The Omaha Daily Bee
r iEWS SECTION
WEATIIEa FORECAST.
For Nebraska Snow and colder.
For Ion Snow or rain.
For weather report see? page 3.
PAGI5 1 J 10.
1
SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS.
VOL. XXXIX NO. 129.
OMAHA, SATUr
MOHN1NG, DECEMBEtt 4, lf)0!)-TWENTY PAGES.
A
, niMEYEU AGAINST
TKAINMEN WILL
KETURNT0 WORK
Members of the Order Who Struck
with Switchmen Have Decided
to Resume Duties.
Court of Appeals
Finds Western
Men to Be Guilty
United States Court of Appeals at
St. Paul Affirms Decision in
Famous Spade Ranch Case.
MRS.DOXW
.v ..v
SELLING SITES
Becretary Sayi Government Should
Hold Yards in South Until After
Canal it Finished.
MAY NEED THEM BADLY
thro;
Columbus Woman Shted for Murder
at St. Louis Taken from Train
in Officer's Arms.
CREATES SCENE AT UNIOH DEPOT
Prisoner Appears Completely Broken
Down by Serious Charge.
HAWLEY DISCUSSES OUTLOOK
1
Then it Might Have to Buy Them
Back at Big Price.
y
r03 TWO BIO BATTLESHIPS
Fijhtinj Machines of the All-Gun
Class Recommended.
SENIOR OFFICERS ARE TOO OLD
Clan Parorrd to Have Men Rrarh
W IllKher Rank Early. In Life
Estimates Rfdarrd Tfn
Millions.
WASHINGTON. Pec. t Warning the
government that It might be compelled to
buy thera back at an Increased cowt, Sec
retory Meyer of the Navy department, In
hla annual rrport to the president today,
recommended the retention for the present
of all the navy yards owned by the gov
, ernment. He would have the government
V valt until the completion of the Panama
canal before closing any of the yards on
the southern coast.
Two big battleships of the all-blg-gun
class are recommended by the secretary,
- us well as a repair ship. He makes It
1 plain In hi report that he Is opposed, ex
oept occasionally as a check on cost, to
the construction of battleships at govern
ment yards and to the limitation of the
construction of only one battleship by any
one shipbuilding concern
Estimates for the coming fiscal year were
Included In the report. They are more
than $10,900,000 less than the total amount
appropriated for the present fiscal year.
The secretary says that the senior offi
cers of the navy are too old. He wants
some new legislation on the. subject. He
says that he Is preparing recommendations
on the matter and will submit It to the
president shortly.
Recommendations for the legal establish
ment of 'a1 naval reserve of officers and
men will also be submitted to President
Taft soon. Recommendations In regard to
the development of a naval militia are also
promised. . j
Secretary Meyer reviews and explains In
detail his proposed plan for the reorganisa
tion of the Na-y department and navy
yards, and asks for such legislation as may
be needed to carry It into effect.
Naval Yarda in Sooth.
Secretary Meyer says that he la not en
tirely convinced that the government can
advantageously give up navy yard sites. In
wbloh large expenditures have been made,
until after the opening of the Panama
canal, when It definitely Can be demon
strated which are likely to be of the great
est value.
"' "'It s not unknown In the history of the
government," says the secretary, "that na
tional reservations have ben given up
and later were bought back at increased
cost." Again In discussing the same sub
ject he says that the "completion of the
I'anama canai. tn. ave,Upm. ui l,aaa of William G. Rockefeller.
In the Quit of Mexico and the whole Canb- MlM Q,ga ,s i8 year old wilttams
bean region, and the probable increase ofha( wltn the fa,niy for several
t the naval establishment to meet ouriyears and recentiy was made Mr. Ev-
.national responsibilities In that area w.lll private secretary.
probably call for supply stations. In part
for the heavy fleet, but principally for the
torpedo craft and submarines and the
mailer vessels needed there."
JSaval Station In Cuba,
II urges the "extreme desirability" of
developing the naval station partly es.ab
llshed at Guanlunanio, Cuba. "With tne
opening of the Panama canal, the Carib
bean aea will become the scene of tha
greatest eotnmerciui activity, and our re
epMlblliiy as to ti.e police and main
tenance call for an adequate naval te
palr base In that locality."
