The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-12-01

IIawley, Joint telegram was address
ed to the interstate commissioner
and labor commissioner Neill, asking
| to act as mediators under the Erd-
man law.
| Continuing the statement says:
/ Monday was selected for the confer
ence between Knapp, h'eill and the
/, men representing the railroads and
! the switchmen.
"On November %, despite that In
Ethc conference mediation under the
Erdman act would be evoked and
without the knowledge of either the
managers or mediators, strike order
was issued by the switchmens com
mittee directing the switchmen ON IS
northwestern railroads to cease work
= at o'clock November 80 in event
! full demands were not conceded.
| This violation of good faith so EN-
barassed the negotiations that sic-
! cessful mediation became impossibe
an died to n demand by Knanp and
Neill that the controversy be sub
nitted to arbitration under the Ei-
man act To this proposal the man
ayers committee willingly assented
but the switchmen absolutely declin
ed
'The managers committee believes
the public interests should not suffer
ebcause OF the disagreement, where a
proper method to settle the differ
ences was offered through the decis-
ion of a disinterested third party un-
der the terms OF the federal law"
/ lin Behalf of Swltchmen.
In behalf of the switchmen presi-
dent Hawley said tonight: 1--WE have
no further communication to the rail
read officials. The switchmen have
been fair in their requests
I'VE want ar advance of six cents
an hour in pay an the elimination of
: overtime and Sunday work as far as
possible, and the request for double
! pay for overtime Is in the nature of a
penalty more than anything else, as
we want to discourage overtime, Sun
: day and holiday work.
= I'VE also ask for a modification of
the physical requirements and the
age limit rules The examination for
employment on railroads now are as
rigid as those required for service in
the army.
Il have never seen the time when
men were so thoroughly organized
and ready for concerted action as
now. The strike Will result in the
most complete tie-up In the railroad
!" traffic in the territory effected ever
;. known. From now on not switch
, engine will move in the territory be
u tween the head of the lakes sand the
Pacific coast
THE switchmen greatly regret the
faction they are forced to take. We
did not wish to strike, and used every
= reasonable means to avoid one. | an
7 positive that If we had to deal onl,
I. with the officials OF thenorthwesterr
/ | IdltIUuuS, fuEttdU vi LnC SGANl oil 1ctIt
7 mittee, we would have reached al
!" amicable agreement. We realizez thu
: Inconvenience the strike will cause
: the public, but the responsibility doe
not lie with the switchmen. The.
! only asked that which is iustl,
: theirs
Men Will Keen Order.
ID After the strike was inauguratet
S. Hawley issued the following: w
thave advised every member that b.
ct must keep away from the company
.e property obey the law, commit n
n. violence nor do ANYTHING that woul
n. reflect discreditably upon himself Q
,e the organization.
le 1--WE also insist upon the striker
! strictly abstaining from intoxicant
While this may seem unnecessar,
IL owing to the remarkable degree c
n. sobriety observed by the members {
TX the switchmen's union, we feel ths
c- it is their duty to have a clear hea
he at such time"
)n Early reports TO the sWltchmen II
H. dicate that all the men walked OF
on and the tie-up of traffic in all yard
ed is heard from. In st. Paul and Mi
ra- Ineopolis the men are all out.
General Manager Slade Of ii
Northern Pacific stated that loc
af- traffic is delayed. but that they hay
ar "a scheme whereby they hope to fact
MT tatn fraf fir shrrttv