Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-04-03
THE STRIKE EXTENDING.
The Swltchmen In the Kansas Oily
Yards Go Out.
Statement Of the Case Made by
the Union.
Resolutions Adopted IN Secret Ses-
sion by the Knights.

Ga Monday, the ed inst, the Union switch
men In all tho Kansas City yards struck. This
action was q complete surprise to the railroad
officers. 1t is stated that no complaints were
made since the l To settlement. Business at
the yards Is at q standstill. Orders have been
Issued to refuse perishable freight. Two
trains started to go out but the strikers took
possession and stopped them before they left
the yard. 1t is alleged that the railroad CON-
panies did not keep their agreement with the
s~witchmen. 1t is stated by a Knight that the
Union Pacific trouble has nothing to do with
the action OF the switchmen. The strike was
i~naugurated by order Of the Union without
regsrd TO connection with the Knights Of
Labor.
A committee Of switchmen issued the follow
ing;
KANSAS CITY, March 22.-To the merchants
and citiz .ns OF Kansas City and vicinity: The
switcuman In the various yards In this city ant
vicinity, deem II due TO you as citizens anC
friends to make q brief explanation OF on
walk-out this morning and the reason there
for. We sent q request to our superinten.
dent on the 9th of March, asking them to pay
US the tthHuhfu wages phtu eWltcunen In Cnl-
caRo. They met Us In session at tho Union
DC pot on Saturday, the 18th, and We and they
made q verbal contract that was published, or
at least part OF 1t In the daily morn
ing papers Of Sunday, March IA
Since that time the switchmen have lived
up TO their part OF the contract, but
some OF our superintendent have vio-
lated and evaded the spirit Of that contract,
aud No we treated with them as a body OF the
whole, we expected them to live up to their
contract as a whole, but as one or more viu-
lated 1t we claim that they all did 60. Now we
come out TO demand the standard wager paid
the swi,cbmenin Chicago, H., and the sigma
an agreement. We are sorry IL we cause you
loss or trouble, but we feel that we are right,
and will not agree TO go 10 work until we have
settled our differences with our employers.
Respectfully,
The COMMITTEE.
The packing houses and other establish
ments embarrassed by the strike announce
their intention to close. The railroads affected
by the strike are the Chicago and Alton, Rock
Island, Wabash, Missouri Paci6c, Hannibal
and st. Joseph, Kansas City, 81. Joseph and
Council Bluffs, Burlington and Missouri River,
AtchisoE, Topeka aud Santa Fe, Union Pacific,
and Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf.
The executive boards OF the 81. Louis assem-.
blies of the Knights OF Labor adopted the fol-
lowing: That we insist upon our rights as
American citizens to assemble and organize
and negotiate and treat with other organiza-
lions through their delegates and representa-
tives, with representatives OF any and all
other organizations and combinations what
ever; and that we call upon Legislators, boti
state and rational, TO enact such measures A6
will compel the recognition OF labor orgapiza-
lions ard trade assemblies, and also to compel
corporations to arbitrate the differences be.
tween and with themselves and their employees.