The secretary reviews in deta.l his pro
posed plan for the re-ornlzailon of tne
navy, and In addition makes maay rtco.n
inviiUulhui for tl.e conduct of affairs in
his department.
k To more battleships of the all-b g-gun
type are recommended to be construe. ed,
but on account of the desire to keep down
the expenditures, he asks only for a repair
ship ' in addition to these two proposed
giants of. the sea.
4 The completion of the big dry dock at
( the Brooklyn navy yard la urged, and
furthermore the secretary says, ''it Is
clear that one dock on the Atlantic coaat,
for docking our largest battleships, la
not sufficient since that one mltsht be In
jured." In tills connection, he points out
that provisions for docking of heavy ves
sels Injured or damaged In action or by
stranding are almost entirely lacking, and
that but few navy yards exist on either
coast which -have sufficient water to dock
an Injured battleship drawing four or five
feet more than its ordinary draft
Ship construction at the navy yarda of
the United Stales is opposed as a piln
clple by the secretary. Only occasionally,
as a check in costs of particular types,
does he believe that the United Stdtei
fchould build a ship. Shipbuilding concern
should be encouraged. In his opinion, so
that the 'government can profit by their
experience and resources, and also be
cause ordinarily the work Is done more
economically by ihum than at navy yards.
Oppose Iteatrlrtloaa on Ilutlitera.
' ' Furthermore, Secretary, Meyer Is op
posed to. congress resu-lctlng the con
struction by one shipbuilding company to
battlesiilp, or to lequiring one battle
ship to be constructed at a navy yard, or
On one ccasl or the other.
Estimates for the coming fiscal year
were included In the report. They are
$10,01 1,1X0 ls than the total amount ap
probated for the piesent fiscal ytar.
The smlur officers of the navy aie too
old according to the secretary. He an
nounces in his report that he toon will
send to the president souie ,'retommenda
liou as to new legislation for remedying
this ncfect. "Ths senior officers of our
navy are too old for the responsibllit e
and aiuUious duly required In ihe modern
laUlftil," says the kecretary. 'They
aiei Much older than tlintlsr oif.cerj la tha
oil. !' pr.mljal navies of the world. Not
cm, i till., the cas.. but flag officers ar
ne at tne giuJe of rear adm ral so late
.l.ul even those e-f longest puesiblo service
j. not get adequate tialning u subordi
nate flax officers before assuming th
chief command."
Recommendations for th legal estab
il cf a uaval reserve of officers anJ
and In regard to the development of
a naval militia are also promised.
ST. FAf,, Pee. 8.-(Ppeclal Telegram.)
The I'm ted States court of appeals lias
affirmed the decision r.f the Nebraska
court in the Spade ranch land frauds of
western Nebraska.
The decision of the United Slates court
of appeals In the famous Nebraska land
frauds means that the officers and agents
of the Nebraska Land and Feeding com
pany. Indicted late In 1 06 on the charg
of conspiracy to defraud the United .States
of the title to lands by means of fraudu
lent entries, will have to serve the Jail
sentences and pay the fine Imposed on each
of the convicted men In the court at
Omaha. The case was argued In the court
of appeals In May of last year and has
been since pending.
The decision Is considered one of the
most Important affecting Nebraska handed
down in some time, the case be ng the
largest land case in the history of this
state and requiring thirty days In whlcii
to try.
The Innd company was made up of Bart
lett Itichards, Will O. Comatock, and C.
C. Jamleson, a clerk. Along with the of
ficers there were Indicted Thomss W.
Huntington, a son of Prof. Huntington;
former United State Commissioner Fred
Hoyt, A. 13. Todd, an old soldier, and
another soldier named Aqullla Triplet.
Tho company held possession of several
hundred thousand acres of government
land which, It Is a'leged, they fenced In
under the name of Spade ranch. The
operations of the company, It la claimed,
were extensive and enormous. By means
of fraudulent entries the government was
defrauded out of much of Ita land In the
western portion of the state.
The men were indicted under the same
charge, but there were two separate trials.
Richards, Comstock, Jamleson and Triplet
were tried together, and Hoyt, Todd and
Huntington together. Richards and Com
stock were fined $1,500 each and sentenced
to serve one year In the Douglas county
Jail; Jamleson was given an eight months'
Jail sentence and Triplet six months.
Hoyt's sentence was to pay a fine of
$1,000 or go to 0all If the fine was not
paid, while Huntington and Todd were
sentenced to three months In Jail.
