The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-09
Progress of the Great strike.

ID. M. HOxIE, First Vice-president."
A-
Progress of the Great Strike.
ST. Louis, March S-The strike of part of
the Knights Of Labor on the Gould Southwest
ern system Of railways, Saturday, was followed
yesterday at various points along the lines by
general suspension of work of all the Knights
employed in any position by the railroads, until
the number reached between 5000 and 10000,
and included shopmen, switchmen, trainmen,
brakenlen and fremen. The engineers none of
whom have joined the strike formally, are pre-
vented from working by lack of strikers assist
ance upon their engines, and are counted in
among themselves by the Knights so far as their
value to the roads is concerned. Another gen
eral order is expected from the executive board
in Marshall, Tex. to-day, which, it is expected,
will call from their work all the Knights now
on the roads, ard will still further cripple them
In ST Louis all the Missouri Pacific employees
who are Knights of Labor have struck, and
number of them who were not Knights have
Joined the order and left their work. No freight
trains and no passenger trains went out of ST.
Louis on the Missouri Pacific railroad yester-
day, and its business in every department is at a
complete stand-still. The Knights have been
holding quiet and orderly meetings iii tEeir
hall, while their executive committee is in ses-
sion, and is waiting to hear from the railroad
authorities to whom they are locking for
proposition for conference, at which their diff
ferences can be arranged. 1t is probable that
unless some proposition of this kind is made to-
day the strike will assume greater proportions
and will injure the roads more than it has al
ready. The strikers exercise great care that the
delay of the mails shall not be attributed to
them. They have appointed delegations from
their number to prepare the mail-ears for their
trips. switch them into position and attach them
to the engines. This precaution makes it i'm
possible for the United States government to
prefer charges against them for delaying the
mails, and thus the government can find no pre-
text for Interference unless violence is resort
ed to-
1t was with the greatest difficulty that any of
the Missouri Pacific trains could be moved this
morning from the Union Depot, as the officials
of the road could persuade none of the strikers
to assist in making them up. Assistant Super
intendent Stilwell, of the Union Depot, assisted
by three yardmasters, however, succeeded in
starting all the passenger trains on time, the
strikers offering no resistance to their efforts.
Not freight ear ON the Missouri Pacific has
been moved from this city since Saturday night,
and the probabilities are that none can be moved
until the present difficulty has been settled, or
unless the railroad company fill the places of the
striking Knights of Labor by non-members of
that organization. The members OF the board
of directors of the road have arrived in this city,
but whether they came to assist in settling the
strike, or simply to attend the regular annual
meeting of the board, set for next Wednesday, is
not known Chairman T. " Powderly, Of the
general executive committee of the Knights of
Labor, is expected to arrive here at any
hour, and the Knights feel confident that
his efforts to adjust affairs will result in settle
ment of the difficulties. The officials of the
railroads as reticent as ever, and no hint of
their future policy in regard to the strike has
been disclosed. The brakemens broth erhood
met yesterday afternoon in Thiels Hall, on South
Fourth street. AS near as could be learned,
their grievance is that their wages are too small
They receive $50 per month, but want $40, or
Chicago prices together with extra pay for extra
work A committee of the Knights of Labor
called on the brakemen yesterday afternoon and
conferred with their committee, but no results
were obtained, and the meeting adjourned until
last night, when another conference was held.
rittee Of the brakemen will call upon Mr.. A. w.
Dickinson this afternoon, and notify him that
after o'clock no Missouri Pacific or Bridge and
Tunnel Company cars will be hauled until the
present strike is over
Alarming rumors are abroad this morning re-
garding the contemplated action by the knights
of Labor to force the railroads of the Gould
Southwest system to accede to their demands.
1t is stated that at IL o'clock all the Knights of
Labor employed by the ST. Louis Bridge Com
erfly Af %hofa al aAxy
striking brethren. This will cause total
stoppage Of all railroad connection between the
Union Depot in this city and the relay depot in
East st. Louis. and 10 passengers nor freight
can be transferred by rail across the river. To
avoid the possibilities of the railroads using the
ferries for transportation purposes, the central
committee, it is stated, ordered out all the
men engaged by these companies, and this will
sever all connection with the east side of the
river. The Knights of Labor are dumb when
questions are asked concerning these rumors,
and refuse to either deny or affirm them. The
officials of the railroads, the bridge comnany
and the ferries are equally dumb, and nothing
can be positively known in regard to the
future policies of either side. The strike upon
the Missouri Pacific railroad has had the effect
of rendering it impossible for the ST. Louis e.
San Francisco railroad to handle any freight de-
livered at the Union Depot as the latter compa-
ny Uses the tracks of eformer from the depot to
Grand avenue, distance OF about two miles,
and no men can be found to assist in making up
freight trains intended to pass over these tracks.
At Sedalia there is absolutely change in
the strike situation, and everything ls remarka-
bly, quiet. The strikers side-tracked all freight
locomotives and let the water out of them.
There seems no disposition on the part of the
company to resist any move made by the strikers.
The accommodation train due here from Pleas
ant Hill at $40 o'clock, this morning, did not
rive on account OF the impossibility of procuring
an engine to pull the train.
The Missouri Pacific has notified the officers
of all Chicago lines that until the trouble in the
Southwest is adjusted it will not accept perisha-
bic freight for shipment
All the raen employed at Carondelet or South
St Louis, six miles below here, quit work this