Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-01
'eDire Possibilities Attend
Strike, CenterFng at
st. Pau
BUSINESS AFFECTED
Big Roads Make 10 Attempt to
Handle Freight and Fac
tories Are Closing.

St. Paul, MInn. Dec. 1.-Business
paralysis In many lines In st. Paul
and Minneapolis is gradually follow
ing the strike of the switchmen. Very
light freight is being handled In the
twin cities and the announcement
came from Minneapolis at noon that
the big Hour mills viii close by 8
o'clock tonight. This would throw
about 5000 employees of milling COM
panies out of work 1t is lntimated
the locomotive fireman may quit work.
SWITCHMEN- st Paul
RESPONSE is GENERAL.
Reports from all points show a gen.
2 efszi response of switchmen to the
strike orders. Railroad traffic general
iy Is slow ard manufacturing and ship
ping interests throughout the territory
more or less greeted.
Both sides Claim Advantage.
st. Paul, Dec. both sides in the
controversy between the railroads of
the northwest and the switchmen's
union, which resulted in a walkout of
the switchmen between here and the
Pacific coast last night, claimed to
have the situation well in hand this
morning. Passenger traffic was main
tanned throughout the twin cities last
night and this morning, though with
considerable delay. Very little freight
was handled anywhere between the
great lakes and the coast.
Want More Pay.
The switchmen are firm in the deter
mination to hold out for an increase OF
six cents an nour in wages, with doli-
BILE time for overtime. Sundays and
holidays, together with other conces-
sions. while the railroads claim things
will adjust themselves to their normal
condition within few days despite the
walkout
May Throw Many Out of Work.
All freight trains at Duluth and SUI
perior were at a standstill this morn
ing. 1t is said that. should the strike
last even few days, fully 10000 men
lyemployed in the mines, docks and 9TH
er industries at the head of the lakes
Will be thrown out of work.
Give 1t National Scope.
The railroad managers strike COM
mittee is made up for the larger part
from railroads not directly concerned
in the switchmen's strike, thus giving
the contest the appearance of national
Importance. 1t is said today the moral
and financial support or the National
Railway associatio.H is being given the
railroads of the northwest in an FL
legged effort to overcome the union
rule.
Not an Engine Moving.
switch engine in Superior is doing
service today and to all appearances
the railway people plan the entire ces-
satiou of freight work. No violence
is threatened and the men are appar-
emily prepared to make long fight.
Lnys on 800 Men.
The Great Northern this noon laid
off 300 machinists and shopmen. The
crew at the ore docks is being largely
reduced.
Becomes Effective at r. VI.
st. Paul, Dec. AFTER Is days of
negotiating between the Switchmen'1
Union of North America and joint
sscommittee of 10 railroad managers
representing 19 railroads of the north
west, strike involving 1900 switch
night
The men engaged in the strike are
employed by the various railroads run.
ming west and north of st. Paul from
Lake Superior 20 the Pacific coast, and
unless the trouble is speedily settled
it will mean a serious interruption to
traffic.
The first effect of the strike was a
sharp bulge in the price of wheat in
the Chicago grain market late yester-
day. AS the roads entering the twin
cities and Duluth and Superior are
largely grain carriers from the west,
the prospects of a long Interruption IF
traffic will have widespread effect
Demands of the Men-
Last night both sides to the dispute
publicly set forth their positions. The
railway managers committee issued
statement addressed To the Public
which gave the switcnmen's demands
as follows:
Double pay for Sundays, holi-
days and overtime.
An advance of 60 cents per day
of 10 hours in the wages of switch
men switchtenders, towermen, en-
gine-herders and assistant yard
masters
A modification of the rule pro-
yiding for the payment Of penalty