Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-30
RAILROADS SAY
STRIKE IS OVER
SWITCHMEN FAIL TO GET BACK
POSITIONS
INTEREST CENTERS IN ACTION
AT WASHINGTON
Taft Expresses Interest in Employees
and Favors Legislation to Pros
tect Them in Future
Struggles
tAssoclated Pressl

ST. PAUL, Dec. 29.-Aside from the
withdrawal by the railroads of their
offer to abide by the decision from the
Chicago conference and re-employ
striking switchmen as soon as they
have places for them and some remov-
al of the embargo on wheat by the
Great Northern, there were no deVel-
opments in the switchmen's strike in
the northwest today.
Railroad officials say that the strike
is over so far as they are concerned.
1t was reported tonight that the old
I switchmen would go back to work on
the Great Northern at Butte tomorrow.
Interest here centers in the coming
conference Of II. Il. Perham with the
Interstate commerce commission at
Washington Friday.
At noon today the offer of the North
western railroads to abide by the de-
cision of the Chicago wage conference
and to re-employ the striking switch
men as fast as possible, as places are
found for them, was withdrawn, as
indicated in the final proposals made
in their statement to Governor Eber-
hart on Monday.
Third Vice President Slade of the
Northern Pacific said: THAT state
ment meant just what it said we
CndDkGu
The strikers now are awaiting the
result of the conference to be held in
Washington on Friday between Pres
ident Perham of the railway telegra-
piers union and the members of the
interstate commerce commission.
Possible Trouble
Possibility of trouble in the adjust
ment of the railroad wage question on
NAn Wi
positive statements by officers of the
Employees association at New York
that they would demand restitution of
the wage schedules I'm effect before the
commercial depression of two years
ago.
Eastern schedules must be placed
on a level with those in the west, the
leaders declare.
While it has been intimated that con-
cessions might be made by the rail-
roads, the general impression seemed to
be that in view of the firm stand of
the men such concessions as the roads
would be willing TO make would not
satisfy the employees.
President r. d. Underwood of. the
Erie does not believe that railroad en-
ployes win receive a general increase In
wages If their demands are based on in
creased cost of living. In statement
given out HtTt ilt SdyS
'The great bulk of these million and
Y a half employees live in communities
where food and provisions are cheap
and the cost of living has not gone up
materially.
"There is no danger of a general rail-
road strike Railroad employees want
higher wages. but they are reasonable
They are willing as a rule to wait until
the railroads have recovered from the
hardships of the late panic. They have
reason to be grateful because they were
unaffected financially by the panic.
Their wages were not reduced, and
only those who were paid by mileage
suffered"
A. A. Roe, legislative representative
of the Brotherhood OF Locomotive Fire
men and the Brotherhood of Railway
Tralnmen, had a talk with President
Taft today concerning legislation for
railroad employees.
President Taft expressed his great in
terest In the employees and his sympa-
thy with legislation looking to their
protection.