Chauffeur Weds
Olga Everard
Family of Millionaire Brewer Admits
Alliance, but Denies it Was
Elopement.
NEW YORK, Pec. 3. "Yea, Olga was
married to Williams In Newark November
23. They are away on a short trip. It
was not an elopement." This was the
telephone 'announcement made today by
Mrs. James Everard, wife of the multi
millionaire brewer, that her daughter Olga
!had married William Williams, the former
tchaiiftenr of the family and later private
secretary. The Everards live on an estate
in Urbnivlfli r'nnn.. which adioins that
ROBINSON CHARGED
WITH MUriDER OF WIFE
Lincoln Barler Will Be Arraigned
at Beatrice aa Boon aa He
Recovers.
BEATRICE. Neb., Dec. 3.-(Special Teel
gram.) County Attorney McGlrr filed In
formation today against Fred Robinson,
slayer of his wife, charging him with mur
der In the first degree. The man, who la
suffering from a gunshot wound, self In
flicted, will be atralgned as Boon as he
Is able to appear in court.
JURY PASSES ON LONG CASE
Finds Boy Came to Death by Shots
Supposedly Fired by Wesley
McBrlde.
That Harry Long, 13-year-old spn of
Alexander S. Long of Eighteenth street
and Missouri avenue. South Omahu, came
to hla death Saturday afternoon last from
the effects of gunshotx wounds supposed
to have been fired by the hand of Wesley
McBrlde was the verdict returned by the
coroner'a Jury at Itr sitting yesterday after
noon. The shooting occurred near the
Burlington tracks, on the river bank. Mo
Bride, who was at once taken In charge
by the Juvenile authorities, ts held at the
county Jail and will be tried on a minor
felony charge, the county attorney states.
McBrlde did not attend the Inquest.
EDWARD WILL BE ARBITER
Kli of Kaglaud Accepts lavltatlon
tit Settle the Alsop
Claims.
LONDON, Dec. S. King Edward, through
the foreign office today formally accepted
the Invitation to act as arbitrator of the
Alsop claim dispute between the United
States and Chile.
Red Cross Stamps Good,
but
Red Cross stamps don't "go" with the
postal officials. People mailing Santa
Claua gifts to friends In distant lands roust
remember this, for the Christmas stamps
aie not acc-'pted by Uncle Sam as postage
Already the 'new "wrlnklo" In stamps
has caused some vuble In the handling of
the mails and It Is : Vlned to cause con
siderable more before k Jiollday season ts
over. ' -.
Tho Red Cross stamps "vx designed
simply aa 'stickers' like the nHtoe aud
holly wreath stamps that are sol.V to seal
Christmas packages," said t lie sufr rtn
tendxnl of malls at the local post.Vflre.
"They don't count at all with theylls
patchlng clerk and Christmas packfties
bearing these stamps will either be re
turned to the senoVr of may wind up la the
dead letter office."
I 'l
REFUSES TO DISCUSS INCIDENT
Passengers Claim Illness and Nervous
ness is Feigned by Woman.
OFFICER GUARDS HER CAREFULLY
Arrested at Home I'pon Requisition
of MlHosrl Governor Charged
with nigamon Marriage
and Murder of Sponse.
In the aims of Detective Sergeant Wado
Matt.hcwa of St. Louis, Mrs. Dora Full :
Doxey of Columbus was taken from it
Union Pacific train at Union station at
5 o'clock last night and an hour and a
half later was In a sleeping car on the
Wabash railroad bound for the Missouri
city to answer for the death of William 3.
Erder, whom she was accused of marrying
bigamously and later poisoning by means
of arsenic.
The woman presented a pltable sight,
sobbing and moaning In the officer's arms
and closely followed by her husband. Dr.
Loren B. Doxey and her aged father. She
was also aceompanlrd by a trained nurse
and her counsel, J. O. Albert. To all ap
pearances the fair prisoner had completely
collapsed from the shock of her arrest on
the charge of murder and seemed In a
helpless condition.
"My wife Is completely wrecked as far
as her nerves are concerned, and cannot
be Interviewed by anyone," said -her hus
band. "We have nothing to say about the
death of Eider. Mrs. Doxey says she will
be prepared to face the charge of murder
and Is sure of acquittal."
Officer Carefully Guards Woman.
Detective Matthews watched his prisoner
and her husband carefully at the station
While waiting for the St. Louis train. He
carried her to an in-, alld's chair In which
she was taken to the womens 'retiring
room, where she was plnced on a couch.
