Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1909-12-10

with respect to the third request:
1t was acknowledged by the switch
mems committee that it's desire was
to obtain regular meal hours, but it
recognized that there were conditions
under which sucl, meal hours could
not always be provided,
The managers committee took the
position that double overtime would
not correct the difficulty, but that it
would exert every effort to secure the
desired results in other ways.
Inthe reply to the fourth request, it
was explained, very fully, that it was
necessary that the switchmen he sub
ject to physical examination in ac-
cordance with the regulations of the
various railways, and that in this
matter and in the fixing OF the age
limit, the railways must Individually
control the practice. Lu ~ subsequent
letter, the committees recommended
! that the matter be taken up with the
railways individually.
TO these arguments, which were
contained in a letter dated November
22nd, Mr.. Hawley replied, on the
same date, declining to accept ANY
part Of the answer
On November 22nd Mr.. Hawley
was advised of the final position at
the managers committee. 1t was
suggested in the matter of the meal
hour, that relief from the BURDEN
some conditions cited should be OBJ
tanned by application to the manage
ments of individual roads
In the letter of advice the man.
ayers committee stated that:
1.-The managers committee assumes
that your committee joins in it's de-
sire for an amicable adjustment of
the matters under consideration. It,.
therefore, suggests. in the event of a
failure to agree in this conference.
that the four original propositions be
submitted to arbitration under the
Erdman act
In his letter Of reply, dated Novem-
Der 23rd, Mr.. Hawley made no con-
cessions. refusing to advance the ne
gotiations by getting together with
the managers committee. The clos
ing sentence reads:
"keplying to your suggestion that
in the event Of Il failure OH the part
OF the committees to come to an
agreement, that the four propositions
originally presented be submitted to
arbitration, under the Erdman act,
the committee begs leave to state
that it will not submit to arbitration,
under any circumstances"
That letter was presented to the
managers committee in a conference
on the afternoon of November 23rd,
at which considerable discussion was
had relative to arbitration.
Mr.. Hawley declining arbitration
for various reasons, was finally asked
if mediation under the Eulman act
would be considered, and with con-
! sent Of the men, assented, and the
following joint telegram was sent:
''St. Paul, Minn., Nov. II, l9O0.-
Martin \. Knapp, chairman inter
state commerce commission, and
Charles +. Neill, L. :. commissioner
of labor, Washington, d. G.: The
Conference Committee of General
Managers Of Railways and the Switch
mems Union Of North America, rep
resenting the railways of the north
west and the switchmen employed
thereon, having been in session at
st. Paul, Mimi, during the past four
days and having failed to agree Oh
certain questions at issue, jointly in
vite your good offices as metliators
under the Erdman act and request
your presence here on Saturday, No
vember 9th, to that end, Please wire
answer Immediately"
The Joint telegram was signed by
!. q. Rawn, chairman managers
committee, and +. I. Ilawley, presi-
dent Switchmen's Union of North
America.
In the meantime, during the nego-
tiations subsequent thereto, pending
the arrival of Messrs. Neill and
Knapp. and despite the agreement
reached in the conferences that mp(li-
alton under the Ertlman act should
be invoked, and without the knowl-
edge of either the managers commit
tee or the mediatOrs. Il strike order
was ISSUED! directing the switchmen
of the northwest to cease work at six
o'clock p. m, November 3Oth, in the
event that their full demands had not
been conceded.
This violation of the understanding
81 embarrassed the negotiations that
mediation became impossible, and led
To the demand by the mediatOrs. adj
dressed to hot n the lnanauprS' and tk.,