The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-12-01

SW1tcnmen nave DeSH ldii III liciI re-
quests.
1--WE want an advance of six cents an
hour in pay and 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.
1--WE also ask for a modification of
the physical requirements and age linn
it rules Examination for employment
on railroads now are as rigid as those
required for service in the regular
army.
II have never seen a time when the
men were so thoroughly organized and
ready for concerted action as in the
present instance This strike will re-
suit in the most complete tie up of
railroad traffic in the territory affected
that ever has been known, not even
excepting the great strike of 1894. From
now on not a switch engine will move
in the territory between the head of
the lakes and the Pacific coast
Strike Action Regretted.
'The switchmen greatly regret the
action that they have been forced to
take. We did not wish a strike and
used every reasonable means to avoid
one, and L am quite positive that if
we had to deal only with the officials
of the northwestern roads instead of
with the general committee we would
have reached an amicable agreement
We realize the inconvenience which
,4,,.1- ~.
public. but the responsibility does not
lie with the sWitchmen, as they only
asked for that which was justly
theirs
After the strike had been inaugur-
ated President Hawley gave out this
statement:
I'VE have advised every member
that from the moment the strike be
gan, he must keep away from the COM
pany's property, obey the law, COM
NIT no act of violence nor do anything
that will reflect discredit upon himself
or upon the conduct of the strike.
I'VE also insist upon the strikers
abstaining from any intoxicatants, and,
while this, in great sense, may seem
unnecessary, owing to the remarkable
bers of the switchmen's union, yet
we feel that it is their duty to have
a clear head at such a time"
Early reports received by switch
men indicate that all the men have
walked out, and that there has been a
general tie up of traffic in all the yards
heard from In ST. Paul and Mime
apolis the men are all out and re-
ports from Brainerd and Fargo are
that all switchmen there struck.
George T. Slade, general manager
of the Northern Pacific, said that
he had only meager reports of effects
of the strike He said local traffic
had been delayed, but that the rail-
roads had a scheme by which they
hoped to facilitate handling traffic
Just enough switching has been done
in the Twin City yards to keep pas
senger trains moving. This sWitchs
ing has been done mostly by train
crews.
Conflicting statements We're issued
tonight by members of the managers
committee of the railroads and by Of
ficers of the SWitchmen's union of
North America as to the effect of the
strike order.
President Hawley of the switchmen's
union said the tie up is complete, ev-
cry man having gone out.
General Manager Slade Of the North
ern Pacific said that at seven points
on his road the man had refused To
90 ont and that traffic, while delayed,
was moving.
Mr. Hawley's statement follows:
I have definite reports from every
point effected, and my information is
that the strike order has been ObeyeC
to the man. | am Informed that the
roadmen refused to do the work OF
the sWitchmen. I do not think there
will be sympathetic strike. The strike
is the most complete and determined
I ever saw"
Mr.. Slade gave out this statement:
"The indications from the railroads
standpoint are favorable. The mer
refused to obey the strike order il
seven wards on the Northern Pacific
road and are working as usual While
passenger traffic has been delayed
somewhat. it is moving all right an(
we are moving some IIciSHl. LII {
few days I think conditions viii b'
about norma. The same general con-
ditions apply to the Great Northern
road"
When asked at what points along the
Northern Pacific men had refused t"
go out, Mr.. Slade said he could not
give them at present, as he had re
ceived them hurriedly over the te'e-
phone. Of the $500 men affected 1000
are in the Twin Cities.
Roads Affected BY Strike.
The following roads are affected:
Great Northern. Northern Pacific, chi
cago. Burlington and Quincy, st. PAU
Minneapolis and Omaha, Chicago, MIL
Waukee and st. Paul, the Bridge ana
Terminal, She Railway Transfer, MIN
neapolis, ST Paul and Sault Ste Marie
Minnesota Transfer minneapolis
Eastern, Minneapolis Western, Chlca-
go. Rock Island and Pacific and the
Chicago Great Western.