While being removed from the train and
to the waiting room Mrs. Doxey kept her
face veiled from the public's curious gaze,
but the knowledge of her Identity soon
attracted a crowd about the waiting room.
Her husband, alleged to have been her
accomplice. Is .not under arrest, although
he was at first named In the requisition
papers sent to Nebraska by Governor Had
ley of Missouri.
Mrs. Doxey was arrested fit her Colum
bus home shortly beforn noon. , It was
first Intimated that she was to be taken
to answer the charge of bigamy, but the
officer quietly broke the news to her that
she was wanted for murder. The entire
town of Columbus had heard of the requi
sition Issued by the Missouri' governor for
her arrest and every person In town was
arouBed.
Learns of Murder Charge.
''My prisoner evinced no great surprise
when I told her the enormity of her al
leged crime," said Detective Matthews.
"She submitted quietly to arrest and said
she was prepared to go to St. Louis to
answer trial. I had no warrant for her hus
band. "It was my first Intention to hurry her
out of the state 'and over the Missouri
line aa quickly as possible and Intended
first taking her by way of Lincoln, but
as her lawyer gave the assurance that the
requisition would not be contested I agreed
to take her by way of Omaha."
Passengers on the Union Paclfio train
state that the entire population was at
the desot to see her leave for St. Louis.
She created a scene when the time came
for leaving her home and cried and moaned
plteously. Sha was In the constant care
of her physician and a trained nurse.
Hint Mode at Feigned Illness.
"On the train Mrs. Doxey seemed to re
cover her composure and showed no signs
of a breakdown," said a passenger on the
train who stopped off at Omaha. "She
rang for the porter and called for a table
and stationery and calmly wrote a letter.
When the train drew Into the L'nlon sta
tion she appeared to break down again.
"What we have to say will be said in
court, said J. 3. Albert, her lawyer. "Mrs.
Doxey will not commit herself and In fact
Is In no condition to be Interviewed. She
has been put to a great test and la bearing
up the best she fan."
"She Is In a highly nervous condition,"
said her nurse, when questioned.
In the retiring room the fair prisoner
removed her veil. A beautiful face was
shown, somewhat pale and tired looking,
but nevertheless pretty. Her hair Is black
and fluffy and Is parted In the middle.
She Is a small woman, neat and trim, and
is generally known as beautiful.
Woman Leaves Colambns.
COLUMBUS, Neb., Dec. 3-Mrs. L. B.
Doxey left at 2:20 this afternoon for St.
Louis to face the charge of murdering W.
j
Erder. She was accompanied by her
husband. Dr. Doxey, Dr. W. S. Evans, J.
I ,
' (Continued on Second I'age.)
Not for Postage
Department officials at Washington have
Issued bulletins to postmasters all over
the country calling the attention of the
public to the use of the Red Cross stamps
as postage. Several foreign countries. In
cluding Great Britain, have refused to ac
cept packages bearing these stamps as
sea s because of the confusion that they
cause. ,
Officials of the Red Cross ajiaociatlon
placed the Christmas "stickers" on sale to
raise funds to fight the white plaue. The
POstofflce department makes no effort to
defeat the ends of the society, but It has
called the attention of the public that the
stamps are no good as postage.
"The ruling need cause no great loss to
the lied Cross society nor to the govern
ment." said the postal official, "but It
means trouble In the postoffice and de
layed malls tn case people do not use
common aeua In mailing package.
From the New York World.
PARR TELLS OF FIXED SCALES
Man Who Discovered Sugar Weight
Frauds Testifies for Government.
TWO OFFERS OF A BRIBE
He
Says He Waa Told to Make
Ilia Own Price for Keeping
Still About Ills Dis
coveries. NEW YORK, Dec, 1 The storm-center
of the sugar trial today focused upon Rich
ard Parr, the special agent of the Treas
ury department, who Waa forenicst In. d
covering and exposing short weight frauds
on the Wllllarosburg docks of the Ameri
can Sugar Refining company. Parr re
hearsed once more his story of how he
caught Kehoe, a tally clerk, manipulating
the crooked scales; how Oliver Spltxer, one
of the six compan yeunployes now charged
with conspiracy, offered to let him name
his own price for hushing the thing up,
and how Brlzlnskl, Spltzer's partner,
hooked him by the elbow and asked anx
iously: "Dick, this fellow says you're all
right. Does that go?"
