The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1909-12-28

explanation.
With every wish to meet any sug-
gestions made by your Excellency,
and with the natural desire of EN-.
ployers to help, worthy men who
gave up their positions and who
should be at work for the support of
their families and themselves, the
representatives of the Twin CITY
Lines submit that no hardships
should be imposed, nor any injustice
permitted, to the large number of
present employees in yard service,
who are in no way responsible for
the present situation.
When the former yard employees
of the railways voluntarily gave up
their positions on November 3Oth,
after refusing the offer of the rail-
roads to arbitrate and be bound by
the arbitration award without appeal,
the refusal being made in the follow
ing language in letter signed by
Mr.. Hawley, and dated November
23rd: THE committee begs leave to
state that it will not sui nit to
arbitration under any circum-
Stances" it became necessary for
the railroads to promote many of
the men who remained in the service,
to transfer some from other branches
and to employ many new men in
order to perform their duty to the
public, to the other employees and
to the owners of the properties.
AS large employees of labor under
wage agreements, the Twin City
Lines would not be justified in reduc.
ing in rank those employees who have
been promoted since November Goth,
in returning to their former employ
ment those who have left positions
in other branches of the service, or
in dismissing without cause the
competent men who have been en-
ployed to fill the other vacancies.
1t is, however certain that upon
the basis Of unemployment suggested
by your Excellency, many of the old
switchmen can be given employment
and probably a large number would
be restored to their old positions.
With the growth of business, it is
reasonable to expect that consider
able increase in force will be re-
CURED which will enable the Twin
City Lines to provide employment
in the aggregate for more men than
were employed previous to Novem-
Der Goth.
The representatives of the Twin
City Lines believe that they have
accepted your Excellency's sugges-
tons without reservation. They have
done so with the sincere desire of
avoiding any further inconvenience
to the public, and the loss to their
employees which will result from a
continuance of the present condi-
tons.
In conclusion, the representatives
of the Twin City Lines are under
the necessity of advising your Excel
lency that their offer can not remain
open indefinitely, and that if not
previously accepted, it will be con-
sidered withdrawn at twelve Noon,
Wednesday, December 10Th.
With many thanks for your inter-
est in behalf of the railways and
their employees, and with apprecia-
ton of the manner in which your
Excellency has handled these diff
cult negotiations, we beg to SUBJ
scribe ourselves.
Very respectfully yours,
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R.
R.
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
Ry.
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis &
Omaha Ry.
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
Ry. a.
Chicago, Great Western R. R. Co.
Great Northern Ry.
500 Line.
Minneapolis, St. Louis Ry.
Minnesota Transfer Ry. Co.
Minneapolis Railway Transfer
Co.
St. Paul Bridge Terminal Co.
Northern Pacific Ry.
St. Paul Union Depot Co.