The Omaha j Daily Bee Only 21 Shopping Days Till Christmas WEATHER TORFXAST. For Nebraska Rain; cooler. For Iowa t'nsfttloj; phowcrs. For wrather report foo pmr? 2. VOL. XXXIX-XO. 1:0. OMAHA, WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEM 1!)09 TWELVE PAGES. SIXdLE COPY TWO CENTS. ! UEIt 1, 9 1 WILL REFUSE TO BE THjE "GOAT" Superintendent for Sugar Company Will Go on Stand and Tell Whole Story. HE v SAYS HE OBEYED ORDERS Men Higher Up Responsible for the Corruption. PAYMENTS TO CUST"" MEN Clerk Says Bendernagel - nk TNotes to Uncle Sam's 1 Vi DEAL WITH SUGAR EJ, Mm In Service of Corporation Paid fa a Week to Be (rookrt " Aiuonn Placed In Fay . Uavelope. NEW YORK, Nov. 30. James F. Bender nagle declines to be mads the "goat" by the American Sugar Refining company, the so-called trust, and If the word of hid counsel Is correctly Interpreted, he may testify fur the government before his trial, together with five erstwhile employes of the company, all charged with defrauding the government by underweighing sugar, Is concluded in the United States' circuit court. This development 1 one of the many legal phase involving the corporation now under federal fire, and came today when a wltnesa testified that $15-sometlmes a little more, was what employes of the American Sugar Refining company were paid to Le crooked. And the man who had In aome Instance! paid this alleged corrup tion money, according t the testimony, was Bendernagle, one-time superintendent of the company's plant in Williamsburg (Brooklyn). In the face of this testimony, Bender nagel conferred with his lawyer, George W. Beattle, who in turn made this an nouncement: . "Mr. Bendernagle is my client. He will not be the 'goat' in this case. He was an. employe, and what hp did he did under or ders. An he will not shield anyone, "The idea that has gone forth that the Sugar trust Is putting up for his defense is wrong. The company Is not contributing a cent for It. He did not receive a salary of XTM per year, as has been said. He got a few thousands, muCh less thnn the figures plven. When he takes the stand he will conceal nothing." The evidence which brought this turn In the en.'e was given by Andrew J. Mallen, who up to 107, was employed In the eash lit's oTflee of the Havemeyer & Elder re ft u ry In Williamsburg. Bendernagel, he fu'iI. was In charge of the office. "Dirt you ever see Bendernagel pay cash to men In the uniform of the custom house, who came to his office?" asked Winifred T ri nnison of consul for the government. ' Vcs.". was the answer.' " hat form was this money In?" it nas in nanicnotes taken rrom the Fife In the office. I never saw vouchers for it nor heard o fany," Mallen replied. Mallen testified further that John R. Coyle, Edward A,, Boyle, pat K. Hennesy and Jean oelker, weighers and checker, among the men accused, were paid In en velopes marked .111 for the week. But their envelopes contained 15. Later, when the salaries of this cUihs of men were ruined to $15. they got 118 in their en velopes, though the regular pay for their positions was marked on the outside of the envelope at $15. The government sought to show that this unexplained Increase In salary was a re ward for manipulating the scales to show false weights on sugar. Bendernagell's counsel maintained, on the other hand, that if there was anything lregular about the payments the defendant was not re sponsible. ftM. SEGELKE IS FOUND DEAD Resident of Omahn for More Than Forty Years Expires Saddenly from Heart Failure. William Segelke, for forty years a resi dent of Omaha, was found dead at his lorne Tuesday afternoon of heart failure. Mr. Segelke, who was 63 years of age, was at his office until Tuesday noon. He went home for lunch, and, as was his custom, lay down for a short nap. Some t of the members of the household heard ' him gasping for breath about I o'clock nd before any assistance could be rend ered he was dead. His health has been apparently as good as usual. Mr. Segelke was born In Hanover. Ger many, and came to Omaha more than forty years ago. He has been president of the Omaha Bottling company, formerly Fomy A Segelke, and was active in Its affairs to the last. He Is survived by his wife and two daughters, Mrs. Albert Krug and Mrs. Howard Gouldlng. The local lodge . of Elks will have charge of the