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Show Northern Pacific Sends Ultimatum Ultima-tum to All Its Operators. Oper-ators. MUST ACCEPT THE TERMS ' OR LEAVE THE SERVICE Manager Uorn Explains He Couldn't Stand Uncertainty of Impending Strike. ST. PAUL, Augr. 1. Ncsotlatlono which havo beon pending between tho Ordor of Railway TologrnphcrB nnd tho Groat "Northern and Northern Pacific railroads for somo tlmo came to n midden end today, to-day, when General Manager Horn of tho Northern Pacific notlllcd the telegraphers of that oystcm that tho company's proposition propo-sition as to tho rate of wages It would pay was final and thoy could accept It or leave tho Bcrvlce. Confusion in tho Ranks. The Great Northern offlclalo took practically prac-tically tho name stnnd toward their em-ploycos em-ploycos last night, thus throwing confusion confu-sion into tho ranks of tho telegraphers, who hardly expected such a move. Thu only chnnco of an adjustment of tho-trouble rests with President J. J Hill, who Is In New York and to whom President Per-ham Per-ham of the Railway Telegraphers appealed ap-pealed In a telegram last night. No Definite Reports inn JuBt how many men have refused to consider tho terms offered by tho roads Is uncertain. Until 3:20 this afternoon no definite reports had been received at tho headquarters of cither road. Tho orders affect about 750 operators and agents on tho Great Northern and about 1200 on the Northern Pacific' Mr. Horn's Statement. Mr. P;rham, president of tho Ordor of Railway Rail-way Telegraphers, this mornlm; ndvlscd mo that he Intonds to co to tho limit both with tho Northern Pacific and Great Northern railways, rail-ways, Just as ooon as ho thinks .such n courso necessary. Tho Northern Pacific started a lockout of Its telegraphers because of a ctrlke voto taken on May 2. Strike Instructions wiro Issued July G, and these, with tho voto, aro still hanglnc over Its hoad. In splto of tha fact that during several weeks negotiations on tho points of dlffcrcnco havo been pretty generally general-ly cleaned up, excepting tho Sunday rulo and the rnlin at minimum Sunday Rule Is Unusual. Tho Sunday rulo demanded Is different from any In tho United States and would add to tho payroll of tho telegraphers about SIOO.COO por wek. Tho company's rate of pay Is not exceeded, but. on tho other hand, la considerably consid-erably hlchcr than on most of tho roads in tho same territory. It has made liberal Increases In-creases to lie telegraphers during tho past llvo years. Strike "Was Impending'. Tho Impractlcablo rulos and exorbitant dc-mnnds dc-mnnds mado hy tho commlttoo In tho first proposition, and practically repeated In their proposition of July 'J7, nro considered conclusive conclus-ive proof that at no tlmo has It been tho Intention In-tention of tho committee to mako concessions whlcn would cnablo tho company to mako a Mitlsfactory settlement. Deforo tho actual negotiations ne-gotiations were commenced thoy had fully decided to forco a iitrlko. When conforonces started on July 12 6trlko instructions had already al-ready been In forco for an ontlro week. Last JiTlday. when we concluded negotiations, they wcro mill hanging over our heads. Couldn't Stand Uncertainty. ' Tho road was In this position: Mr. Pcrham or hln committee could Inaiiirunito a strlko of our telegraphers any tlmo thoy saw fit. I hey would nolthor uccopt nor reject tho company com-pany s proposition. This uncertainty tho company com-pany could not put up with, and on a result I a lockout was lnaucurated todny. |
