The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-03
Traffic in the Northwest Still
Delayed by Strike.
Railroads Are Filling Vacancies
as Rapidly as Possible.
BY THE CAR LOAD.
They Are Bringing in New Men
From Various Points.
Interstate Board of Mediation
Is Being Suggested.

st. Paul, Dec. 3.-"If all the mem
ters of the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen in the territory affected Dy
the strike return to work today, ana
1 don't think they will, the total ef-
4ect will hardly be noticeable" said
President F. T. Hawley of the Switch
mems Union of North America, when
asked as to the probable effect on the
strike situation of the trainmen re-
turning to work today.
There are only $50 members of the
trainmen's brotherhood in the north
west and all of them will not go to
work. Only so per cent of those at
Duluth will work today" he con-
tsnued '"'he trainmen are 7tronger
end better organized at Duluth than
at any point between here and the
coast and their action will have scarce
iy any effect further west"
Mr.. Hawlev refused to comment
upon the statement given out by Presi-
dent w G. Lee of the brotherhood
last night further than to say that
Mr.. Lee is new man in that posllloh
and probably does not fully under
stand the situation in the west Mr.
lIawley said that the brotherhood has
10 contracts with the roads in the
west.
He also stated that according to the
instructions issued last night by Presl-
dent Carter of the Brotherhood OF
I locomotive Firemen and Enginemen
they will simply perform their duties
as they have been and not interfere
with the strikers one way or the other.
Still in Bad Shape.
Conditions at local terminals were
still in bad shape this morning.
While there was some movement
OF cars. there was no volume of busi-
ness being done and most passenger
traffic was delayed. More strike
breakers were put to work TINS morn
ing and officials stated that before the
day is over enough new men will be
working to improve conditions con-
s'derably Conditions at the large
terminals are worse than at the
smaller ones and way stations.
1t is impossible to make an accu-
rate estimate of the number of strike
reakers employed.
I'VE put dozen new men to work
today" said General Manager Grub
err of the Great Northern. General
Manager Slade, of the Northern Pa
cific would make no statement of the
number of men employed on his road.
The officials say however, that sew
eral hundred new men are expected
to arrive today, one car load being
from Winnipeg and several from
Chicago.
The strikers say the men imported
are not railroad men and can not do
the work properly.
Mediation Suggested.
When Governor A. o. Eberhardt
arrives today from Chicago, State
Labor Commissioner w. R. E. Nc
Even will recommend that he take
steps to organize an interstate board
of mediation to be composed of the
chief executives of Minnesota, North
Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Wash
ington, for the purpose of bringing
about a settlement of the strike.
With a cold wave lowering over
Montana and a blizzard raging it is
feared much suffering will result
because of the depletion of the coal
supply unless traffic conditions are
improved. The Northern Pacific was
Montana division yesterday, but both
were for their own use.
- superintendent F. D. Kelsey an
ilounced that full switching crews will
be at work at all points on the Da-
kota division of the Great Northern
today. 1t is reported that the officials
at Grand Forks are accepting freight
for all points except Duluth and the
Twin Cities.
Cars Moved by Horses.
No freight is being received at
Crookston. Mimi, but passenger
trains are moving with more or less
regularity. The yardmaster of the
Great Northern at Fargo began this
morning to use horses in moving
freight cars for the business men.
Horses are also being used for the
movement of freight cars at Brainerd,
Mimi, as only one switch engine is
working. Six local time freights have
been made up in the Missoula yards
by the division officers and clerks of
the Northern Pacific and they are ex-
pected to be started this morning
The officials and their clerks made
up two crews and are working in day
and night shifts. Strike breakers are
expected to arrive there this morn
ing.
Three hundred nonunion switchma1
arrived in St. Paul today. Under
guard they marched to the rear of thu
Northern Pacific general offices, where
they were kept until they could be dis
tributed.
hooted at and employees of several
wholesale grocery firms pelted them
with potatoes.
They Want to Come Back.
st. Paul, Mimi, Dec. 3-Superintend
ent Morrison of the union depot termi-
nails said today that he had been an
preached by five members of the
there was much dissatisfaction in the
ranks OF the union and that fully half
of the men are desirous of returning to
work and are deferred only by fear of
the rest of the strikers.
1t is said that many of the strikers
have approached yardmasters with Of
fers to go to work any time they can
be guaranteed protection.
These statements are corroborated by
officials of the 500 and Omaha rail-
roads.
Strike Broken at Duluth.
Duluth. Mimi, Dec. BY the action
taken by the Brotherhood of Railway
fx,r, IAN orf nj oh "a hon yhrx, <e
the switchmen's strike today seems
broken in Duluth.
This morning conditions are almost
normal again and within a day or two