funeral. SEEKING TIP0N VIADUCTS lies Moines llelesratlon Itrre to leiril How Din a ha Tat " Them I'p. , j impi ury ximuaiii in noiuiiig a con ference with a delegation from Des Moines, composed of seven leading citlxens of the Iowa capital. They are here for the pur pose of ascertaining the procedure followed in Omaha In the building of public via ducts. The present sheriff of Polk county, Ben J. Ne, heads the visitors, because f 'n Iowa the sheriff appoints appraisers for such work. The other members of the del egation are James Maine, A. 8. Wllcoxen, Oeorne V. Wright. John C. Loper, B. P. Rt Inking. The delegation arrived In Omaha late Monday evening and appeared at the city hall bright and early Tuesday morning. After a short conference with Mr. Burnam they proceeded on a tour of exmulnatlon of the viaducts of Omaha preparatory to the aftei noon meeting. EIGHTY H0URSJN OPEN BOAT Mill drift In Caribbean Hen " - - " ntirq From. W ASHINGTON. Nov. S0.-Adrlft la the Caribbean ea for more than eighty hours, tlu f.ve men who were lost Friday night in the hale boat of the gunboat Marietta, pok at Port Llmon, Cos la Hica, still arj unreported. It Is believed at the Navy de partment that they had enough food and J Vater In the bi to sustain life for I several days. The danger most feared Is swamping of the fcerf Sick Insurance to Be Extended in Germany Government Prepares Measures to Protect Working Classes and for Dependent Relatives. BERLIN, Nov. SO. Emperor William opened the Reichstag today by personally reading the speech from the throne. The speech dealt laigely with domestic legisla tion and contained the Important announce ment that the government had prepared a measure extending the sick benefit Insur ance to the working classes not heretofore protected and creating a system of Insur ance for the d"pendent relatives of de ceased workers. The Imperial insurance organization will be modified In some par ticulars. One of the tasks of the government, the mperor said, was to fortify the financial sitlon of the empire with the means pro ed by the finance bill of the last ses ...on and this task would be accomplished through the appropriation bill for 1910, which would be laid before the house. "Our possessions over seas In Africa and in the south seas," said the emperor, "are developing well. The growth of their own incomes will relieve the empire Consid erably of colonial expenses." The opening of the Reichstag today was as brilliant as usual. The members as sembled In the White hall of the palace. those not having the right to wear uni forms appearing In evening dress. None of the socialist members was present. Roosevelt Sees NativesJCill Lions Ex-President Witnesses Execution by Spear Work Delighted by Success of Hunt. LONDIANA, British East Africa, Nov. SO. Colonel Roosevelt, Kermlt Roosevelt, Edmund Heller and Leslie A. Tarlton, ar rived here today from Uuas Inghisu plateau. All are in splendid health. Colonel Roosevelt expressed himself at delighted at again meeting R. J. Cunning liame and members of the American party who awaited him here. The former presi dent is greatly elated over the success of the hunt on the plateau. Among the sights wltnesssed was a dis play of Hon killing with spears by Mandl warriors. The exhibition Was a thrilling one. This evening the party . will proceed to NJoro, where they will be the guests of I Ai id Dolamere on the latter's ranch until December 10, when they will proceed to Nairobi. Many Bodies Washed Ashore Fierce Storm Sweeps Japan and Ves sels Are Reported Wrecked on Coast. TOKIO, Nov. 30. A fierce storm sw:'pt over the vicinity of Shlmonosekl yesterday and last night. The Kisagata Maru, a Japanese vessel of 2,773 tons, foundered, and 11 is feared that all on board were lost. Twenty-five bodies have been washed ashore. Many fishing boats are also be lieved to have been wrecked. The piers and embankments at Shlmono sekl have been badly damaged by the high seas. DAIREN, Manchuria, Nov. 30. A storm hat raged over Korea bay since Sunday. The Japanese vessel Jlnsen Maru found ered off Yongampo, Korea, at the mouth of the Yalu river. Reports of o'.tier wrecks are reported. No New Trial for Inspector McCann Chicago Officer Found Guilty of. Re ceiving Bribes Will Ap peal Case. CHICAGO, Nov. 30. Police inspector Edward