The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-05
Svi'chmen Are Still Confident
Of Winning Victory
RELY UPON OTHER AID
Strikers Expect American Federation
of Labor to Aid Them-Railroad
Officials Claim That the
Strike Is Broken.

Minneapolis, December 4-(Special.)-
Another crisis is approaching rapidly in
strike of the switchmen of the Northwest.
the events OF Sunday when leaders of
both sides will have more time to deliber-
the strike of the switchmen Of the North
west. The events of Sunday, when lead
ers of both sides will have more time to
deliberate the issues probably will lead
TO decisions which will determine the fu-
ture of tire Industrial strife by Monday.
AS the fourth day of the battle nears it's
close and the dawn of the second week
of the struggle approaches, the railroads
are claiming victory. They say that they
have at their command sufficient men to
replace the strikers, and that they have
the resources 10 make able switchmen of
these.
The switchnlen remain confident. They
hint at spread of the strike II they find
that their present forces are not equal to
the resistance cf the roads. They rely
upon the aid promised them by the
American Federation of Labor. President
Hawley announced the support of the
big parent organization of labor in his
cities r
The railroads are announcing that the
strike is broken. Shippers whose goods
have been accepted today by the roa is,
after three days of enbarg, seem to
lean tc the belief that the switchmen will
losa unless they spread the strike to
other cities and crafts. The switchmen
only smile and say peace must be made
to restore normal conditions.
the strikers dte,Are fliaf 80 rdnnlng
W and down OF number OF locomotives
for OBJECT" as they put it, was bringing
TO real heneft to the companies or to The
public. and that such condition did not
spell Improvement of conditions, for run
ming engines did not mean the throwing
of switches o. the handling of freight.
The greatest concern felt by railroad
managers and the public alike -ose over
the report tn&t the army of fraignt kan
dlars of the twin cities might refuse to
move any freight which was TO 1e placed
ir a car landed by non-union switchircn.
Such an attitude by the freight ham
dlers, who are strongly organized and re-
would have an effect on the freight con-
gestion beyond anything that can be fig
ured.
From Cleveland this afternoon came
more news Of the danger of general
strike Gripping railroad service all over
the country. The locomotive engineers
and firemen and tho Brotherhood Of Rail-
road Trainmen are seeking increases in
wages and unless their demands are
granted 1t is said to be probable that
general walk-out will result.
Warren s. Stone, grand chief of the
engineers, is quoted from Cleveland as
saying:
There is spirit Of unrest among rail-
road employees throughout the United
States. The time is ripe for another
movement similar to that of 1902. A gem
eral strike is not improbable"
That representatives of the switch
mems union are hiring out as strike
breakers with the avowed intention Of
still further crippling the railroads in
their yards, Is the statement of union
synpathfzer closely In touch with the
situation at st. Paul.