Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-12-29
RAILROADS STATE II!
THEIR POSITION.
Thirteen Twin City Railroads
Write Open Letter TO Gov.
Eberhardf.

To the Hon. Adolph O. Eber-
hardt, State Capitol. St. Paul.
My Dear Sir
In response to the invitation from
your excellency, representatives OF
thirteen Twin City lines whose
Switchmen are now on strike at
tended a meeting at the caplto!
building en- Thursday. Dec. 23rd
In opening the meeting your ex-
ceI!ercv recommended to the repre-
sentutives of the railroads and to
the representatives Of the Switch
,uen basis Of settlement as fol-
lows: IAat it had been brought tc
your attention that q conference Be-
tween representatives Of certain
railways in Chicago and representa-
tivcs CT their swltchn'en was now
being kyiG to consider proposals for
lnc:e,se IN wages and changes IN
work inc conditions and that the
matters under consideration there
were s;mi'al to tncse presented lc
the representatives of The Twin City
lines, ;lot3 that liz the opinion Of
Your aycei'eocy, il the representa-
tives CT the Twin City lines would
agrae TO apply the provisions Of
wh""cv'2r settlement might be
reached tnrOugl he Chicago con-
ference 20 tll,. sowitcE?nen employed
upcI the Twin City lines ard re-
EMPLOY as iac as possible the men
who left the service Of those lines
90 Nov. 3Cti7, such q settlement
would be lair and equitable.
The representative Of the rail
Why's then withdrew 70 consi d3r your
exc<e:Iency' pIuuositioos aild ac-
cartr.} them ii 6 written statement
which was nan?@d sou end which is
mere qlotyd: "A conference be-
tween representatives. 81 tbs :t,lL-
ways il the Chicago district and
Representatives g :,leir e;Ei@onmen
is COW il progress FOR the purpose
# determining scale of wages and
establishment CT working conCi-
lions fer t}lat district. The rates
# wages ia the Chicago district
end in the Minnesota cities fDr
1Witchroen have been Identical Gno
the working conditions similar.
he representatives Of the Twin
City life: iG conference this dale
have confirmed Dy q majority vote
the report to Your eX2olency that
these roads represented Will agree
to re-eraploy su1h Of their folnle1
yard employees as the read may have
places for at the rates of pay and
Under the working conditions in
effect November lst., 1905, and that
at the termination of the Chicago
conference the lines here represent.
ed will meet any additions in rates
Ct pay or working conditions thai
may be granted by the Cll;cage
lines to their sWitchmen and that as
heretofore announced the djtferen.
tial Of two cents per hour in tbs
wages Of swltcnmen will! apply il
the territory Of Billings and west
On the Northern Pacific Railway
and in the territory Of Havre anc
West Gu the Great, Northern Rail
way" 1t is the understanding OF
the representatives Of the Iwir
City lines that the matter o; ra-en
ployiny the s~iech}nen ,who yoIun
tari'y left the service Of the Iwil
City lines on Nov. Both require;
further explanation. With ever,
wish to meet any suggestions mad;
by your o2:ccIleDcy and with TIN
natural desire o. employers to hell
worthy men who gave up their pc
s;tioos and who should be at woyI
Tor the support Of their famllio
and themselves the representative
Of the Twin City lines submit tia
no hardship should be imposed 10
any Injustice permitted to the laTg'
number Of present employees in Eal'
service VINO are in no way rgpOnSl
Bile for the present situation. MI1e]
the for,aar Yard employees Of tn
railways voluntarily save up thci
positions On Nov. 30, after refn@in'
the offer of the railroads to arhi
t,ata and be bound by the arhitra
ton award without appeal, she yo
tlsal being made il the fellow ia
language in letter signed by Nh
EaWjey and dated November 81
The committee begs leave to stat
that it viii Eot submit to arbitra
ton under any circumstances,
became necessary for the rairoaa
t. promote many Of the men w:
remained ~ the ervsce; g;to trassfe
some from otNe9 branches and t
employ many new men in ulder /
perform t1ei,, duty to :he public
to tfic oiner employees and to til