The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-01-29
GENERAL STRIKE WITHIN TEN DAYS
UNLESS THE DISPUTE IS SETTLED"
George B. Howey, National Organizer for A. F. L. Says
Railroad Men Will Go Out---Mecting Harnois
Theater Is Enthusiastic.


wonder that anyone could be found who
was willing to do switching duty. 1t is
a job SO dangerous that a man does
not know whether he will ever be back
to dinner when he leaves the house in
the morning. James j. Hill. himself,
admitted the justice of this claim when
he wrote to President Taft. saying that
the cost of living had increased 45 per
cent
THE answer of the railroad compa-
MES TO this demand was also No
For "Meai Hour"
The third demand was that the sixth
hour of the day be meal hour When
a man works hard for five hours he is
usually ready to eat. and. when you
consider the fact that the switchmen
are often asked to work until or 4
o'clock in the afternoon before eating.
while the horses and mules owned by
the railroad, are fed promptly at IL.
the justice of this claim is readily
sen.
No.. was the answer TO this de-
mand.
The Black List"
The last .demand--you have prob
ably been led to think that the re-
quests of the strikers We're innumera-
ble-was that new switchmen and men
already in the service long while. be
exempt from physical examination. II.
the good old days. gentlemen. there en-
listed what was called the blacklist
Under this system the RAILROAD
man who got into trouble with
an official-whether he was fired
or whether he uuit-had no
chance of ever getting another job. His
name and his description We're sent
broadcast over the country and when
ever he went he was turned down.
That system was abolished some time
ago by the United States court. but il
still exists.
The physical examination is the
blacklist today. l will illustrate.
Sometime ago a young acquaintance Of
mine was discharged from the North
ern Pacific in st. Paul. A short time
later he applied for work on the
Great Western and when examined was
declared physically unfit for switching
duties. Six weeks later that same
young man enlisted i'm the United
States army and he is now a soldier.
Can you wonder that the switchmen
wish this examination abolished?"
The Erdman Act.
Mr.. Howley then reviewed the his
tory of the controversy from its con-
ccpfion to the present time. In speak
Ing or the refusal of the switchmen to
arhitr;,te under the Erdman act he
said. "'rhe switchmen have been much
criticised for. this act. but let me tell
you. union men, never pass up a
eAnncc tC-urbitratc your disputes, This
is an age of arbitration. Always settle
IL YOU can.
"Arbitrate always-save under tn.
'Erdman act. Never, under any cir
cumstances. have ANYTHING to do with
II because II does not give fair trial.
III the commission decides in favor Of
the strikers the company may the,,
appeal the case to the district court
in case the strikers win again the court
OF appeals is open to the loser and
i'm the two or three wears of controversy
which follow the union--even IL il
does win its points ruined finan-
cially. ~
In view of my knowledge of some
courts-or rather of some judges am
n little afraid of this method of settle
ment"
1.
Howles said. "The railroads are bested
now. At the docks In Superior there
are only 2le men working. where for
merly there were from ZOO to 1000
This is due to the fact that the rail-
road company cannot furnish enough
cars to keep all of the dock -hands
busy and those few that are brought
around are usually broken and smashed
by The Incompetent switchmep.
From Superior to the Twin Cities
there is but one omen track. the others
are filled with idle freight cars The
Minnesota Transfer between st. Paul
and Minneapolis is just one solid mass
Of box cars for acres and acres as far
as the eye can see. All of the yards
in the east are filling the same way,
for the companies cannot handle their
freight.
For few days the railroad COM
panies were absolutely tied up and had
1t not been for the poor judgment of
the leader-or rather a leader-of the
b. r. T. and the fooiishnes of the
Il. r. T. men l would not be making
this speech, today for you would all
be at work. But the companies are
crippled now and they will have to
give in.
Il think myself that the strike will
be settled within another two or three
weeks. The arbitration committee now
at work will probably settle the affair
and the trouble will be at an end
After a careful and comprehensive
review of the situation Mr.. Howley
closed with a few encouraging words
to the strikers and to their families.
Congratuiatior.
Boys he said. his voice sinking to
normal. Il am proud of the fight YOU
have made. You have fought fairly
and We'll and l am glad of it. The day
of violence is passed and the best
fight Is a fair one. l must also say a
word for our opponents. They too
have been fair. In the past trouble
has often been melted by the COM
panies in order to reflect discredit
upon the strikers. They have been
fair this time. and when the settle
ment Is reached only the kndest of
feeling should exist.
Il will be happy If | have done any
/ hing tn helm you hers. I have had n