The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-12-03
six FREiGHTs WILL BE. STARTED
OVER DIVISION THIS
MORNING.
SW|TCHMEN Confident
Strikers Declare That They Are Win.
nins-puluth q. Of r. 7. Men Or.
dsrsd Back BY ofieers-Eastsrn
Railway Officials Claim End Is
Near.

Near.
Six trains of local freight stand in
the Northern Pacific yards this
morning ready for shipment over the
division and. with everything in rsadi-
ness for the resumption of traffic,
the officials of the road are optimis-
tic over the strike outlook. Clerks
from the division offices. under the
direction of the assistant trainmas-
ters. were formed into day and nigh-
switching crews yesterday and the
trains were made up for shipment.
Little Change.
Otherwise the situation yesterday
showed no change from that of the
preceding days OF the switchmen's
strike. Freight traffic was at a
standstill all day and the only move
ment over the road was that of the
passenger trains. Local traffic was
steady over the Montana and Yellow
stone divisions during the day.
The switchmen are keeping within
the law and are making absolutely no
demonstration. A meeting was held in
the strikers headquarters in the
Evans block in the morning. follow
ing which Secretary George Jennings
OF the union issued the following
statement:
Secretary Talks.
THE outlook for the strikers is very
bright and We are very optimistic re-
garding the final outcome. This morn
ing word was received that the crew
in Wallace had refused to return to
work, which means that every man
on the division In out. n,
THE meeting this afternoon was
called merely for discussion OF the
strike. Members OF the other railway
organizations Were present and ex-
pressed their sympathy. We do not
want them to take any action which
will injure their standing. however,
and the only promise which they
made was II keep away from all
switching duty. We expected tele-
gram from President Hawiey today.
but it did not come. 1t will probably
be here tomorrow"
1t was rumored on the streets yes
terday that a body of strlke-breakers
would be here today. but this state
ment is generally discrsdited in rail-
road headquarters. although no Off
cial denial of the fact could be OBJ
tanned.
Superintendent Fowler expressed
himself as confident that the worst is
over and stated that traffic wohld
probably be normal in few days.
Situation at ST. Paul.
st. Paul. Dec. 2.--Chief John ].
OConnor of the police department is
sued orders today recalling all patrol
men and officers absent on leave. Sew
eral conferences between the chief and
officials of the railroads have been
held.
According to railroad officials. the
beginning OF the end of the switch
mems strike Is in sight.
I'VE are employing new men as fast
as they come. In week the public
will not know that there is a strikc,"
said one of the Officials.
Between 200 and 400 men arrived to-
day from Chicago and We're distrib-
uted in ST. Paul, Minneapolis and Du-
luth. Railway managers claim they
can get plenty of men to take the
places OF switchmen and that some
now on hand are experienced in the
work. According to a statement is
sued by Third Vice President Slade
of the Northern Pacific. two coal
trains were moving today between
Duluth and st. Paul and four trains
OF grain and miscellaneous freight
were moved into Duluth from the west.
Way freight service. he said had been
re-established on practically all lines.
As the Strikers See Il.
AS against optimistic statements OF
the railroad managers. strike leaders
say they are in a stronger position to-
day than ever. They refer to the fact
that the Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen and the Order Of Railway
Conductors in Melrose. Mimi. yester-
day adopted a resolution to stand
neutral and refuse to do other than
the work done prior to the pending
trouble" This means that trainmen
and conductors will refuse to do any
switching. except at those stations
where 1t had been customary for train
crews to switch their trains.
Two shops OF the Great Northern
employing 1000 men. failed to open
today.
Imported strike breakers. wearing
special police badges. were reported on
duty at the union station yards today
by strike pickets, and when President
Hawley learned that these men had
been imported he called the attention
of the state labor commissioner To the
matter. Labor Commissioner Me-
Even said that If men wearing po-
lice badges We're not residents of MIN
nesota. they and those responsible for
their presence in the state were vio-
lating the state law,
McEwen is investigating the report
and said this afternoon that if he finds