The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-01-06


HOW THE STRIKE BEGAN AND WHY THE
BROTHERHOOD FEEL AGGRIEvED-A CLEAR
STATEMENT OF FACTS.
To the Public;-
Our people are fully aware that misun-
the p, G. Il st. l.. Railroad Company and
the locomotive engineers and firemen on
the leased lines of that road. Also that this
misunderstanding arose in consequence OF a
reduction in the wages of the engineers and
firemen, in direct violation of contract
previously entered into between these par
ties. We therefore deem it unnecessary at
this time to enter into detailed statement
of the affair. Our object at present is to deal
with the calumny and misrepresentation
that have been set afloat against us with a
view to weaken our cause with the public
We are not unmindful of the fact,
that, in our country no cause can prosper
however plausible. without that greatest
essentially to the success of every enterprise
public opinion" and for this reason as
much as any other, we have always en-
Observation-Disclosures on duty or at leisure, and
particularly since the commencement of our
unhappy relations with our employers-to
so compcrt ourselves as to command the
confidence and sympathy of our people
everywhere. We regret as much as anybody
theeXistence of the present complicated state
of affairs, and are willing to bear any blame
that an impartial public may attach to our
actions; but we are not willing longer to
stand idly by and see our good name and
standing in society vanish before the biassed
representations of those arrayed against us.
Many acts of violence have been
reported through the press which
acts We emphatically depreciate, no
matter by whom perpetrated. We are
axHy ara hnt Of vftrl
ceedlngs are set at1oat-reports without the
least foundation in anything that even sp-
proximates to the truth-and attributed it to
the locomotive engineers and firemen con-
nected with the controversy on the various
lines of the road in question.
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR VIOLENCE.
We haze taken particular pains TO inquire
into these matters, and made diligent search
to ascertain the truth. From our investiga-
ton we are enabled to substantiate the state
committed can be traced to parties not in
sympathy with us. We have it upon good
authority that there are at present
men in the city and elsewhere along the
line of road on which the trouble exists,
whose purpose it is to commit unlaw.
full depredatiOns and charge the same
to the engineers and firemen, in the
hope of turning public opinion against us
and in favor of the railroad company. But
we have no fear in this matter; we court the
most rigid investigation into all our pro-
ceedings, and are ready to stand or fall by
the verdict of an impartial tribunal. We
therefore respectfully ask for a suspension
of public opinion in our behalf for short
time, in order to enable to get the facts
fairly before our people. In the meantime,
we assure the public that we entertain no
It,
and should they need our services to guard
their property, we are at their command.
But we are not ready to sell our labor as
locomotive engineers and fremen for a price
which would virtually close the doors of our
educational institutions against our chill
dren and compel them to begin life of
drudgery without the first rudiments of a
common school education.
By order of Division No. ii of the B. of
L. L.
CAUSE AND JUSTIFICATION.
A WORD FROM THE ENGINEERS sIDE-REAsoN
AND CAUSE.
To the Editor of the Sentunel:-
SIR see in yesterdays issue of your pa
per statement made by Mr.. Frazer, General
Agent of the Jacksonville, Madison and
Indianapolis Railroad, that the engineers
had no cause to strike; that all the employees
of the road had their wages reduced. How
does the public know that the officers pay
was reduced? 1t is very easy for them to
make the statement, but is it true, that is the
question. the men had a right to strike? 1t is
a poor plea to put forth that owing to the
decrease in business they would have to re-
duce expenses. Does it not look reasonable
that the men who are pulling the passengers
and freight over the roads should know when
the companies are doing good business or
not? The officers of the road have broken
their their word with the men, and it is just
in them to resent the wrong that has been
put upon them. 1t is not owing to de-
crease in business that this has been done.
The companies have taken advantage of the
panic to cut the wages down, and never put
them up again; and also to break up the
engineers organization. So long as they act
honorably they will have the sympathies of
the public. +. B. MAXWELL.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 80.