Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-22

Meeting To-day.
For week or two past there has been
trouble brewing among the worRmen en-
played in the machine shops of the st.
Paul &c Manitoba Railroad company, which
yesterday forenoon, in all the
men, nearly 800 in number, quitting work.
The first intimation tho officers of the COM
pany had of the difficulty was when delega-
ton, fourteen in mum ber, consisting Of two
from each Of the various shops, called upon
Mr.. j. B. Rice, assistant superintendent Of
the road, shortly after 10 O'Clock in the
forenoon and stated that all the men in the
shops had quit work, and refused longer to
work under A. A. Ackerly, master mechanic
of the road, and Joseph Wortsmith, foreman
of the machine shops. The communication
took Mr.. Rice completely by surprise.
He repliod to the committee that
General Manager Hill, Vice President
Angus and superintendent Wakeman
were all absent from the city. and he had
neither the authority or disposition to listen
to their grievances, and counselled them to
await Mr.. Hills return, which was expected
the following day. The men were respectful
and willingly consented to wait Mr.. Rice
at once repaired to the shops and found
every room vacant, but there was no dis
turbancc of any kind. The few men there
said they had no complaints to make in re-
gard to wages, nor were they dissatisfied
with the company, but they resolutely stated
that they would no longer work under
Ackerly and Wortsmith.
Ia the meantime meeting of the dissat-
isfied workmen had been called at the shops
at o'clock in the afterneen to hear the
report of the committee, and to take such
action as would be required In the prem
ises.
A GLoBs reporter visited the shops in the
afternoon about half past 8 O'Clock, and
found general Sunday look everywhere
visible. What ordinarily is perfect hive
of industry was more quiet even than on .
Sunday. The men had began to gather, all
dressed in their ststore clothes," and were
assembled in little knots, discussing the sit
uation. One and ell informed the re-
porter that they had no complaints to
make against the company, but they were
opposed to working any longer
under Ackerly and Wortsmith. They said
both these men, and especially Ackerly,
treated them like dogs, and they would stand
it no longer. They made no threats against
the company, or against Ackerly, only they
would no longer submit to bis orders. When
pressed to give details of dislike to Ackerly,
their answers might be fitly stated in the
couplet,
81 do not like you. Doctor Fell,
The reason why cannot tell.
But this do know very we'll
1 do not like you, Doctor Fell. "
Leaving the men the GLOBE man next
sought out MIR. Ackerly, who he found in his
Office, composedIy smoking cigar. In
answer to inquiries Mr.. Ackerly frankly and
freely said the men had imbibed prejudice
against him, for what reason he was at a loss
to say. He said he had been in charge only
some two weeks, and be had endeavored to
do his duty to the company that employed
him, He became convinced that there were
more men employed than could be proftably
worked, and he had suspended about fifteen
of the number. He said there was not man
only suspended until such
time as their services would be needed, and
those who had families depend
ing upon them. He had not employed q
single man since he had been there, and he
had not promised any one work, although he
had numerous applications. In regard to
the charge that he ill treated or over work
ed the men, he said that the company was
paying liberal wages. and all that he had
asked of the men was that they should re-
turn fair equivalent for the money they
were paid. This he considered was duty
he owed the company and he should con-
tinue to do so as long as he was there.
About this time the men began to assem-
bic about the platform of the machine shops
and the reporter left Mr.. Aokerly to take .
look at the crowd, which numbered some
200. They were all neatly and cleanly
dressed, and more orderly crowd would be
hard to find. There was not loud or harsh
word spoken and there was no excitement
whatever. A better looking, or more So
ber, industrious appearing body of men oan-
not be found in any city.
There did not seem to be any particular
leader among them. each one seeming to
wait for some enc else to take the lead. Mr..
Rice, the assistant superintendent. was on
the ground, together with three or four 9TH
or officials. After waiting some time, finally
Mr.. Jerry Buckley. boiler maker, took his
position on some car wheels piled on the
platform Of the. machine shops, and briefly
explained the objects Of the meeting. which
may be summed up in q few words. They
demand that Acksrly should go. or to use
his own emphatic language "By Cd We
will CO." This remark received slight ap-
plause. He then read an article published IN
q Bloomington. Illinois; paper, giving the
particulars of party Of railroad men burn
ing A. A. AckerIY in efiky in April last.
He recited the call of the com mittee on Mr..
Rice and mentioned the absence OF Mr..
Hill.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Mr..
Rice was called for, who came forward and
talked to the men in quiet way, explaining
what he had already stated to the committee.
He said he was sorry the men had taken
such course. They should have gone on
with their work, and IL they
had any grievances the proper
way was for them to appoint committee
and Lay them before the proper authorities,
and then if they did NOT obtain redress they
could quit work. He had never heard word
of complaint before to-day. He had sup