretary Morri-
son said he believed they would be rep
with it in a measure.
Telegraphers, boilermakers, machin-
ists freight handlers, clerks, switch
men and shop workers comprise the
railroad department of the federation.
Charles p. Neill, commissioner of
Labor, said tonight that he had heard
nothing Of the conference, but sup
posed a poll of all organizations af-
fected would have to Indicate a strike
sentiment before one can be ordered.
H. B. Perham, president of the teleg-
raphers, is chairman of the railroad
department of the federation.
Failure of negotiations at st. Paul is
regarded as a forerunner of a similar
result of the Chicago conference at
which this territory is represented.
1.-THE attitude of the railroad interests
at st. Paul." said Grand Vice Presi-
dent William H. Burt of the Switch
mems union of North America, to-
night, Indicates plainly that a basis
of settlement in the northwest must be
acceptable not only to the northwestern
lines but to all the roads included in
the general managers association. This
must inevitably force the men into a
similar position"