The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-08

union. Still there were no charges
brought against the street railway
company for violating tneir pledge,
but on the contrary a recommended
ton was made that the men return to
their work-a recommendation that
both union and the street car COM
pany's buttons be dispensed with. The
street: car company was ordered tc
place on the. bulletin boards of the
various stations the recommendation
of the Safety commission and the com
-p4ny s1s4 tven=spe er1nits zto deal aa
it saw fit with any who failed to COM
ply with the recommendation.
Saturday, a week ago, there was
meeting at the capitol of the State
Safety commission and the car mems
union representatives, and it was or.
dered that every car between the two
cities vote on the button question in
an attempt to comply with the com.
missions recommendation. If thiI
was done an amicable settlement
might be reached before any serioul
trouble broke out. A committee COM
prised of one union man and one
street car company man should take
up the difficulties and If they failed tc
agree pick man satisfactory to both
sides to help them settle the ques-
ton.
Committee Visits Superintendent.
This proposition seemed to US to
be good and a committee of union
men went to Minneapolis to see Su-
perintendent ]. J. Garfield of the
street car company and explain the
proposition to him. At $3.50 a. m.
Sunday, a bulletin appeared on the
boards at every car barn to the effect
that no man wearing any button
could take out a car.
THE governor has said that he was
not officially notified of this; but I
did go to the capitol and tell his Sec
retary that there was a lockout. At
2 p. m. I was summoned before the
Safety commission along with Brother
Costello of the Minneapolis Carmen's
union and Brother Cart Of the st.
Paul union. The commission admitted
that they had got their foot in a
pickle and didn't know how to get it
out.
Il offered a solution that the car
company be ordered to take the men
back and give them the privilege Of
off the buttons. The answer got was
that this would make the street car
company eat too much crow. told
them that we were too full of the
same food ourselves. They suggested
ordering the street car company to
take the men back on condition that
we promise to comply with the button
order. told them no, we would not
accept this order because 1t was an
order of the street car company, not
the Public Safety commission.
Federal COnciliator Intervenes.
Then we went down to see Mr..
Coleman, the federal conciliator, to
see what he could do. He was told
by Mr.. Lowry that there was nothing
to arbitrate, that the Safety commits
sion had already issued an order COW
ering the matter. We next asked to
have a federal board to arbitrate the
difficulties. To date we haven't got
one. 49,.
I'VE got a telegram last night,
though, from Secretary Of War Baker.
stating that he had requested the gov.
ernor to reopen the case and to put
the men out, back to work: This the
governor refused to do." Jeers. shouts
and "boos":. followed this announce
ment. -.
"As look at it the issue il not only
unionism, and not only union princi-
Piles are at stake. In the heart Of
every American citizen burns q love
Of freedom for which they will sacri-
flee themselves. We have been or
dered to do something against the
constitution of the United States. We
will not stand for It.
Serto1s sitnation Admitted.
I'VE realize. probably. better than