"Nothing goes with me," Parr testified
he said.
Attempt to Discredit Witness..
Told with heat and great circumstance,
the naratlve made a visible effect and
counsel for the defense waa quick to retort
with an attack on Parr's credibility.
"You started to Investigate without or
ders from any superior officer?" he was
asked.
"If you call President Roqsevelt and his
secretary" (now Collector Loeb) "superior
officers, I was working under orders," re
plied Parr, "but If you me in the secretary
of the treasury, then I was working with
out orders."
Further Inquiry along this line was
dropped. '
Questions designed to show that Parr had
once written sheets for pool and policy
room keepers were barred by the court,
but Parr insisted on an angry denial.
The wire with which, it waa shown at a
former trial, the scales were manipulated,
was produced In court again today and
identified. A working model of the scales
was exhibited for the benefit of the Jury.
Parr told how he first came upon Kehoo
crouching behind the scales.
Special Federal Attorney Stlmson said to
day that the government's side of the case
could not be completed before Tuesday next
unless the court should decide to sit to
morrow. Parr Describes Raid.
Parr took the stand to tell how, aa special
customs employe, he hsd raided the Wil
liamsburg docks on November 11, l'JOT, and
found there the evidence whlh was so
largely Instrumental In bringing about the
Indictments of the men on trial and in lead
ing the American Sugar Refining company
to pay the government more than $2,0X1,009
In back duties.
Parr's story of his discovery of the trick
scales, familiar as It now is, lost nothing
(Continued on Second Page.)
Christmas shop,
ping trials will be
made easier by re
fer r i n g t o the
Christmas Hints
on the first want ad.
page.
Christmas shopping ia a trial
at best, but if you know in ad
vance wh.it you are looking
for and where you can get it,
the task is lightened. A large
number of enterprising mer
chants are helping you by tell
ing you what they have, in our
Christmas Hint column.
Have you read tb want ads, yet,
today!
rS5jJ';-; T'
LANDED.
Missing Banker
Gives Up After
Two Years Siege
Hyman Epstein, Defaulter for Sixty
Thousand Dollars, Comes Back
to Take Medicine.
NEW YORK, Dec. 3. Hyman Epstein
walked into court today and surrendered
himself to the authorities, saying;
"My conscience would not let me be
happy. I'm ready to take my medicine."
Two years ago Epstein, who conducted
ra private bank In HVilMamBburg, Brooklyn,
disappeared after the bank had closed. He
waa said to have made away with more
than 60.000.
"I have not a penny left," Epstein said.
"I have spent all that I gained from the
bank and I am tired of hiding. I will plead
guilty and If I am given a chance I hope
I will be able to pay former depositors
back to the last cent."
Taft's Message
is in Print
Sixteen Thousand Copies Are Ready
for Distribution to the
Newspapers.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-Sixteen hundred
copies of President Taft's annual message
were delivered at the White House at
9 o'clock this morning and were Immedi
ately turned over to press associations for
distribution to the daily newspapers In the
country. All night long the government
printing office rushed work to get the mes
sage printed. It was not until mldnlgnt
that the White House turned over to the
printing office the last corrected pages of
the proof sheets that had been received
from that office and the public printer put
a large force to work making the correc
tions In the message and then having the
copies printed.
It was stated today the message con
tained from 15,000 to 1(1,000 words.
Buttermilk Saves
Town from Fire
Supply from Creamery Takes Place
of Water in Fighting
Blaze.
FENNIMORE, Wis., Dec. S.-A plentiful
supply of buttermilk saved the little town
of Patch Grove from destruction by fire
when the plant of A. F. Habberman cream
ery company was destroyed. When the
500 people of tho town realized that the
creamery could not be, saved, they tried to
save the house of Wesley Garlich ad
joining. A bucket brigade waa formed and
t with luO buckets of buttermilk secured from
the creamery the tiarllch home was saved.
Had the fire communicated to the Gar
lich lesidence, It Is probable that the rest
of the town would have gone.
Heavy tiale in Kngland.
LONDON, Dec. 3. A severe gale pre
vailed throughout Great liritaln early to
day. Considerable damagt was wrought,
particularly In the coast towns. Small
bhlpping also suffered, but no lobs of life
has been reported.
