Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-20
CRAFTS DENY
ATTACKS MADE
ON MEN HERE
Chairman Says Reports False;
Road Officials Work
in Shops.

that striking shop employees OF the
Great Northern had been attacked
while attempting to return to work
could not be verified either by Great
Northern special agents or union Of
ficials. it was announced Wednesday
evening.
Mike Holland, chairman of the ex-
ecutive board of the striking shop
crafts. said that the rumors of VOL
ence and intimidation on the part of
union pickets to strikers desiring to
return to work were false. The strike
has beer conducted in an orderly man
ner in every respect and no change IN
the situation is anticipated, he said.
Great Northern officials said Tues
day morning that some of their en-
ployes had reported they would like to
return to work, but they were afraid
of violence on the part of union
pickets.
Shop Foremen Return
Shop foremen not involved in the
strike who left their jobs in the shops
here Sunday morning, returned to work
Tuesday morning and will assist mas
ter mechanics and other officials now
working in the shops, it was reported.
The foremen elected not to do any
voluntary work other than their super
visory duties. but it is understood that
they returned to their work with a
view to lending their entire support
to the general work of the shops, al
though there has been no order com
polling them to do SO. A unique con-
dition existed in the shops for q couple
of days when the supervisory foremen
were supervising the work of shop Of
ficials who were doing the work of the
strikers.
Thomas Bailey. chief special agent
of the Butte division. said Wednesday
there has been no disturbance caused
by the strikers on the Great North
ern right of way. He said that a re-
port had reached him that the Great
Northern had a bunch of gun men en-
ployed at the shops. This he denied.
Outside of the regular special agents
who are all deputy sheriffs and who
have always carried guns. none of the
guards employed since the strike carry
velop, he said.
Rumors of Threats
Rumors of threats of violence by
pickets to strikers attempting to re-
turn to their work have drifted into
headquarters ever since the first lutl-
matum to striking employees was is
sued by the Great Northern, but since
they are all reported to have occurred
off the right of way they are difficult
to verify, he said.
Fred Wear, division superintendent
said Wednesday that applications are
daily being received for employment III
the shops and that it is expected to
have a fair working force employed
within q few days.
"Of course these places cannot be
filled overnight" he said. "A working
force such as we employ in the shops
here cannot be assembled Immediately
and if the strike continues indefinitely
the service to the public must, if nee
essity be somewhat impaired. Every
effort, however. will be made to keep
the cars rolling and business moving
Say It's Holiday
Holland said that many of the strik-
ers are spending what they consider a
temporary holiday from the work in
the hills or in the country. fishing and
resting for the heavy work which they
anticipate will be in store for them
when the strike is brought to an end
1T is not a hostile strike and there
is no i'll feeling toward the Great
Northern" he said.
United States Marshall Joseph l.
Asbridge spent Monday night ane
Tuesday morning in Great Falls. con
fering with strikers and with Holland
regarding the strike situation. He haC
completed a tour of the milwaukee,
lines in the state at the direction Of
Federal Judge George NJ. Bourquir
relative TO the serving Of ~iniunctions
against Milwaukee strikers alleged tC
have made threats of violence to rail
road employees who returned to Their
Jobs. Marshall Asbridge did not re
raal Tho reSult of hiS INVESTIGATIONS