McOann, recently found guilty In the criminal court of accepting money from Improper ptrsons fh his police dis trict for alleged protection purposes, was today dennled a new trial by Judge A. C. Barnes. Sentence on the verdict of guilty, which carries with it a penitentiary sen tendce under the Indeterminate sentence art, will probably be pronounced next Thursday. It Is announced an appeal will be taken. EAGAN AT C00K HEARING Hector Torp Invites American Min ister to Attend North Pole Investigation. COPENHAGEN, Nov. 30 Rector Torp of the I'nlverslty of Copenhagen today ex tended an invitation to Dr. Miurlcf F. I'gan, United States minister to Denmark, to be present when the North polar rec ords of Dr. Cook are examined. The Cook records are expected to arrive here about December S. Acts on Judge's Advice to Fight and Then Gets Fined Two men faced the Judge In the police court at Council Bluffs. Sam Martin had been taken In tow on a charge of "drunk enness and disorder" and Bill Martin had been arrested on a charge of "disorder and drunkenness." Police Judge 8. B. Snyder gave Dunn five days and from Martin he demanded $6. Thereby hangs a tale. The men were arrested In the evening for engaging In a three-round bout In which the Marquis of Queensbury rules were not followed. A few hours prior to tha exhibition Martin approached Judge Snyder with a lengthy tale of woe. "What would you do, Judge?" he asked, "if a man took $2 from you." "I think I'd get the money back, even though I had to smash him," replied the court, laughing and attaching little Im portance to the query. , HOUSE OF LORDS REJECTS15UDGET British Peers Adopt the Resolution of Lord Lansdowne by Vote of 350 to 75. LAST DAY OF THE DEBATE Attendance is the Largest for Many Years. ARCHBISHOP OF YORK SPEAKS Says Budget is Not Bad Enough to Justify Extreme Measure. CABINET ON KING'S SPEECH Government Has Not Yet Announced Its PrOR-rnm, Which Was Outlined Yeaterilnr A fternoon Speech ' Will Fie Read Friday. BULLETIN. LONDON, Nov. 30. The House of Lords this evening adopted Lord Lansdowne's motion to reject the budget oy a vote of 350 to 75. The attendance of peers was the largest for many years. j LONDON, Nov. 30 This was a day in the history of the House of Lords long to be remembered. The session was given over to the concluding arguments and division on the government's budget bill, and the debate was the most interesting that has been heard In the upper chamber In many years. The peers, whose presence, in view of a probable division, was urgently requested by party "whips," gathered In force. The Episcopal benches were filled, a majority of the bishops being present to hear their colleague, the archbishop of York, who was the first speaker of the afternoon. Several peers who had never taken the oath of the chamber, were sworn In In order that they might vote at the evening division. The archbishop of York said that he would have to take a petition somewhat different from that of the primate and that if he voted he would vote against Lord Lansdowne's amendment. He Joined with those, he said, who deplored the introduc tion of the amendment and he had not arguments sufficiently strong to prove to him that the budget was bad enough to Justify the unprecedented course proposed by Lord Lansdowne. The archbishop said it would be unprere for the lords to reject a finance bill passed by the House of Commons with such a majority. The constitutional question was one, the speaker declared, which would profoundly stir the people of the country and many persons would prefer the passing of a bad budget to tampering with the fundamental principle of the constitution. It was enough, lie snid, to prove that, the budget was bad. Cabinet Discusses Speech. The cabinet met at noon today for the purpose of discussing the form of the king's speech proroguing Parlia ment. All of the members with the exception of Sir Edward Grey, secretary of state for foreign affairs, were present A crowd filled the street and mildly cheered the ministers as they entered the building. While the government has not announced whether It proposes an adjournment or the prorogation of Parliament, today's reports are that the latter course Is certain. It is believed Premier Asqutlh will see King Edward tomorrow. Both chambers will hold short