The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-12-31
STRIKE SITUATION
THE open SHOP" QUESTION
STOPS NEGOTIATIONS
AT ST. PAUL
STRIKE May SPREAD OUT
IF GOVERNMENT DOES NOT IN.
TERVENE MAY SWEEP
COUNTRY

St. Paul, Dec. 27-DeVelopments OF
the controversy between the railroads
of the northwest and the striking
switchmen instead of resulting in an
amicable settlement Of the stlike, re-
suited in a wider breach than hereto
fore existed. The switchmen declare
negotiations are terminated, and the
labor leaders say there is a strong
possibility of a general strike by the
allied orders belonging to the railway
branch of the American Federation Of
Labor.
H. B. Perham, who has been acting
chairman of the railway council here,
tonight started for Washington, where
he will seek Intervention by the gov
eminent in the controversy.
What II your efforts to secure in
tervention by the government fail?"
Perham was asked. Then there I'M
doubtedly will be a general stlike,"
was the emphatic reply.
President Hawley OF the switch
mems union, asserted:
Several other members of the rail-
way council besides Perham left for
their headquarters tonight to prepare
for a strike by their respective ord
ers."
Perham said:
Friday we were on the verge Of a
settlement with the railroads. We
thought that the matter would be
fixed today. But this morning the
railroads presented a mysterious
change of front, and assumed such ar
rogance that we decided to have moth
ing more to do with them. I am leav-
ing tonight for Washington; have
business in Chicago and Cincinnati
first, but will arrive at TIE capital on
Thursday. AS Intervention by the
state authorities has failed, | shall
seek aid ofthe United States in end
ing the controversy That is causing
bankruptcy and suffering among the
innocent, who have no voice in the
matter"
Perham would not state to which
department at Washington he will
appeal, and said he may seek the in
terest of the interstate commerce COM
mission and may take the matter up
directly with Taft.
The railroad officials refused to take
back all the switchmen at once, but
,~rn1 30 -1 n-,rl~, oil $b~co fhnw
have places for, and gave the switch
men until noon Wednesday to accept.
The offer was Immediately rejected.
This afternoon Hawley and Perham
asked Governor Eberhart to invite
the interstate commerce commission
to intercede. The governor replied
that he did not care to act or this re-
quest until he had consulted the at
torney general, who was absent and
will not return until tomorrow.
Chicago. Dec. 27-The general man.
ayers association gave out the follow
Ing today:
The conference between the rail-
roads and President Hawley of the
switchmen's union ended in Governor
Eberhart's Office this morning.
"Hawley demanded that all striking
sWitchmen be reinstated at once
pending settlement ,nrov gh the Chi
cago conference. The railroads o"er-
ed to take the men back as fast as
possible without DISPLAYING the men
now at work. Hawley would not
agree to anything but comDlefe rein
statement Of all the men, consequent
ly further negotiations ended.
The only important point CT elf
ference was complete reinstatement OF
all the strikers at once.
The railroads today officially noti-
fed Governor Eberhart that they will
hold open their proposition to Haw-
ley until Wednesday, if he cares to
accept it."
Washington, Dec. q - Secretary
Morrison OF the American Federation
of Labor, explained the coming con-
terence of the railroad department OF
the federation as a step in the general
agitation for increases of wages all
along the line for railroad men.
The four big brot' erhoo ds-encin-
GERS, conductors, fremen. and train
men-are not members of the railroad
department. Morrison said he e lev
ed they will be represented at the
conference.
photographers boilermakers, machin-
lists, freight handlers, clerks, switch
men, and the various unions of Stop
workers comprise the railroad depart
ment Of the federation.
Commissioner of Labor Neill said
he supposed a poll of all the organi7a-
tons affected would Rave to indicate
strike sentiment among the men be-
fore one can be ordered.
Buffalo. Eln. 27-Fai1ure of negotia-
tons at ST. Paul is regarded here as
the f%orerunner of a similar result OF
the Chicago conference, at which this
territory is.represented.
"The attituda of tho railroad inter.