People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 April 1894 — THE BIG STRIKE. [ARTICLE]

THE BIG STRIKE.

Other Hoads May Ba Affected by the Great Northern Trouble. St. Paul, April 19.—The decision of the Great Northern men belonging to the American Railway union at St Cloud Monday night to strike has made that point the eastern end of the tied-up lines. That means that over 4,000 miles of the Great Northern system cannot be operated by the company under present conditions. The number of men involved either as strikers or thrown out by the strike is several thousand, the exact number not being now obtainable. Vice President Howard, of the American Railway union, said that he was waiting to see what the comnany proposed doing before permitting the men in the twin cities to go out. The meeting at Minneapolis decided to strike when Howard declared the time most opportune. No attempt has been made by the company to resume business on the tied up portion of the system except in a few instances. In those cases the strikers prevented the making up of trains, but offered no violence to the men at work.

An officer of the American Railway union says that the first move made by the Great Northern to hire non-union men will be met by a strike on the Northern Pacific and Canadian lines, thus blocking absolutely ail traffic. Monday night the Northern Pacific men refused to move Great Northern freight, although it stands in the Northern Pacific yards and obstructs business. They declane they will go out before they will move the freight. Throughout the day and evening here American Railway union members were active among railway employes. There was a good deal of suppressed excitement, and the men all seemed to feel the matter must come to an issue within a short time. The members of the American Railway union say they are confident they can order a strike at Minneapolis at any time they give the word. They claim the younger element among the brotherhood is especially enthusiastic, and that many of the salaried employes, whose interests are supposed to be with the road, are really in sympathy with this movement. They have had their salaries cut, too, and know how the employes feel.

The members of the American Railway union say that now Vice President Howard is in St Paul they, of course, will await his orders before taking any further steps in regard to the outcome. They say if the Great Northern does not settle this week every line west of Chicago will be involved. They claim to have the Northern Pacific thoroughly organized, the Chicago Great Western in a sufficiently good condition for a sympathetic strike, and the Burlington, too, and employes of other lines have offered their aid. It is difficult, of course, to find out how much foundation there is for such sweeping statements. The railroad men are evidently restless and dissatisfied.

The end of the fourth day since the American Railway union declared the strike finds it extended over all the lines of the company except a short distance from this city, and of the 4,495 miles of the system not to exceed 200 miles are in operation. This has been accomplished thus far without anything threatening bloodshed and the men say there is no danger of any trouble. They are determined, however, and will allow no trains to be made up or to be moved. At points along the line where mail trains were stopped by the strikers there has been daily an attempt to make up these trains and send them forward to their destinations, but in every instance the strikers managed to prevent such a move.