sessions Friday for the reading of the king's speech. The cabinet remained in session until 2 o'clock. Meanwhile tha crowd waited out side, cheering the ministers and at the same time hoping for a suffragette out break, which, however, failed to material ise. The House of Lords convened at 4 o'clock. "FRY" FOR CHADR0N CREEK Senator Bnrkett Secures Promise that Fish Commissioner Will Dis tribute Some In Nebraska. (From a Staff Correspondent.) WASHINGTON. Nov. 30. (Special Tele gramsSenator Burkett lias been a con sistent and untiring advocate of the es tablishment of a fish cultural station at Gretna. Thus far he has failed to secure an appropriation, but nevertheless the dm clples of Izaak Walton will be enabled to tempt the lurking trout in streams in Dawes county next spring. Mr. Burkett was today advised by the United States fish commissioner that he had arranged for the deposit of 160,000 rainbow trout in Chadron creek. These trout "fry" will be df posited In Chadron creek this fall, and should be large enough to rise to the al luring "fly" by midsummer of next year. 0MAHAN GETS CREDENTIALS John H. Brooks Admitted to Prac tice Before the Interior Department. (From a Staff Correspondent.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 (Special Tele gram.) John H. Brooks of Omaha, Frank F. Betty of Davenport la., and James H. Burgess and Charles A. Kutcher of Sher idan, Wyo.. have been admitted to prac tice before the Interior department. Evidently taking the Judge's advice as permission to disturb the quietness of the community, Martin hunted up his foe, and then the trouble began. Both Martin and Dunn are expressmen and are husky men. Biff," went Martin's trusty right Then It went "bang" and back to "biff" again. When he got through It la said Dunn had taken the count. Then the police came. Judge Snyder was clearly In the clouds when he saw Martin and Dunn In court The former claimed be was advised by the Judge to beat up his adversary and he simply followed Instructions. The Judge insists that both men are guilty of breach of law as he accuses both of disorderly conduct and drunkenness. He claims his advice to Martin was given unwittingly. Hence his decision of five days for Dunn and $5 for Mar'V From the St. Paul Dispatch. CORN IS UNCHALLENGED KING Takes Place at Head of Battalions of Great Crops. COTTON SECOND, WHEAT THIRD Secretary Wilson's Annnn Report la Long Re rv of Flgotis tfctstnsr Forth A mas Inst Wealth ...v of Karma, WASHINGTON, Nov. 30.-Motft prosper ous of all years is the place to whioh 1909 Is entitled In agriculture, declares thi secretary of agriculture in his thirteenth annual report, made public today. Tho value of farm products Is so lncomprehens -bly large that It has become merely a row of figures. For this year It Is ts.700.000.000, a gain of JSti9.000.000 over 1908. The value of the products has nearly doubled in ten years. The report says: "Klevcn years of agriculture, 'beginning with a production of S4.417,000.0f0 and end ing with $8,760,000,000! A sufn of 170,000.900,000 for the period! It has paid off mortgages. It has established' banks.lt has made bet ter homes, It has helped to make the farmer a citizen of the world, and It has provided him with means for Improving his soil and making it more productive." The most striking fact in the world's agriculture is the value of the corn crop for 1909, which is about $1,720,000 000. It nearly equals the value of the clothing and personal adornment of 76,000.000 people ac cording to the census of 1900. The gold and sliver coin and bullion of the United States are not of greater value. It has grown up from the soil and out of the air in 120 days $15,000,000 a day for one crop, nearly enough for two dreadnoughts daily for peace or war. This crop exceeds In value the average of the crops of the five preceding years by 36 per cent. Cotton Second, - Wheat Third. Cotton is now the second crop in value, and this year's cotton crop is easily the most valuable one to the farmer that has been produced. With cotton lint selling at 13.7 cents on the farm November 1 and with cotton seed selling for about $25 per ton, the lint and seed of this crop are worth about $830,000,000 to the farmer. No cotton crop since 1873 has been sold by farmers for as high a price per pound as this one. Third