The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-08
SWITCHES GIVE TROUBLE
BOTH FOR THE RAILWAY COMPANIES
AND FREIGHT HANDLERS.

A Strike That Bothered Number OF
Trains Refusal to Strike That Harnesses
the Strikor,--What Progress Is Claimed
by the Workingmen-Anarc Subsidies
for Awhile. aud Quiet R,igns.
CHICAGO, May S-Passenger trains filed
with travellers and freight trains loaded
with merchandise We're blockaded by the
switch tenders on the Chicago 4 Western
Indiana road Friday morning. Before 5
o'clock four pas Senger trains and half a
dozen engines had accumulated at the
Forth ninth street crossing, where there
was crowd, but no one to turn the
switches The same sort Of trouble existed
at the Fortieth, Forty third, and Forty
seventh street crossings. This blockade
affects not only the Western Indiana but
all of its track tenants-thc Grand Trunk,
the Chicago X Eastern Illinois, the Wabash,
the Louisville, New Albany X thicago, and
the Chicago x Atlantic.
The striking switch tenders belong to the
Western Indiana, and number about thirty.
Their wages are from so to $40 month
They demand raise of $40 all round This
the company refused week ago, when the
trouble first Logan by tho disconnected ten.
ders making the demand The switch ten
ders should not lie COMPOUNDED with the
regular switehmcn, as tiey are two different
bodies of employees
The blockade at the Fortieth street cross
ing of the Western India a road was raised
at 1880 o'clock Friday morning. Up to
that hour eight engines and two trains had
been stoppe1. Special officer Ballard, of
the Wabash oad took down fifty special
officers and SON trained Them 10 throw the
switches thus starting the trains.
The Chicago, Burlington n Quincy ran
out freight train at > o'clock Thursday
night, aud Friday was securing all the
freight offered, and MIR, Potter feels sure
that business will now 90 on with little or
no delay. Notice was posted in their freight
houses Friday morning that all the old
fret sht handlers who reported for work be-
fore Il. III. would be taken back, but that
those who remained out after that hour
would be paid Off for good.
In considering the situation among the
railroads distinction must be made
and remembered between the switchmen
and the switch tenders The former have
finally determined to take no hand either
for or against the strike now on among the
freight handlers. The Northwestern switch
men Thursday wavered for few hours,
AMI actually did leave the field from 10 a
IN. until | p IN Tie other roads held their
men steady and TINS ave the Northwestern
officials and the OH, ilI> of the Switch
mems union opportunity t.
get the wagering Northwestern men
back to thei, places ana in line again. Al
a meeting hell i'll the vicinity of Al tstern
avenue they decided as they put it, Ia stay
at work -" long as life and limb were pro
tected The railroad Off, ials feel very ex-
ultant over this, and declare that they can
now easily enough beat the freight handlers
The p!ac, OF the latter, they say, can he
filed with 'longshoremen or even with la
borers, AMI that then anxiety was alto
Gether over the switchinen ami lest other
depu Z tents came to the striker, aid.
A rg the freight handlers thsmselyee
great disappointment Is undoubtedly felt at
/ he attitlie OF the sw |, hmen Ii WIS
counted upon that the latter wr.ild refuse
tn move cars, and that ty thus involving
one after another Of the drpa tment, the
railroad officials conlI l., cocr,rd The
freight handlers are litter in their dcuun
iatIon Of what they term their betrayal hy
tine switchmen, and declare that when the
latter were on strike on the Lake Shore
they we're app 'aling ter all to every body
and promising to see other branches through
IN their turn.
At all raj roa eight houses moro bysi-
ness was Icing done, Friday, than since the
freight handlers went out AT all the North
western hou. es and the ST Haui's houses L
great deal of freight comparatively was lie,
ing handled. Great crowds stool ahou
but there WAS no apprehension Of troubl
The st Paul is boarding and loiging its new
men and the special police right iii TIN
freight house, At the other freight houses
about the same condition Of affairs exists
new men being at wor..