The labor world., 1909-12-18
Talk Of Fifty Per Cent Conces-
sions to switchmen Inspired in
Daily Press by Managers.
DISCOVER SYMPATHY OF
THE PUBLIC is WANING
And Hurry to Papers With Dis
play "switching Reports =
Which Say That Business Is
Better than a Year Ago. a.

oGkG01 C14ecA - L OA4 33$3Vs = -
There's victory in sight for the
striking switchmen. -.
While at time of going to press
there is no direct change from the
situation that has existed for the past
two weeks, arbitration talk is in the
air. -
The most significant feature Of
this arbitration talk is that it is in
spired. by the railroad managers
hemselves-the men who so cheer
fully declared a few days ago that
they had nothing to arbitrate. Unless
it was arbitrated under protection Of
their creature, the Erdman law.
For two or three days this week
the daily papers of the northwest
have carried inspired articles on the
strike-articles in which the wish that
was father to the thought was plain
'ly evident.
These articles talked of arbitration
on a basis of about fifty per cent of
the switchmen's original demands.
When it is considered that a week
ago a concession of even one per cent
of their demands wasn't suggested by
a single daily paper things look bet-
ter, don't they?
Paid for 'Switching Reports
And alongside these arbitration
stories the newspapers carried paid
advertising Of the railroads-state-
ments that wheels were turning as
, merrily in the yards as ever. That
they had all the business they could
handle-bigger business than in the
same period last year, the Great
Northern audaciously stated.
But these paid statements were
lies. Not untruths. just plain lies.
If you do not think that they are
lies go ask at the traffic departments
of the big Duluth wholesale houses.
They will tell you that their travel
ing men have ceased seeking business
: in the territory in western Minne-
sofa and North Dakota affected by
the eastrike. sssi tell you the
-. reason IS the roads cannot deliver the
goods even If the orders were filled.
Was 1t Pure PhilanthrOpy? "-~
Again if the roads are running 80
smoothly, why is it necessary for the
railroad managers to go to the ex-
pense of buying newspaper space fol
their daily switching reports" or to
inspire those arbitration" stories in
the news columns of the papers, pre-
sumably in consideration of the space
they bought.
No, the yards are as congested az
ever and there are no switchmen de-
serting the strikers ranks as the st.
Paul papers have reported with blare
of trumpets.
thn
lood, temporarily misled by biasseG
leaders have many of them been
shamed into quitting work. The mer
brought from New York and othe1
eastern cities, the output of "press
gang employment offices, are In
many places trying to do switching
work and failing miserably.
The elements have conspired tt
help the strikers in regard to this
latter class. The cold snap tha,
struck the st. Paul and Minneapoli:
yards killed off the ambitious anna
teur switchmen this week as a Sep
tember f1ost does the flies.
Asked for Their Time.
They got cold feet and frozen fin
gers all at the same time and a stead,
stream of them has been filing up Il
the yard office the past few DAYS x
get their time
Only a day or two ago they coult
not even switch a passenger and hat
to carry the mail bags across tn,
tracks out to the mail ear.
In Superior the strikers are NOR
solidified than ever.
Deily talks by President Howle,
cf the state federation and Mrs. Ann
Purdy, the 'bravest switchman :,
them all, have put good heart in tn
strikers and made them feel that the
were not unsupported. Then agai
the assurance after the Hawley-Gom
pers conference that the America
Federation Of Labor would be square
1y behind the switchmeI stiffened til
unemployed men in wonderful mar
ner.
Eager for Fair Arbitration.
They are willing to leave thej
case in the hands of the leaders {
organized labor and are just as. viii
ing to submit to arbitration at tn
hands Of unbiased, fair business mel
The railroad managers realize tn,
the general public can no longer /
bamboozled by fiction. They kno
that hard-headed Ausiness men, VII
have seen railroad switching charF.
Increased at the will Of the. traffj
officials, are wondering why the il
creases are necessary if no highe
wages are being paid to employees.
SO cheer up, friends Of organize
labor. -: 49,.
Something may drop Saturds
when Uncle Samuel Gompers and II
heads of railway department of Il,
Federation get together Saturds
morning in St. Paul - I-
It won't be switchmen's wages.