in value is wheat, worth about $725,000,000 at the farm, and this largely exceeds all previous values. The Novem ber farm price was almost an even dollar a bushel, a price which has not been equaled since l.sSl. IThis is the third wheat crop in point of size, with 723,001,000 bush els. The hay crop Is valued at $665 000,000, oats at $400,000,000, potatoes at $212,OC0.O0O and tobacco at nearly $100,000,000. Beet and cane sugar and molasses and syrup,yfrom farm and factory, will reach the total of about $95,000,000. The barley crop Is worth (Continued on Fourth Page.) A new heading on the first Want-ad page "Christmas Hints." This classification will run froni now until Christmas. Shoppers will find it most use ful, as all sorts of pretty and useful Christmas presents are advertised. Look this column over; it will help you solve your Christmas problems. Have you read the want ads yet today J Elastic Currency that "Would be Fopular Eight Men Are Caught in Mine: Probably Alive Mine Takes Fire,, but Flames Are Brought Under Control Res cue Party Working. KNOXVILLE. Tenn.. Nov. 30.-Eight men wore imprisoned by a cave-in and fire to day in one of the copper mines of the Ten nessee Coppert company at Copper Hill, Tenn. Four oxygen helmets, two tanks of oxygen and other mine rescue parapher nalia were sent from here by special train. Tho fire Is under control and the im prisoned men are thought to be alivt. Plan to Kill John D. Rockefeller Plot Tipped Off to Police and They Guard Residence All Night. CLEVELAND, Nov. 30. Acting upon in formation given by a man who said he overheard a conversation in which plans to assassinate John D. Rockefeller were dis cussed. East Cleveland police guarded Forest Hill, the oil magnate's home, all night ' Their information was given by Sawyer Smith of Minerva, O., who claims to have heard the plot being discussed by two men at Alliance, O., Sunday n!,-ht. To Our Advertisers: At Any A Letter. OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 29, 1909. The Omaha Bee, Gentlemen: This letter Is sent to each of the Omaha papers. We. the undersigned merchants, buy con siderable space for advertising in the Omaha papers, and we feel that consider ing the cost of this space and the money involved, we should like to know for our Belves the character and amount of paid circulation of each paper, so that we will be able to use more Intelligence in placing our advertising, a great part of which if now placed only on the representations ot the various solicitors of each paper. For this purpose, we ask that you permit ui to examine your circulation records, including eath bouks, papur and freight ' invoices, postage receipts, route books, mailing list, carrier boys and any other ciiculanon records which may help us in determining the exact standing of each Paper. We propose to appoint a committee for this examination, consisting of two Omaha' merchants who advertise, one expert accountant, and, as merchants are not familiar with the system of circula tion accounting, we should also require three members of the committee to be newspaper men, each paper appointing one. We understand that newspaper ob ject to competitors knowing the price they pay for paper, and suggest that the dupli cate Invoice showing the detail and aggre gate weights of the rolls in each car (and which, we understand, shows no prices) would be sufficient fur our purpose. We believe that you will agree with us that it will be greatly to the benefit of all concerned to have this examination made as speedily as possible, and, there fore, ask that you let us have an early answer, answers to be mailed to C. L. Vance, care Hayden Bros. Tours very truly, HOWELL DRUG. CO.. HERZOU TAILORING CO., THE SKIRT STORE, GOODYEAR RAINCOAT CO., MILLER, STEWART A BEATON, BEATON DRUO CO., ORKJN BROS., . STRIKE NOT LIKELY HERE Omaha Switchmen Mostly Belong to Different Organization. TROUBLE WOULD HAVE TO SPREAD Men JKoins; Ont Members Of -Swltch-meWa I'nton and Not Brother ! booil of KaJlivay Train- Omaha will suffer no immediate effect from tho strike order Issued by the Switch men's Union of America. Although there are about 1,000 switchmen employed in the local railroad yards, most of them are members of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen and are In no manner