The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-12
SWITCHMEN ON A STRIKE.
The Night Men Employed in All Except
0neof the Freight YardsQuit Work.
Employees Unwilling to Obey the Order of the
Strikers Forced to Leave Their Work
Other Labor Matters.

After o'clock last night the switchmen's
strike assumed larger proportions, ten men of
the c. st. L. & p taking up the cause of the
six switchmen discharged yesterday morning.
The sixteen men then, headed by
Larry Doran, foreman in the
c., st. L. & P. yards, marched to the c., Il. &
l. yards, and there were joined by the night
yardmaster. F. ]. Streiker, and three men. Mr..
Streiker appeared to become the leader. They
then marched to the c., l., ST. L. & G.
yards and ordered the men in these
yards out, but only one consented to 60. They
ordered the other men to strike out for home,
forcing them first to side-track switching engine
No. 70. This accomplished they started west
ward for the lower c., L, st. L. 6 G. yard,
and succeeded in getting the switchmen to
agree to do no more work until the strike was
declared of, after they had done the switching
Of the sleeping coaches. Here the party came
to halt for some time, awaiting the ar
rival Of the Beeline and ]. & ST. L.
switchmen. While waiting, the l., D. & 8.
switchmen came over from the West Side and
joined their ranks. An effort was then made to
induce the switchmen on the Union tracks to
join them, but they refused until they could see
further ahead.
At the depot they boarded an I. s. Y. freight
train, which carried them 10 the stockyards.
Journal reporter accompanied them upon the
trip. At the stockyards they aighted and went
into consultation with the switchmen Of the Belt
yards who, after few minutes elaboration,
put up their trains and joined their striking
brethren. There were but six men employed
at the Belt yards. and shese had,
earlier in the evening. demanded Of the superin-
tendent reduction Of the hours Of labor and q
continuation of the pay received. The men
work thirteen hours, and are able to put in
only about half time, their wages sometimes
being as low as $25 month. They demanded
eight hours of work each day, and that
they be paid the same wages as
now received The superintendent had taken
the matter into consideration, and was to report
on Thursday. The strikers grouped themselves
upon the tracks about the yards, and gave them
selves up to discussing the outlook of the strike.
There was not, however, any disorderly senti-
ment shown, all the men being quiet and sober,
and acting upon the principle that in the
end the strike would be all the success an
ticipated. They remained at the Belt yarls
for over an hour, after which they proceeded to
the l., B. & w. yards where, in few minutes,
they were Joined by the switchmen employed
there, after which they went to the l., D. & s.
yards, where they were also reinforced by a num-
Der of switchmon. After this the united body
returned to the city.
No attempt was made last night to get the day
switchmen out. The strikers say this job will
be attended to to-day. When asked what
the discharge Of the six Vandalia switchmen
yesterday morning They further stated that
there had been no meeting of the local switch
men to vote on the question, but they knew
they were backed by the Local switchmen's As
ISOLATION, and that was enough. They had no
Knights of Labor backing them, nor any other
organization than that Of the local switchmen.
Doran and Streiker are the leaders, apparently,
| as they were the men who ordered locomotives
to come to standstill and ordered the men to
| quit work..
A number of switchmen expressed regret
that such action had been taken. They
thought it was rash and unwise, and number
left the party and quietly went to their homes
One man went SO far as to tell the boys they
FOOLS and that they would simply lose their
jobs as a result Of their nights work. About
twenty FIVE of the number seem determined to
put stop to the entire switching service
Some of the strikers said they had quit be-
cause of the employment by the Vandalia of
three more ''scabs" from ST. Louis, not counting
Charles Lee, instead of that number of the men
who had quit tho night before. Yardmaster
had had no difficulty yesterday morn
ing in filing the places of the seven
swtchmen who had struck the night before. He
did not know whether any of them were from
St Louis or not. The strikers had been in
formed that their places were filled.
IF the 'scabs' get into one yard" said
switchman, ''they will soon be in every yard in
| the city. We amt got no grievance against the
roads. We just don't want the 'scabs.'"
Mr.. Averill, the Vandalia yardmaster. states
that no man was discharged to make room for
Charles Lee, who was sent over from St Louis.
The night switchmen who went out did SO with
out even notifying Mr. Averill that they
when they came round to talk the matter over,
Mr.. Averil gave them to understand that men
| who would leave the vandalia yards in the
| shape they were found Yesterday, were not such
men as the Vandalia officers wished to continue
in their service, and they might as well hunt
other jobs. The striking switchmen then
endeavored, it is stated, to induce the Cay men
| to quit. but as of the switchmen remarked,
| they were too sharp to be caught in such q
scheme He, for one, had no grievances
| In the night switching service there are about
ninety five men, and in the day service 100.
| There are thirty two switching crews in the day
| service and nineteen in the night service This
| number is subject to change, with theincrease
| of business, but the regular crews number fifty
| one in the twenty-four hours.
OTHER LABOR TROUBLES.
The brick contractors held meeting yester-
day at Mozart Hall to take action on the demands
Of the striking brickayers for forty-fv cents
an hour and nine hour day. Nearly all the con-
tractors in the city were present twas decided
| that the demands could not be granted and the
committee of bricklayers were informed Of this
action at their meeting in Workngmen's Hall.
The bricklayers held meeting during the greater
part of the afternoon. The meeting was
secret, but it was evident last night that no &C
| tion had been taken. Some said the men would
stay out until their demands were granted.
Others said they would go to work this morning.
| 1t Is probable that most Of them will take up
| their trowels to-day. There was considerable