Dense Fog Over Chicago
Cause of Two Bad Wrecks
CHICAGO, Dec S Dense fog which hung
over Chicago today Interfered seriously
with traffic on the steam, street and ele
vated railroads and was the cause of two
wrecks In the early part of the day In
which a number of persona were seriously
Injured. One of th collisions waa at 103d
street and Vlncennes avenue, where two
tnterburban cars crashed together, Injuring
eight person, two at whua nay die. The
n -
(budget campaign begins
Lloyd-George Fires First Shot at
Luncheon of Liberal Club.
KING REFERS TO BUDGET FIGHT
i Speech of Prorogation Edward
Thanks Commons for Provisions
and Regrets it Has Proved
Unavailing.
LONDON, Dec. 8. The king's speech
prorogating Parliament was read today.
The proceedings were brief and the at
tendance small. The speech was read by
Lord Hifch Chanoellor Ioreburn, who was
supported by Viscount Althorp, the lorl
chamberlain; Lord MacDonnell. Lord Pent
land, secretary for Scotland, and Lord
Haversham.
As soon as the speech had been read, the
king's consent to the bills passed during
the session was announced and the mem
bers dispersed.
Freed of legislative duties members
of the House of Commons and
many peers began their own po
litical predictions In their constituencies
today. Comparatively few remained In
London for the formalities connected with
the ceremony of proroguing Parliament.
David Lloyd-George, chancellor of the
exchequer, whose budget was the Initial
cause of the crisis, waa given the op
portunity of firing the first shot in the
struggle as the guest at luncheon of the
Nyonal Liberal club. The function was
one of the most elaborate of the kind
ever held In this city and being timed with
the prorougatlon of Parliament . afforded
an occasion of which the chancellor took
advantage to deliver a speech which will
be the cue of the radicals throughout the
country.
Winston Spencer Churchill started the
campaign while on the other side Lord
Lansdowne, leader of the opposition In
the House of Lards and J. Austen Cham
berlain, who was chancellor of the ex
chequer In the Balfour ministry, have
gone to Plymouth to speak the first words
for the unionists.
' King Refers to Budget.
The reference to the political crisis In
the speech of prorogation was contained
In the clause, addressed to the House of
Commons, In which the king thanked the
members for the adoption of tho provision
for the national expenditures. This con
cluded: "I regret that the privilege has proved
unavailing."
On foreign relations the speech said:
" Difficulties which unfortunately arose In
southeastern Europe In the autumn a year
ago have resulted, happily, In a practi
cal solution for the maintenance of peace.
At a luncheon of tho National-Liberal
club Mr. Lloyd-George delivered a vigorous
speech in which he expressed confidence
that, although the budget had been buried,
it was insured (he certain hope of an
early resurrection. It was time for the
lords to be handled firmly, the chancellor
said, and for one he would not remain
a member" of the Liberal cabinet for an
hour unless he knew that the cabinet had
power to carry Its bills. He added that the
greatest members of the upper house had
been opposed to the rejection of the budget
bill. Even Lord Lansdowne, he believed,
would rather have passed the budget, but
he had been forced Into the position taken
against his better Judgment.
The chancellor concluded:
"With all the lords' cunning, their greed
has overborne their craft, and we have
got them at last."
other arcudent was on ths Incline leading
to the Indiana street bridge over the Chi
cago river, where two surface street cars
collided. Injuring three passengers.
In the downtown district street the dark
ness was so Intense that vehicles were vis
ible only a few feet away.
Train achedulea were Ignored while the
fog lasted and engineers and motormen kept
their- cars at alow speed with emergency
brakes ready.
Says Few Trainmen Went Out and
that Situation is Unchanged.
RUMOR OF SETTLEMENT SOON
Statement that Negotiations Are On
Denied by Both Sides.
'FLENTY OF MEN," SAYS HILL
President of Great Northern 111
Wnlt Iny or Two Before Bring
Ing In More Snltrhmen
from the Kaat.
ST. FAt'L, Minn., 'Dec. 3. Officials of
the Switchmen's union said they were not
alarmed at the reports received from the
west today ilf vicnibers of the Hrotherhood
of llailway Trainmen going back to work.
Union officers received t word that every
thing waS still tied up in Seattle, despite
the report that the trainmen hud decided
to go back to work. The switchmen say
whatever action wan taken by the Seuttle
trainmen will make no material difference
as there are only a few of them In the
Seattle yards, and that, In fact, 97 per cent
of the switchmen in the northwest are
members of the Switchmen's union.
