The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-01-03
NO new STRIKE
DEVELOPMENTS
Switchmen Awaiting 0ut-
come Of Perham's Trip.
HOPEFUL OF SETTLEMENT

Federation of Labor Fears Spread
of Trouble, but Has Not Given Up
the Idea Of Peaceful Solution.
Minnesota Railway Commission De-
eIares Traffic Conditions Improved.
st. Paul, Jan. 3-Chairman H. B.
Perham Of the railway department of
the American Federation of Labor is
quoted in dispatch from Washington
as saying:
1.-THE only developments in the sit
uation are the increased likelihood Of
a further spread of the strike and the
rapidly growing desire of the people
of st. Paul and Minneapolis to see the
thing ended.
"Yet, I am hopeful of an amicable
settlement. OF course, my actions are
dictated entirely by the minds Of the
switchmen. am all for peace now,
but in a few days I may be fighting
for all that is in me.
There does not seem any probable
1ty of the matter being taken directly
to the president"
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, was in
conference with Chairman Perham
over developments in the switchmen's
strike. This was announced in a tele-
gram received from Mr.. Perham by
President Hawley of the Switchmen's
union.
The formal conference between
Chairman Perham and Mediators Neill
and Knapp looking to reopening of
arbitration with the railroad officials
has not been concluded.
A dispatch from Washington indi-
Gates that at least one of the parties
in the conference believes there is no
likelihood of the affiliated bodies in
the Federation of Labor going out on
strike. When this statement was
read to President Hawley he said:
IF any one believes that it must be
either Mr.. Neill or Mr.. Knapp and the
opinion of either must be based pure
ly on information-not on knowledge
of what the federation will do. I
know Mr.. Perham has not made any
such statement. In his telegram to
me he said that everything looked
hopeful"
Finds No Actual Suffering.
For some time the railway and
warehouse commission has been con-
Quoting an investigation throughout
the affected territory to get at the ex-
act facts as to the handling of traffic
and to relieve any cases where suffer
ing appears to be caused by the strike.
Summing up the information result
ing from its inquiry the commission
issued this formal statement:
"Since the commencement of the
strike the commission has endeavored
to keep itself informed as to the actual
conditions of the movement of traffic
on all the roads in the state, with the
view of giving aid to all cases where
there was likely to be any suffering
or any great loss to the shippers and
to this end has sent out several letters
to the mayors of the cities and vii
lagos, the last one being on Dec. 20,
and was sent to cities of 200 inhabi-
tants and over. So far, from 500 let.
tiers sent, the commission has received
220 answers, about fifty of which COM
plain of shortage of fuel, principally
of coal, but the replies show there has
been no actual suffering.
1--WE find that coal is moving more
or less all the time and probably a
number of those complaining have al
ready been relieved. There is also
some complaint about cars for the
loading of grain and hay. This always
happens more or less during this time
of the year. Although conditions on
the railroads are not yet normal and
the public is experiencing considerable
inconvenience, from all the replies re-
ceived there seems to be general i'm
provement.'