affiliated with the Switchmen's union. Local railroad officials and trainmen have, nevertheless, watched with keen In terest the deliberations of the switchmen's representatives and managers of the west ern roads who hav been in session at St. Paul. A. L. Mohler, vice president and general manager of the Union Pacific rail road, represented the Harrlman Interests at the conference and is a member of the advisory committee of the railroads. There is a possibility thut the strike of the Switchmen's union may spread to. the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen. In this case all traffic mitfht be completely tied up in the Omaha terminals. The Union Pacific and the Burlington route each employ SOO men, the Chicago & Northwestern 100, the Missouri Pacific sixty, the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, the Rock Island, the Illinois Central and (Continued on Second Page.) Time" A Reply. OMAHA, Nov. 30. To All Bee Advertisers: Replying to your letter, asking an op portunity fo inquire into the character and extent of The Bee circulation, we respect fully call your attention to the fact, that this opportunity has always been yours. We also call your attention to the fact, that The Bee has, for years, given dally, an accurate sworn statement of its circulation for the previous month, for the benefit of its advertisers; that In limes past, whon Omaha went backward and the circulation uf The Bee followed, we have shown our decrease as well as our growth. The circulation books of The Bee have always been and are today open to the inspection of our patrons and we will gladly give any advertiser access to all records, books and bills bearing on circula tion. We decline, however, to glvo repre sentatives of other newspapers access to information with regard to business with reference to accounting methods and other valuable Information, which Is none of their business, Just as any business firm would decline to Invite its competitors to similar private and valuable Information. Furthermore. The Bee Is the only paper In Omaha that Keeps In its office complete lists of its subscribers for the benefit of its advertisers, which are open to inspec tion at all times. With reference to posting a forfeit. The Bee declines to do this until the forfeit of several hundred dollars, which Is still dus us from Die World-Herald from a former circulation investigation, has been pa.d over. We repeat that you have always had and still have a standing Invitation. THE BEE PUBLISHING CO., By C. C. ROSE WATER, General Manager. Piatt la Too 111 to Appear. NEW YORK. Nov. SO.-Ex-Senator Thomas C. Piatt's 111 health has again caused a postponement of the trial of Ma C. Wood, accused of forgery and perjury In connection with her recent suit against the former United States senatoc, whom she claimed to bar married. SWITCHMEN (J0 0NSTJUKE Twenty-Three Hundred Men Em ployed on Northwestern Road Quit Work Last Night. STATEMENTS FROM BOTH SIDES Men Demand Advance of Six Cents an Hour and Other Conccssioni. MANAGERS OFFER TWO CENTS Charge Made that Employee Refused 10 Aroitrate Differences. STRIKE BEGINS AT SIX 0"CL0CK President Hley , Men Demand nl- What I. ninht and Hearet Inconvenience to Public- Will Tie 1p Traffic. ST. PAUL, Nov. 30-After fifteen rf.v. negotiating between the Sltelm'. of North America and the Joint Committee or railroad managers representing thirteen rnllrondp of the northwest, a strike involv. " ing 2.300 switchmen became effentiv. . o clock tonight. The men are employed by the various railroads running west and north of St. Paul from Lake Superior to tho Pacific coast and unless speedily set tled wll mean a serious interruption to traffic. The first effect of the strlk .v,.. 