The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-13
State Secretary Sees In
This Action the Desired
Federal Intervention
MARTIAL Law HAD ;.
BEEN THREATENED
Six Companies of Home
Guards Called To Mob
ilize And Await Call
fBv Aasociated Press.l )

washington, Dec. 1S.-George w.
Lawson, secretary of the Minnesota
State Federation of Labor, today
teiegraphed the strikers in st. Paul
and Minneapolis to return to work
in view of the order for an investi-
cation by the Presidents labor COM
mission. ns. ssr,
Lawson said that if he could get
his kilograms through to st. Paul
and Minneapolis he would get the
strikers back to work by 1 o'clock
this afternoon. He took his action
on the basis of a telegram Secretary
Baker, as chairman of the Council
of National Defense, sent to Presi-
dent Wilson's labor commission, now
in the west, instructing the body to
stop in Minnesota.
Bakers Telegram.
Secretary Baker after conferring
with the President, sent the tele7
gram TO Secretary Wilson, of the
department of labor, now with the
commission in San Francisco. It fol-
lows:
In view of conflicting reports re-
garding existing labor dispute at st.
Paul and Minneapolis, the President
wishes you and the commission to
stop at the twin cities while returning
eastward to confer with the public
safety commission, labor representa-
tiyes. street railway management, and
other parties to the existing dispute
there. The primary authority and
responsibility of the governor In
dealing with the situation now exist
ing is recognized, but because of fed
eraI interests which may become in
yolved it is desired that your COM
mission make such informal observa-
tions as will permit an accurate un-
derstanding of the situation from
here"
After laying the strike situation in
Minneapolis and st. Paul before
President Wilson today, Secretary
Baker telegraphed the presidents Ia
Dor commission now in the west to
stop i'm Minnesota and take up the
question of a settlement.
Secretary Bakers action was the
outcome of conferences which have
been going on here for several days.
At the hour set for the strike, Sec
retary Morrison, of the American
Federation of Labor. was comforting
with labor leaders in st. Paul by
telephone and Secretary Lawson, OF
the Minnesota Federation Of Labor,
was in conference with Samuel Com
pers.
state Senator Dwinnell, Of Minne-
sofa, called at the White House today
with B. II. Nelson, Minnesota man
ufacturer, and conferred with Secre-
tary Tumulty. Both said they be-
lieyed the Minnesota safety commis-
sion could deal with the situation IL
there was no federal interference.
Order Affirmed.
St. Paul, Mimi, Dec. 1s.---After be-
ing in continuous executive session
from 10 p. m. yesterday until q. m
today labor leaders of st. Paul and
Minneapolis announced that the
strike order had been affirmed and
that ali union men viii quit work
today, In sympathy with the striking
trainmen OF the Twin City Transit
company.
Labor men refused to divulge the
exact number of men expected to go.
out. but indicated that all unions
were loyal and that general tie-up
of industrial activities in st. Paut
and Minneapolis as well as the
northwest would result.
Before the vote was announced the
local union men waited in vain for
a report from Washington where the
labor interests were comforting with
representatives from Minnesota and
government officials, with 3 view OF
averting the issuance Of the strike
order.
Home guard troops have been CALI
ed into service and every effort VIII
be exerted to preserve order. Cow
ernor Burnuuist has announced that
he viii declare martial law if condi-
tions reach a point where the local
authorities are no longer able to
preserve order.