The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1916-06-08

the case of the Great Western. The
cut directed by the directors was most
|sweeping and included schedule OF
rules as to time that affected every
Iclass of employment on the road
Agreements in effect were disregard
ed, and the several lines Of organized
labor represented, which included the
trainmen, enginemen and switchmen,
were practically told that it was either
acceptance or the loss of their jobs.
That arbitration would avail little was
intimated by the receivers.
Mr.. Kellogg was in California at
the time and was without knowledge
of the order or it's extent until several
days after its issuance. His first in
formation came from the heads of
organized labor, who without delay
turned to him for relief, and the gov
eminent which by this time had began
to realize the seriousness of the whole
thing, Active on the part of the gov
eminent at the time was Theodore
Roosevelt and the kilograms concern
ing the trouble and his appeal for a
settlement which passed between the
two are still of record. The originals
which are now in the possession of
Mr.. Kellogg are among the most
priced of his many manuscripts.
Wiring the receivers to delay the
order Mr.. Kellogg fastened back to
St. Paul and at once opened up nego~
| tiations for settlement. While ad-
hitting that retrenchment was neces-
sary, Mr.. Kellogg believed that it
could be done in other ways. He felt
the Importance of the matter as not
only affecting the men in the employ
Of the Great Western, but the I'M
doubted disastrous effect it would have
on labor employed by other lines of
railroad and business generally. He
knew that if permitted the order
would spread to every line of industry
! in the country, and that misery and
possibly bloodshed would be the in
evitable result.
Mr.. Kellogg reached St. Paul on his
return about April 1, 1908, and ten
days later the receivers published a
notice withdrawing the proposed
schedule of rules as to time and COM
pensation of engineers, trainmen and
switchmen. What followed is memoir
able in organized train labor circles
Instead Of cut in wages the receivers
came to an agreement with the men
to use every effort to reduce terminal
overtime, constructive mileage and the
consumption Of coal to a minimum,
which would retrench the system
sufficiently to allow it to live and pay
living wages to those in its employ.
Throughout the negotiations Mr.. Kel-
logg was the masterhand, and when
the settlement of the controversy was
announced there was general rejoic-
ing.
Among the first to recognize the
importance Of the settlement reached
and its beneficial effect on labor gen.
orally was President Roosevelt, who
without delay sent the following tele-
gram to Mr.. kellogg:
The White House, Washington, D. C.
April 10, 1908.
Hon. Frank Kellogg,
St. Paul, MINI.
| thank Won hoo y.fi1y7 IN ho1a1f of
the whole nation for what you have
been able to do. It is a great service
and the effect cannot but be beneficial
among all railroads.
Theodore Roosevelt.
Labor likewise was not unmindful
Of the great service that Mr.. Kellogg
had performed in it's behalf, and de-
cided to show it's gratitude in some
substantial way. That opportunity
came three years later when with the
death CT Justice Harlan of the Su-
preme court bench and the resultant
vacancy on the bench, the heads of the
several divisions Of organized train
men filed with VIM. H. Taft, then
president Of the United States, a petit
ton requesting Mr.. Kellogg's appoint
ment to the place. The advocacy of
Mr.. Kellogg was sincere and forceful,
for the men desired not only to re-
ward faithful friend, but recognized
in him man of ability and legal at
tainments qualifying him for the ex-
allied position. The campaign in his
behalf was widespread and extended
not only to the organizations he had
betrended but to organizations in
other lines of labor. =
| A telegram to Mr.. Taft asking for
Mr.. Kellogg's appointment to the SUI
preme bench and signed by the heads
of four of the leading organizations
OF trainmen is also one of the we'll
known attorneys most priced possess
sions and is here reproduced:
Dec. 81, 1911.
His Excellency, VIM. II. TAFT. Presi-