Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1909 — 250 TAKE JOBS OF ST. PAULSTRIKERS [ARTICLE]

250 TAKE JOBS OF ST. PAULSTRIKERS

Several Freight Trains Move; Railroads See Hope. FI6HTTO BREAK TRAFFIC TIE-UP Mayor of Strike-Torn City Acts as Legal Adviser of Switchmen’s Union and Supports Meetings by Affected Laboring Men—Promises Aid of Administration In Battle to Win Recognition of Organization’s Demands. Chicago, Dec. 3.— What is considered a death blow to the strike of the Switchmen’s Union has been dealt by the announcement that the Brother hood of Trainmen In Duluth and Superior, the chief points at the heads cl the lakes, would return to work. President Lee of the Brotherhood issued a statement In which he positively denied any telegram promising President Hawley of the Switchmen any help In the strike. He called attention to the fact that the members of the Switchmen’s union took the places of Brotherhood men during the Fort Worth strike some years ago, and says he falls to see, in the light of that act, how the Brotherhood can be expected to assist the present strike. St. Paul, Minn., Dec. 3. —Two hundred and fifty strike breakers have gone to work in the St. Paul switching ,yards and forty new men took strikers’ places at Ouluth. A dozen freight trains are moving. If the strike does not spread to the trainmen, as is feared, the railroads are believed to be in a position to keep the wheels turning. Determined efforts are being madi to start freight trains and relieve tN tie-up of traffic which Is costing the northwest, from the lakes to the Pa eifle, millions of dollars a day. Railroad officials say that a sufficient number of men to handle the normal amount of traffic will arrive in St. Paul shortly, so that normal conditions will soon be resumed. All along the line factory forces are being reduced and pome Industriehave closed altogether. In Des Moines and Chicago there is talk of sfrikes among switchmen. Traffic at the head of the lakes is tied up and insurance is about to expire on valuable cargoes on boats. Railroads officials are taking packages of freight at the local warehouses but little freight is moving. The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen by committee notified President Hawley of the Switchmen’s union that the members of the Protlierhood will do absolutely no yard service other than such as they have always done at small stations. It is hinted that If any non-union switchmen make tip trains, members of the Brotherhood will refuse to haul them. Much comment has been aroused by the fact that Mayor Lawler, who is an attorney, is acting as the legal advisor of the switchmen’s union, and as such has advised meetings of strikers, which are held daily in the old capitoi The mayor has told the strikers of their legal rights and urged them to Le cautious and conservative In thetr ac tlons. He did say, however, that while not appearing before them as mayor of St. Paul, he did not think it out of place to say that they would have the support of the administration in their fight.