Seattle's Railroad Strike Goes Quiet—but the Unions Keep Fighting

The railroad strike seems now to be a thing of the past, so far as this city is concerned, and interest is turned away to the exciting incidents of the struggle in other cities and states. While the local labor unions stand by their brethren of the American Railway Union, they condemn the acts of violence in other places. While peace reigns here, desperate men continue to burn bridges and beat non-union men along the Northern Pacific road, but they retreat before the approach of the regular soldiers, who are fast stretching along the line to protect the track and trains. The surest sign of the defeat of the strikers is the discussion which has arisen on the question of blacklisting, in which the strikers take a lively interest.

Owing to the nearly entire absence of traffic the number of passenger trains on the Northern Pacific between Seattle and Tacoma has been reduced to two each way per day besides the Portland train. Some of yesterday's trains were accompanied by half a dozen United States soldiers as guards.

Good order continues to prevail about the yards of the Lake Shore and Northern Pacific roads, due to the heavy show of force and vigilance made by the deputy marshals, the police, the United States troops, the revenue cutter Grant and the state militia, and also to the good sense of the strikers in remaining away from the railroad yards. The managers of the strike here are preserving a conservative attitude, but are nevertheless doing a great deal of effective work in a quiet way.

Quite a number of non-union men who had accepted positions vacated by the strikers have been persuaded to quit the company's employ, and several have been sent east to Montana over the Great Northern road. It was rumored that nearly a carload of non-union men who had applied for positions were shipped eastward on Tuesday night.

Superintendent Kline and Trainmaster Mills report that the alleged demonstrations made along the line against the non-union men now operating their trains have been very much magnified and really do not amount to anything more than the throwing of a few rotten eggs at the trains. Mr. Mills said he would start a coal train to Gilman today.

Superintendent Kline said yesterday that he never threatened to blacklist any of the striking employes of the Lake Shore road, and that Judge Hanford had said nothing to him on the subject. He continued: 'The word blacklisting is hardly ever used nowadays by railroad men, and had I any notion of retaliating upon the strikers I should certainly say nothing about it to them beforehand. I never threaten, and it is part of my religion never to say what I intend to do. Judge Hanford has said nothing to me about the matter, because the proper officer to deal with him is Receiver Brown, in whose employ I am. There was no strike on when Mr. Brown went East, but I told him that it was likely that we should have one, and before leaving he outlined the policy I should follow in case of such an event, and I have tried to do so as nearly as I can.'

None of the trades unions in this city went on strike yesterday, contrary to the expectation of many who supposed that all organized labor throughout the country would be paralyzed as the result of the conference of labor leaders in Chicago on Tuesday evening. Secretary Middleton of the Western Central Labor Union says that the executive committee of the American Federation of Labor has not yet met to consider the question of striking, but that President Gompers has called a meeting for that purpose. Should the federation advise a sympathetic strike, it would still have to be ordered by the president of each of the international labor unions. The Knights of Labor in this city are very few in number and are employed mainly as laborers, controlling no branch of industry. Consequently the edict of Grand Master Sovereign calling upon them to strike was not obeyed in this city.

The local branch of the American Railway Union held a large and enthusiastic meeting last night, and sent telegrams of encouragement to President Debs and the other officials of the order who were arrested in Chicago, pledging them unwavering loyalty on the part of the union in this city. It was also decided to give an entertainment in the near future for the purpose of raising funds to carry on the strike. This will probably be in the form of a ball to be given at one of the pavilions on the lake. The thanks of the union were voted to the Grand Army of the Republic posts for the resolutions adopted by them hostile to the aims of the order.

As the result of a long conference yesterday between the executive committee and Superintendent Copeland, of the Great Northern road, the union last night consented to allow that road to transfer live stock to the stock yards and grain to the Novelty mill over the tracks of the boycotted Lake Shore and Northern Pacific road. This was done for the purpose of obviating the necessity of unloading live stock on the water front and driving them through the business portion of the city to the stock yards south of the city, thus endangering the lives of people on the streets. The transfer of wheat was permitted for another worthy purpose, namely, to prevent a food famine to the city.

After a meeting of the Western Central Labor Union last night the following resolutions were adopted:

'Whereas, in the struggle of organized labor in this country against the Pullman Company, in pursuit of the injunction by that corporation, many unlawful acts have been committed which have been attributed to the rank and file of labor unions; and

Whereas, the fact that whenever illegal acts are committed by any party against persons or property of those who take sides against us is a blow at the very foundations of the labor movement from which, if unlawful practices are allowed, it will take years to recover; therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Western Central Labor Union is against the unlawful acts of so-called strikers, which, in their results, are dealing a serious blow to the cause of labor at present.

Resolved, That it is the duty of all friends of the labor movement to use their utmost endeavors to prevent the destruction of property or the committal of other unlawful acts.

Resolved, That the Western Central Labor Union, representing the labor organizations of the city of Seattle, indorses the strike of the American Railway Union in their fight against the Pullman Company, and promises them our undivided support to the end that a peaceful solution of the difficulty may be arrived at.'

Deputy United States Marshal Ruger went to Gilman yesterday to subpoena witnesses and serve warrants on a number of citizens of that place who are charged in a complaint filed by Superintendent Kline, of the Lake Shore road, with participating in an alleged conspiracy to prevent the running of trains on that road. The men accused are John M. Davis, William McAuley, Samuel Hudson, Bernard Malarky, James Grigg, Albert Kuhn, George Eaton and D. O. Mills, and they will be given a hearing today before United States Commissioner Emery, the defendants being released on $300 bail. Some of the defendants claim that their arrest is the result of spite work on the part of Wesley Wilson, manager of the coal mines at Gilman, and other officials of the coal company and railroad, and claim that they will prove their innocence. The specific charge against them is that on July 5 they gathered about Conductor Forman and Engineer Kennedy, asking them to abandon their train there, and when the latter refused they were threatened with violence.

The resolution adopted by Stevens Post, G. A. R., on Tuesday evening in regard to the attitude of the Grand Army of the Republic toward the strike was as follows: 'Resolved, By Stevens Post, Grand Army of the Republic, that we have heard with great satisfaction and approval the circular order No. 2, issued by our department commander, and we most cordially endorse its patriotic sentiments; and in view of the disorders and unlawful demonstrations now prevailing throughout the country we, as loyal members of a law-abiding order, pledge ourselves anew to the faithful discharge of our duties to the country and the government, and stand ready whenever our services are required, or when called upon, to aid by all means in our power in maintaining order, preserving peace and resisting all attempts to interfere with the free and unrestricted operations of commerce and travel.'