The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-12-30
THE "OPEN SHOP" QUESTION
STOPS NEGOTIATIONS
AT ST. PAUL
STRIKE MAY SPREAD OUT.
IF GOVERNMENT DOES NOT IN
TERvENE MAY SWEEP
COUNTRY

st. Paul, Dec. 27-Develorments of
the controversy between the railroads -
of the northwest and the striking
switchmen instead of resulting in an.
amicable settlement Of the strike, re-
suited in a wider breach than hereto
fore existed. The switchmen declare
negotiations are terminated, and the
labor leaders say there is a strong
possibility of a general strike by the
allied orders belonging to the railway
branch of the American Federation Of;
Labor. G.S -
H.. B. Perham, who has been acting
chairman of the railway co Incil here,
tonight started for Washington, where
he will seek Intervention by the gov
eminent in the controversy.
What IL your efforts to secure in
tervention by the government fail?"
Perham was asked. Then there I'M
doubtedly will be a general st Ike
was the emphatic. reply. J.
President Hawley OF the switch
mems union, asserted: ,
Several other members of the rail-
way council besides Perham left for
for a strike by their respective ord
ers."
Perham said:
Friday we were on the verge OF a
settlement with the railroads. We
thought that the matter would be
fixed today. But this morning the
change of front, and assumed such sr-
rogance that We decided to have moth
ing more to do with them. l am leav-.
ing tonight for Washington. have
business in Chicago and Cincinnati
first, but will arrive at the capital on
Thursday. AS intervention by. the
state authorities has failed, / shall
seek aid ofthe United States in end
ing the controversy that is causing
bankruptcy and suffering among the
innocent, who have no voice in the.
matter" .
Perham would not state to which
department at Washington he will
appeal, and said he may seek the in
terest OF the interstate commerce COM
mission and may take the matter up '
directly with Taft.
The railroad officials refused to take
back all the switchmen at once, but
agreed to re-employ all those they
have places for, and gave the switch
men until Don Wednesday to accept. Z
The offer was immediately. rejected.
This afternoon Hawley and Perham
asked Governor Eberhart to invite
the interstate commerce commission
to intercede. The governor replied
that he did not care to act on this re-
quest until he had consulted the at
torney general, who was absent and
will not return until tomorrow.
Chicago, Dec. 27-The general man.
ayers association gave out the follow,
Ing today: ..,
"The conference between. the rail-
roads and President Hawley of the :
switchmen's union ended in Governor ].
Eberhart's office this morning. ~.
"Hawley demanded that al striking
switchmen be reinstated at once,
pending settlement through the CHS
cago conference. The railroads Offer.
ed to take the men back as fast as
possible without displacing the men
now at work. Hawley world not
agree to anything but comCle'e rein Il.
statement of all the men, consequent
ly further negotiations ended.
The only important point CT dif-
ference was complete reinstatement OF.
all the strikers at once.
The railroads today officially nCti-
fed Governor Eberhart that they VIII
hold open their proposition to Haw-
ley until Wednesday, if he cares to. .
accept it."
Washington, Dec. ~ - Secretary .
Morrison Of the American Federation
Of Labor, explained the coming con-
ference OF the railroad department OF :.
the federation as a step in the general
agitation for increases of wages all
along the line for railroad men.
The four big brott erho, ds-enein .
GERS, conductors, fremen. and train
men-are not members of the railroad
department. Morrison said he e lev
ed they will be represented at TIL
conference. ~. v.s-f'
Telegraphers boilermakers, machin-
lists, freight handlers, clerks. switch :.
men, and the various unions of shop
workers comprise the railroad depart
ment Of the federation.
Commissioner of Labor Neill said
be supposed a poll of all the ~crganiza-
tons affected would have to. indicate.
strike sentiment among the men be-
fore n can be ordered.
Buffalo, Do. 27-Failure OF neeotias,'
lions at ST. Paul is regarded ters as
the f%orerunner of a similar result of
the Chicago conference. at which this
territory is represented.
The attitude Of the railroad inter
ests al ST. Paul" said Grand VIE
President Burt of the switehmen's
- H. O-.-l& -. - -.