The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-28
RAILROAD MEN MAY WALK OUT Switchmen's Strike Takes
 Bad Turn. SEEK FEDERAL INTERVENTION Labor Leaders Hasten to Naiissal
 Capital. other Rsii Workers May Jein Ranlxs of switchmen and Tie Up Trame in SertAwsss--R.iIrosd Man
 agers suddenly Change
 Front.

St. Paul. Minn.. Dec. 27--Contrary t0 general expectations. developments in the controversy between the railroads of the Northwest and the striking switchmen. instead of resulting in an amicabie settlement of the strike. re- suited in a wider breach than ever today.
 Not only have the switchmen de- clared all negotiations with railroads terminated. but the labor leaders say that there Is a strong possibility of . general strike by all of the allied eta- ployes belonging to the railroad branch of the American federatlon.sof Labor.
 H. E. Perham. who has been acting as chairman of the railroad emp.oyef council, Tn session ise.e. ieIt toHaKat for washing.5n. where he will seek the intervention of the United States Government in the strike.
 What if your efforts to secure tho intervention of the government failg' MT. Perham was asked.
 Then there may be a general strike." was the emphatic reply
 President Hawley Talks President Hawley, of the Switch mems Union. said:
 Several other members of the ratI- way council besides Mir. Perham left for their headquarters tonight tv make preparations for a strike of their respective organizations" Mir. Perham said
 Friday we were on the verge of A settlement with the railroads, and we thought the matter would be hxed up today but this morning the raiiroadS ahnnRR Of front and assumed such arrogance that we decided at once to nave nothing more to do with them. I have business In Chicago and Cincinnati and will reach Washington on Thursday" Mir. Pelham said he might seek tq | interest tho Intefstate Commerce Con- I,mSas1on and he may tSKe tfis matter up directly with President Taft. 1 in the conferences today, tine railroad
 ofirials refused to take back all the switchmen at once. bat agreed tc re- employ all those they had places for :. They gave the switchmeu until f7 o'clock Wednesday to aecept this of fer. The offer was, immediately re- 1ected. by the tabor leaders.
 Later in the afternoon President Hawley and Mir. Perham asked Goy- ernor Eberhart to invite the Interstate Commerce Commission to intercede- The Governor replied that he did not care to act on this request until he had consulted the Attorney Railroad Manager Talks. Chicago, Dec. 27.--o. L. Dickes0n. speaking for the General Managers Association. gave out the following statement today:
 "The conference between the rail~ roads and, Pres lent Hawiey of the
 Switehmen's Union of North America. ended in Governor Eberhart's ofiieS this morning.
 "Arr Hawley demanded that all the striking switchmen be reinstated, pend- ing settlement through the Chicago conference. The railroads offered to take the men back as fast as possible, without displacing men now at work. Mr Hawley would not agree to any, thing but complete reinstatement Of all men. consequently further ncSotia- tfons were at an end.
 'sThe only important difference was complete reinstatement of all strikers at once.
 "The railroads today oficiaily roti- fed Governor Eberhart that they will hold open their proposition to MT. Haw- ley until next Wednesday if he cares to accept It."