A Federal Injunction Kills the Northern Pacific Strike Before It Starts

The conference between the officials of the Northern Pacific railroad and a committee of the employes in regard to the proposed reduction of wages, which has been going on in St. Paul, has ended in disagreement; but the receivers have anticipated the action which the employes would probably take in consequence by securing from the United States court an order enjoining them from striking and their organizations from ordering a strike. The original injunction was obtained at Milwaukee, but similar ones have been obtained at Portland and other places along the line. Similar action may be taken here to cover this state.

While the receivers have thus headed off a possible strike, it is by no means certain that, even with their hands free, the employes would have struck, for at last accounts their committee was still in session at St. Paul discussing the action to be taken on the ultimatum of General Manager Kendrick.

St. Paul, Dec. 28. — This morning, when it was expected the Northern Pacific officials would give their answer to the employes' protest against the proposed reduction in wages, to take place January 1, they invited their employes to a further conference, which at once went into session. General Manager Kendrick explained to the men that the new schedule became necessary because of the condition of the road, and it had been issued only after thorough consideration. It could not, therefore, be altered in any manner.

Representatives of the different organizations of employes are in session tonight, but it is not believed the discussion will lead to a strike. They refuse now, as they have all along, to make any statement of their grievances or plans, so that the general public is considerably at sea about the matter.

Milwaukee, Dec. 28. — The receivers of the Northern Pacific, preparing for a strike of all employes, applied some time ago to Judge Jenkins, of the United States court, for an order restraining them from declaring an instantaneous strike and doing any damage to the property and interfering with the operation of the road. The receivers had ordered a general reduction of wages of 3 to 5 per cent., and the employes objected. Negotiations between representatives of the employes and receivers have been in progress for three weeks.

Today negotiations were broken off, and, a strike being imminent, the receivers have decided to make use of the injunction issued by Judge Jenkins, which they hope will enable them to operate the road immediately with new men. The injunctional order will be served tonight and tomorrow on all leaders of the Northern Pacific railroad employes by the United States marshals of the districts through which the Northern Pacific passes.

In enumerating those who are enjoined from striking or ordering strikes, the petition of the receivers mentions the names of thirty-two men who have been in conference with the receivers as a committee and asks that they be enjoined from ordering a strike, which the court grants. The petitioners say the employes cannot carry on a strike without the pecuniary assistance of the different national organizations to which they belong. They therefore pray that these organizations, through their chief officers—such as P. M. Arthur, I. C. Clark, F. P. Sargent, D. G. Ramsay, S. E. Wilkinson and others—be enjoined from ordering and sanctioning a strike. The court grants this and these men are included in the injunction.