United labor bulletin., 1910-01-21
NO CHANGE IN THE
SWlTCHMEN'S GREAT STRIKE.

Men Standing Loyal, Getting Strike Ben
efits and There Is Not Waiver in
Their Ranks-HowIey Makes
Flying Trip.
George B. Howley, president of the
Minnesota Federation of Labor and gen.
eral organizer of the American Fedora
ton of Labor. delegated to assist the
striking switchmen at the head of the
lakes. made flying trip from Duluth to
the Twin Cities Tuesday and returned
that night. He said that the dock men
are now organized and ready for a call
from the switchmen.
THAT the call is a long time coming
may lead the railroads to believe that
it is a hoax or threat" said President
Hawley of the switchmen, last night.
Things are sure to happen this week, /"
ne added.
a committee from the freight hand
lers' union called on the Great Northern
officials Tuesday but the subject of dis
cussion has been kept secret.
The switchmen's strike is as active
the line show that traffic is tied up more
than ever" said vice-President Harsh
barger last night. "The shipping inter-
ests at Spokane are up in arms and in
vestigating and the Western Federation
of Miners has just contributed 81 900 to
the cause. We received $500 today, and
funds. resulting from our appeal. are be
ginning to assume enormous proper
tions"
Daily the coal famine predicted ap-
pears more imminent, despite the pro-
testations of the railroads that the con-
trary is the case. Five thousand loaded
grain cars are on country station side
tracks on the Milwaukee. Northern Pa
cifc. 500. Great Northern and Omaha
roads. according to estimates by Cham
Der of Commerce firms that have been
looking into the situation.
In the country elevators of Minnesota,
North and South Dakota and northern
Iowa. there is a total of sO,OOO.OOo
bushels of wheat. according to the same
estimates. The greatest wheat receipts
ever known in Minneapolis would seem
to be indicated for the near future by
these figures. yet the grain firms and the
railroads are equally uncertain as to
when the wheat may be expected to
come into Minneapolis.
Money Tied Up.
Elevator companies are carrying loans
at the Minneapolis banks and through
other banks that, in individual instances.
are estimated by the Northwestern
Miller TO amount to 81 100000 There is
probably s100OO,0OO tied up in this way.
The elevator companies have taken in
the wheat at company stations and the
farmer has received the money for it
The elevator companies have borrowed
from the banks with the grain rs collat
eral. Much of the grain has been in
transit six weeks or longer The Min
neapols elevator companies are paying
interest. meanwhile on the money bor
rowed to finance the grain. and until it
arrives they cannot sell it and collect
and liquidate their bank loans. This
makes a situation that. while entirely le-
gitimate. is out of the ordinary and is the
cause of much comment in grain and
financial circles
How It Happened.
The situation arose from the deter
mination of the railroads not to congest
the yards in Minneapolis during the
switchmen's strike The result is that
grain has accumulated along country sid
ings on lne Hastings and Dakota division
of the Milwaukee and other lines in
southern Minnesota, while. on the 500,
Great Northern. and Northern Pabcific
grain has been stopped far out and held
there awaiting more favorable opportu-
nifty to move it in.
Results appear in the daily absorption
in Minneapolis of all the wheat of mill
ing quality that comes in. and failure of
elevator stocks to accumulate at time
when they should be increasing at the
rate of 100000 to 100000 bushels
week
Misfortunes of the Miserables.
The unsavory crews imported as strike
able presences disagreeably felt princi-
pally through infraction of the laws: The
foreman of one of the strikebreaking
crews on the st. Paul is murder, hav-
ing killed his brother-in-law at Warren,
Pa. where he was sent to the insane
asylum after the trial. His name is
Ferdinand Fisher. He was arrested here
the other day for escape from the asy'
lum, at the request of the Pennsylvania
authorities.
general solicitor of the Chicago. Milwau.
kee 4 St Paul road. visited the county
Jail and held a long consultation with
Fisher, when the prisoner was taken
hrfnre Indrn Smith In the Nlinneanolis