New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-01
SWITCHMEN GO OUT
NORTHWEST TIED UP.
Strike of $500 Men Affects
Thirteen Railroads.

ST Paul, Nov. 30.-After fifteen days
OF negotiating between the Switchmen's
Union OF North America and the joint
committee of railroad managers. repre-
senting thirteen roads of the Northwest.
a strike involving 1900 switchmen be-
came effective at 6 o'clock Tonight
The men, who demand s cents more an
hour and double pay for Sunday and
overtime I'm excess OF ter hours. were
employed by the various railroads west
and north OF St Paul and Lake Superior
Ia the Pacific Coast
Railroad officers admitted tonight
that most of the men are out, and that
traffic is already delayed, but expressed
the opinion that conditions would re-
turn nearly TO normal in few days.
The following roads are affected in
whole or i'm part: Great Northern;
Northern Pacific; Chicago. Burlington &
Quincy; Chicago, St. Paul. Minneapolis
& Omaha; Chicago. Milwaukee & St.
Paul; the Bridge and Terminal; the
Railway Transfer: Minneapolis. st. Paul
e. Sault Ste. Marie: Minnesota Transfer;
Minneapolis Eastern; Minneapolis West
ern: Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific. and
the Chicago Great Western.
The first effect of the strike was a
sharp bulge in the price of wheat on the
Chicago Board Of Trade late to-day. AS
the roads entering St. Paul, Duluth and
Superior are largely grain carriers from
the West. the prospect Of interruption TO
this traffic caused some to fear delayed
deliveries of grain.
Tonight both sides to the dispute is
sued statements. The railway managers
committee issued the following:
The railroads of the Northwest recogniz-
Ing that the public IS Jan interested but an
represented third party in the controversy
mlttee which has been conducting their
negotiations. desire TO place at the dis
F. connection with the negotiations.
The switchmeD in the Northwest territory
MADE simultaneous demands on thirteen
Cities for an Increase in wages and certain
changes In service conditions. AT the sug-
the Switchmen's Union of North America.
OF whose organization the switchmen in
the Northwest are members. arrangements
were made TO conduct the negotiations in
one conference.
The demands of the switchmen were for
double pay for Sundays. holidays and over
time; an advance OF 60 cents day OF
ten hours In the wages of switchmen,
switch tenders. towermen, engine herders
and assistant yard masters: modification
OF the rule providing for the payment OF
penalty I'm case OF failure to permit switch
men TO secure their meal in the middle of
their shift at a stated period which con-
templates double pay I'm cases where IL be-
came necessary TO work portion of the
meal hour; and the elimination of the
physical examination and the age limit
placed upon switchmen entering the ser
vice.
The managers committee offered the
swtchmen an incr6 sc OF 20 cents a day
Of ten hours in the ates of pay of switch
men employed in the territory west of
HaYe, Mont, on the Great Northern Rail-
way and west OF Billings, Mont, on the
Northern Pacific Railway the differential
IN that territory for switChmen having OBJ
tanned for about two years,
Further concession was declined for the
were increased over 13 per cent in No
vember. 1906, and because the rates at
that time established had not been re-
duced during the period OF business de-
preston which followed
The attention of the switchmen was
called 10 the fact that in 1906 the switch
men We're granted a larger percentage of
increase than any other class Of employees
wages of the switchmen average over 800
a month.
The statement then recites that in
submitting its final answer to the
switchmen the managers suggested that
the demands be submitted to arbitration
lilt BIONlSlOIlS Oh the EFuIldn t-GI.
The switchmen declined this suggestion
and in a written answer said that the
committee begs leave TO state that X
will not submit to arbitration under any
/ circumstances"
The statement then says that a tele-
/ gram was addressed to Martin A. Knapp
Of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
and Charles p. NELL, United States Com
missioner of Labor, asking them to act
as mediators under the Erdman act
/ The statement adds
Before the conferences with Messrs
| Knapp and Neill had begun, despite the
| understanding reached in the conferences,
that mediation under the Erdman act should
| be evoked. and without the knowledge of
| either the managers, committee or medi-
ators. strike order was issued by the
switchmen's committee directing the
switchmen of the thirteen Northwestern
railroads TO cease work at p. m. Mo-
vember 80. in the event that their full de
mands had not been conceded.
This violation of rood faith so embar-
raised the negotiations that successful
mediation became impossible and led to
the demand by Messrs. Knapp and Neill.
addressed to both the managers commit
tee and the switchmen. that the contrO-
versy be submitted to arbitration under
the terms OF the Erdman act. To this
proposal the managers committee gave
| lutely declined IT,
Speaking for the switchmen tonight.
President Hawley said:
We have had no further communication
from the railroad officials. The switchmen
have been fair in their requests The re-
quest for double pay for overtime Is i'm
the nature of a penalty more :han anything
else, as we want 10 discourage overtime
Sunday and holiday work
We also ask for a modification Of the
physical requirements and age limit rules
Examinations for employment on railroads
now are rigid those required for
service in ths regular army.
have never seen a time when the men
were so thoroughly organized and ready
stance. This strike Will result i'm the most
complete tie-up Of railroad traffic I'm the
territory affected that has ever been
known. not even excepting the great strike
Of 1884 From now on not switch en-
CINE will move in the territory beween the
head OF the lakes and the Pacific Coast
We did not wish a strike and used every
reasonable means to avoid one. We real
ize the Inconvenience which a strike at
this time will cause 10 the public but the
responsibility does not lie with the switch
men. as they only asked for that which
was justly theirs
We have advised every member that
from the moment the strike begins he
must keep away from the cOmpany's prop
lence. do anything that will reflect
discreditably upon himself or the oreani-
cation conducting the strike.
Early reports received by the switch
men as to the effect of the strike order
indicate that all switchmen on the af-