Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-12-04
HAwLEY DISCUSSES OUTLOOK
Says Few Trainmen Went Out and
that Situation is Unchanged.
RUMOR OF SETTLEMENT SOON
Statement that Negotiations Are On
Denied by Both Sides.
PLENTY OF MEN," SAYS HILL

~
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Dec. 3,-Officials Of
the Switchmen's union said they were not
alarmed at the reports received from the
west today df members Of the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen going back to work.
Union officers received twOrd that every
thing waA still tied up in Seattle, despite
the report that the trainmen had decided
to go back to work. The switchmen say
whatever action was taken by the Seattle
trainmen will make no material difference
as there are only few of them In the
Seattle yards, and that in fact, 81 per cent
Of the switchmen in the northwest are
members Of the Switchmen's union.
President Hawey spent the day in Min
neapolis, where he had conference with
Governor Eberhart In this conference
were Secretary Martin of the executive
committee Of the switchmen and e. w.
Decker, president of the Minneapolis Clear
nE~House association.
Movement Toward settlement.
Governor Eberhart announced later that
a well defined movement had been started
to effect a settlement Of the strike. A
statement was published quoting the gov
ernor as saying he believed that the strike
would be settled in three days Governor
hDelnaIlt Wnen aSktu as 10 tiAt AAuAl u
the interview said he had been incorrectly
quoted.
He said he had met some Of the Mime
apols business men, who had talked with
him regarding the possibilities of getting
both sides to the controversy together, and
he thought that a movement was on foot
in that direction.
President L. w. Hill Of the Great North
ern, when asked IL he knew anything about
IL, said there could be no truth to any talk
Of settlement even with individual rail-
roads, as the general managers had de-
cded that they would all stand together.
Mr.. Hin said the railroads could get so
many men in the east to take the strik-
ers' places they could fill all the PLACES,
but that they did not want to bring them
all in now, preferring to give the old men
a chance to return to their places.
HawIey Reviews Outlook.
] President Hawley of the swtchmen's
union also said there was nothing definite
accomplished at the Minneapolis confer
ence and that so far as he kneF the pros
poets Of settlement we're no better to-
night than they were before.
Regarding the detection of the men in
Duluth, Mr. Hawley said he had mes
sage frona Duluth today ng that only
three of the Brotherhood of Railway Train
men had returned to work and that II was
believed they would go out again tonight.
Mr.. Hawley again reiterated his state
ment that there was no possibility Of arbi-
tration under the Erdman act.
So far as the freight situation is con-
cerned here, 1t is being moved with diff
Guilty and there was congestion in the To-
cal yards.
1t was estimated that about 1,5OO men had
been imported into the Twin Cities today
and the railroad officials said they were
satisfied that conditions would resume their
normal state within few days.
! Superintendent Morrison Of the Union
depot terminals said today that he had
been approached by five members of the
switchmen's union who said that there was
much dissatisfaction in the ranks and that
fully half of the men are desirous OF re-
turning to work and are deferred only by
fear Of the rest OF the strikers.
Little Freight is Moved.
Conditions at the local terminals were
stin in bad shape this morning. While
there was some movement of cars, there
was no volume Of business being done and
most passenger traffic was delayed. More
strike breakers were put TO work this
morning and the railroad officials state
that before the day is over enough new
men viii be working to considerably i'm
prove the conditions Conditions at the
large terminals are worst than at the
smaller ones and way stations.
1T is impossible TO make an accurate
estimate OF the number of strikers en-
ployed. We put dozen new men to work
here yesterday and will put two or three
dozen more to work today" said General
Manager Gruber Of the Great Northern
General Manager Slade of the Northern
Pacific would make no statement OF the
number Of men employed on his road. The
officials say, however, that several hundred
new men are expected to arrive today, one
carload being from Winnipeg and several
from Chicago
The strikers say that the men imported
are not railroad men and cannot do the
work properly
When Governor A. o. Eberhart arrives
today from Chicago State Labor Commits
sioner w. r. E. McEwen will recommend
that he take steps to organize an interstate
board OF mediation. to be composed OF the
chief executives Of Minnesota. North Da-
kota, Montana, Idaho and Washington for
the purpose Of bringing about a settlement
of the strike.
Cold Wave, Coal short.
With a cold wave lowering over Mon
tana and a blizzard raging, II is feared
much suffering will result because OF the
depletion OF the coal supply unless traffic
conditions are improved. The Northern
Pacific was able 10 get two coal trains
over its Montana division yesterday, but
both were for their own use.
Superintendent +. ID. Kelsey announced
that fun switching crews will be at work
at all points on the Dakota division OF the
Great Northern today Il is reported the
officials at Grand Forks are accepting
freight for all points except Duluth and
the Twin Cities
No freight is being received az Crook
ston, MINI. but passenger trains are NOV
ing with more or less regularity. The
yardmaster OF the Great Northern at
Fargo began this morning 10 use horses
in moving freight cars for the business
: men. Horses are also being used for the
movement OF the freight cars AZ Brainard,