President Hawley npent the day in Min
neapolis, where he had a conference with
Governor Eberhart. In this conference
were Secretary Martin of the executive
committee of the switchmen and E. W.
Decker, president of tho Minneapolis Clear
imfHouse association.
Movement Toward Settlement.
Governor Eberhart announced later that
a well defined movement had been started
to effect a settlement of the strike. A
statement was published quoting the gov
ernor as Faying he believed that the strike
would be settled in three days. Governor
Eberhart, when asked as to the truth of
the Interview, said he had been Incorrectly
quoted.
He said he had met some of the Minne
apolis business men, who had talked with
him regarding the possibilities of getting
both sides to the controversy together, and
he thought that a movement was on foot
In that direction.
President L. W. Hill of the Great North
ern, when asked If ho knew anything about
It, said there could be no truth to any talk
of settlement even with Individual rail
roads, as the general managers had de
cided that they would all stand together.
Mr. Hill said the railroads , could get so
many men in the east to take the strik
ers' places they could fill all the plsc.s,
but that they did not want to bring them
all In now, preferring to give the old men
a chance to return tn their places.
Hartley Reviews Outlook.
President Hawley of tho Switchmen's
urilon also Bald there was nothing definite
accomplished at the Minneapolis confer
ence und that so far as he knefv the pros
pects of a settlement vera no better to
night than they were before.
Hegardlng the defection of the men lit
Duluih, Mr. Hawley said he had a mes
sage frona Duluth today stat ng that only
three of the Brotherhood of Hallway Train
men hud returned to work and that It was
believed they would go out again tonight.
Mr. Hawley again reiterated his state
ment that there was no possibility of arbi
tration under the Erdman act.
So fur as the freight situation is con
cerned here, it is being moved with diffi
culty and there was congestion In the lo
cal yards.
It was estimated that about 1,500 men had
been Imported Into the Twin Cities today
and the railroad officials said they were
sutlHfled that conditions would resume their
normal state within a few days.
Superintendent Morrison cf the Unlo:i
depot terminals said today that he had
been approached by five members of the
swltchmen'B un.on who said that ihero was
much dissatisfaction in the ranks, and that
fully half of the men are desirous of re
turning to work and are deterred only by
fear of the rest of the strikers.
Little Freight la Moved.
Conditions at the local terminals were
still In bad shape this morning. While
there was some movement of cars, there
was no volume of business being done and
most passenger traffic was delayed. More
strike breakers were put to work this
morning and the railroad officials state
that before the day la over enough new
men will be working to considerably Im
prove the conditions. Conditions at the
large terminals are worst than at the
smaller ones and way stations.
"It is impossible to make an accurate
estimate of the number of strikers em
ployed. We put a dozen new men to work
here yesterday and will put two or three
dozen more to work today," said General
Manager Gruber of the Great Northern.
General Manager Slado of the Northern
Paclfio would make no statement of the
number of men employed on his road. The
offleals say, however, that several hundred
new men are expected to arrive today, one
carload being from Winnipeg and several
from Chicago. '
The strikers say that the men Imported
are not railroad men and cannot do the
work properly.
When Governor A. O. Eberhart arrives
today from Chicago State Labor Commis
sioner W. R. E. McEwen will recommend
that he take steps to organize an Interstate
board of mediation, to be composed of the
chief executives of Minnesota, North Da
kota, Montana, Idaho and Washington fur
the purpose of bringing about a settlement
of the strike.
fold Wave, Coal aort.
With a cold wave hovering over Mon
tana and a blizzard raging, it Is feared
much suffering will result because of the
depletion of the coal supply unless traffic
conditions are Improved. The Northern
Pacific was able to get two coal trains
over Its Montana division yesterday, but
both were for their own use.
Superintendent F. D. Kelsey announced
(hat full switching crews will be at work
at all points on the Dakota division of the
Great Northern today. It Is reported the
officials at Grand Forks are accepting
freight for all points except Duluth and
the Twin Cities.
No freight ts being received at Crook
ston, Minn., but passenger trains are mov
ing with more or less regularity. The
yardmaater of the Great Northern at
Fargo began thla morning to use 'horses.
In moving freight cara for the business
men. Horses are also being used tor the
movement of the freight cars at Bralnard,
