Bisbee daily review., 1909-12-01
SWITCHMEA
 SIGNAL SIOP
Continued from Page 1l

ed have not been reduced during the period of business depression which followed.
 The attention of switchmen was called to the fact that in 1906 the switchmen were granted larger per centage of increase than any other class of employees in the train service At present the rate of wages for switchmen aveFages. over slOO Der month.
 On November 23. 1909, in submit, ting it's final answer to the switch men. the managers committee. assum- ing the switchmen to be joined in the desire for amicable adjustment of the questions under consideration, sug- gested that the demands be subpit- ted for arbitration under the provision of the Erdman act. This the hwitch- men declined to do. and in their final written answer to the; managers com mittee made the statement: "The committee begs leave to state 1t will not submit to arbitration under any circumstances"
 The statement then recites that on November 23. after a discussion of the proposal to arhitrate under the erms of the Erdman act, at the suggestion of President Hawley. joint telegram was addressed to Martin A. Knapp, of the Interstate Commerce Commission, and Charles P, Neilf, United States commissioner of labor, asking them to act as mediators under the Erdman ac;a
 About November 22. before the with Messrs. Knapp and Nell had begun, despite the under standing reached at the conference. and without knowledge of either the managers committee or medfators. a strike order was issued by the switchmen's committee. directing the switchmen of the thirteen northwest railroads to cease work at p. m., No yember 30, in the event that their full demands were not conceded.
 .This violation of good faith so em- barrassed negotiations that success ful mediation became impossible and led to a demand by Messrs. Knapp and Neil, addressed to both the man. agers' committee and switchmen, that the controersy be submitted to arbi- tration under the terms of the Erd- man act. To this proposal the man. agers' committee gave its willing as sent but the switchmen absolutely de clined it."
 Speaking for the switehmen tonight, President Hawley said:
 We hae had no further communica- cation from the railroad officials. The switchmen have been fair in their re- quests.
 We want an advance of six cents an hour in pay and the elimination of oertime and Sunday work as far as we possibly can. The request for double pay for overtime is in the na- ture of penalty more than anything else, as we want to discourage over time, Sunday and holiday work.
 We also ask for a modification of the physical requirements and age jim its rules Examinations for employ ment on railroads now are as rigid as those required for service in the reg ular army.
 T have never seen time when the men were so thoroushly organized and ready for concerted action as in the present instance. This strike will re- suit in the most complete tieup of railroad traffic in the territory affect ed that ever has been known, not ex, cepting the great strike of 1894.
 From now on, not switch en- zine will move in the territory be- tween the head of the lakes and the Pacific coast.
 The switchmen greatly regret the action they have been forced to take. We did not wish a strike and used every reasonable means to avoid one And I am quite positive if We had to deal only with the officials of the northwestern roads instead of with a general committee, we would have reached an amicable agreement"
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