'iilge In the price of wheat in the Chicago grain market late today. As the rn.,i. terlng the Twin Cities and Duluth and Su perior are largely grain carriers from the weFt the prospect of a long interruntion this traffic will mean something. Statement for Rallronds. Tonight both sides to the disnute i.h statements. The railway managers' com- nmiee issued the following, addressed to ine puonc: "The railroads of the north west, recognizing that the public is an interested but unrepresented third nnr i tho controversy with their switchmen through the committee which has been conducting their negotiations, desire ... place at the disposal o ftho public the 10noing racts in connection with the n. gotlations: "The switchmen in the northwest terri tory made simultaneous demands on thir teen railroad companies centering in the Twin Cities for an Increase In wages and certain changes in service conditions. At the suggestion of F. T. Hawley, president of the Switchmen's Union of North Amer ica, the organization of which the switch men of the northwest are members, ar rangements were made to conduct th enego tiations in one conference. In the conference the railroads were represented by a committee of ten man- cr" no me switenmen by F. T. Hawley,. and other offlcora of the Bwltchmen'a Union of North America. Demands of Men. "The demands of the switchmen were for double pay for Sundays, holidays and overtime; an advance of 60 cents per day of ten hours In the wages of switchmen, switch tenders, towermen, engine herders and assistant yardmasters; amodlflcatlon of the rule providing for tho payment of penalty !n case of failure to permit switchmen to secure their meal in the middle of their shift at a stated period, which contemplates double pay In cases where it became necessary to work a por- tlon of the meal hour, and the elimina tion of the physical examination and tho age limit placed upon switchmen entering the service, "Five conferences were neld in St. Paul In which the switchmen in no detail rel ceded from their demands, which. If conl ceded, would have entailed an additional expense upon the railroads for switching service of from 40 to 45 per cent. Offer of Companies, "The managers' committee offered the iswitchmen un Increase of 20 cents per day or ten nours in tne rules or pay oi switch men employed In the territory west of Havre, Mont., on the Great Northern rail wny, and west of Billings, Mont., on the Northern Pacific railway; the differential In that territory for switchmen having obtained for about two years. "Further concession was declined for the reason that the rales of pay of switchmen uere Increased over 13 per cent In Novem ber, lltOti, and because the rates at thut time established had not been reduced dur liig the period of business depression wuluh followed. "The attention of the switchmen was called to the fact that in 1M8 the switchn.e.i were grunted 'a larger percentage of In crease than any other class of employes in train service. At the present rates the wages of the switchmen average over $100 per month. "On November 23, 1909, In submitting Its final answer to the switchmen, the man agers' committee assuming that the switchmen Joined in the desire for an anil cable adjustment of the questions under consideration, suggested that the demands be submitted to arbitration under the pro visions of the Enlman act. The switchmen declined to accept this suggestion, and In thelv final written answer to the manager' coin ryit tee made the statemont that the 'committee begs leave to state that It will not submit to arbitration under any cir cumstances." " Move Tovrard Arbitration, The statement then recites that on No vember S3, after a discussion' of the pro posal to arbitrate under the terms of the Erdmun act at the suggestion of President Hawley, "a Joint teli gram was addressed to M.irtln A. Knupp of the Interstate Com merce commission, and Charles P. Nelll, United StHtes cpmmlf sloner of labor, ask ing them to aqt as mediators under the Kidman law." Continuing, the statement says: i "Monday, November 29, was selected as the day for conference between Messrs. Kr.app and Nelll and the representatves of the railroads and switchmen at St. Paul. "About November 22 before the confer ence with Messrs. Knapp and Nelll had begun, despite the understanding reached In the conferences thut mediation under the Erdman art should be evoked and without the knowledge of either the mana gers, committee or mediators, a strike order was issued by the switchmen's com mittee directing the switchmen of the thir teen northwstern railroads to cease work at t p. m., November 80. In the event that their full demnuds had not been concedd "This violation of good faith so embar rassed the negotiations that successful me diation became Impohslblo and led to the demand of Messrs. Knapp and O'nelll, ad dressed to both the managers' aviuruiUs