Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-12-08
1900 Men on Roads North
and West of st. Paul
Quit Work.
MANAGERS Committee Makes
Statement to Public
Upon Situation
Would Submit to Arbitration
But Workers Refuse
Terms

ST Paul. Dec. AFTER Is days ne
gotiating between the switchmens
union of North America and joint
committee of railroad managers rep
resenting IS railroads OF the north
west, a strike, involving 1890 switch
men. became effective at o'clock last
night.
The men engaged in the strike are
employed by the railroads running
west and north of ST. Paul from Lake
! Superior to the Pacific coast. Unless
speedily settled, the strike Will mean
a serious interruption to traffic.
The first effect was sharp bulge
in the price of wheat at Chicago late
Yesterday. AS the roads entering the
twin cities and Duluth and Superior
are largely grain carriers from the
west, long interruption of trafilc
caused apprehension. Last night both
sides to the dispute issued statements.
The railway managers committee Is
sued the following, addressed:
To the Public
"The railroads of the northwest, re-
cognizing that the public is an inter-
ested, but unrepresented third party,
| in the controversy with their switch
men, through the committee which
has been conducting their negoua-
lions, desire to state the following
facts:
"The switchmen in the northwest
territory made simultaneous demands
| on 10 railroad companies centering
| in the twin cities for an increase OF
wages and certain changes in service
| conditions. At the suggestion of F.
t. Hawley, president of the switch
mems union of North America, nego-
tiations were conducted in one confer
ence. The railroads were represented
switchmen by officers of the switch
mems union.
"'The demands were for double pay
Sundays, holidays and overtime; an
advance of 60 cents per day OF 10
hours in wages of switchmen, switch
tenders, towermen, engine herders,
assistant yard masters; modification
of the rules providing for the payment
of a penalty in case of failure to per
nit switchmen to secure their meal
in the middle of their shift at stated
period, which contemplates double
pay in cases where it became neces-
sary to work portion of the meal
hour; and the elimination of physical
examination and age limit placed upon
switchmen entering the service.
Give conferences were held in st.
Paul The switchmen in no detail
receded from their demands, which,
if conceded, would entail an additional
expense upon the railroads for switch
ing service of 40 to 40 per cent.
'"The managers committee offered
the switchmn an increase of 20 cents
per day of 10 hours to switchmen en-
ployed in the territory west of Havre,
Montana, on the Great Northern, and
west of Billings, Montana, on the
Northern Pacific; differential in
that territory having been obtained
for two years.
Further concession was declined
men was increased over 13 per cent.
in November, 1906, and because the
rates then established were not re
6uctd during the period of business
depression which followed.
Attention was called to the fact
granted larger percentage of in
crease than any other class of en-
ployes in the train service. At pres
ent the rates of wages of switchmen
average over 500 per month.
ION November %, in submitting a
final answer to the switchmen. the
managers committee, assuming that
the switchmen desired an amicable
adjustment, suggested that the de-
mands be submitted to arbitration I'M
der the Erdman act. The switchmen
declined to accept the suggestion and
a final written answer stated that they
would not submit to arbitration under
any circumstances
The statement then recites that af
ter discussion of the proposal to
arbltrate, at the suggestion of Pres
ldent Hawley. joint telegram was
addressed to Interstate Commissioner
Knapp and Labor Commissioner NeilI.
asking them to act as mediators un-
der the Erdman law.
Continuing, the statement says:
Monday was selected for a confer
ence between Messrs. Knapp and Neill
and representatives of the railroad
switchmen. November %, despite the
understanding in the conferences that
mediation under the Erdman act be