The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-11
Expectation that the Knights Will Offer Re-
sistance, and Serious Results Expected
Labor and StrikeNew Of All Kinds.
THE RAILWAY STRIKE.


tunnel company struck, at the command Of the
Knights Of Labor. except over the St Louis &
San Francisco line, and its trains penetrate
the city only az far as the Grandavenue depot,
for from themes to the Union Depot distance
of about two miles. they are obliged to use the
Missouri Pacific tracks, and this the strikers will
not allow. Outside merchants are now begin
ming to understand the seriousness Of the situa-
tion and at points all along the Gould system
shipments have entirely closed, or in very urgent
cases the orders are filled by express All
through freight from the West and South
west is also diverted from the city, for it is
the east side Of the river, or vice versa. The
effect of all this upon business interests has
already become apparent and many promi-
nent BUSINESS men express the opinion that the
diverting of trade from this city on account of
the strike is not only temporary, but will be
permanent The grocers complain that they are
unable to fill one-half their orders, and
fear that if the strike continues much longer
their customers will seek other markets. and
when once turned away from st. Louis the ma
jority Of them will stay away on account Of
their unwillingness to transfer their patronage
often. These same statements are made by
nearly all wholesale Dealers and their estimates
of the disastrous effect of this strike vary in pro
Gould or other roads entering this city Passen-
ger traffic has not been interfered with, except
ing suburban travel, which has been almost en-
tirely suspended. All through passenger trains
are made up by the officials of the different
roads aud those of the Bridge and Tunnel Com
pany. The Knights of Labor have offered to
furnish men to do this work. but their offers
have been refused on account of the unwilling
ness of the companies to trust their property in
the hands of green men. Perfect order reigns
at all the yards and depots owned by the roads
whose employees have struck. All passenger
trains left from their accustomed positions at the
Union Depot this morning. most of them on time.
AT the Iron M Mountain yards no force is on duty
except that sufficient to make up the passen.
ger trains. All the engines there have been
placed in the round house except one, which is
used for switching purposes. No disturbance of
any kind has occurred at that place. At the
Missouri Pacific yards the same quietuess pre-
vails Small groups Of strikers assembled early
this morning, and these together with those
guarding the property of the railway company,
and the few yard-masters now employed as
switchmeu, are the only ones to be seen there
Both sides seem to be waiting for the other to
show its hand, and the situation is one of ex-
pectancy, neither having made proposition to
the other as yet, and in fact have made no state
ments whatever, except to give their versions of
how the present troubles arose, which are
Numerically opposite and fatty contrary one to
the other No conferences between the strikers
and their employers, as far as known, have as
yet been proposed, and the future policy of
neither side is known.
The situation remains about unchanged In
East ST. Louis this morning. The Knights of
Labor there have not struck as yet, but large
numbers Of that organization from this city are
thore attempting, it is supposed, to persuade
them to join the movement. The effect of the
especially severe No stock-cars can cross the
bridge, and. therefore. the receipts are material
ly lessened as the strike proceeds
General Superintendent Kerrigan, of the Mis-
souri, Pacific railway, this morning issued an
order expeling from the Missouri Pacific yards
all Knights of Labor. This order includes the
delegation of men appointed by the Knights to
guard the companys property. The circular is
sued to the strikers, ordering them off the COM
pany's premises, is as follows:
"You are hereby notified that your .stion in
withdrawing from the employment of the Mis-
souri, Pacific Railway Company was voluntary
abandonment of the service of the company, and
that you are no longer in its employment and
that your names have been stricken from its
rolls. ALI such who are now about the COM
pany's premises are hereby notified that they
must immediately leave the same, to ahe end
that this company may resume the CARRYING of
the traffic OF the country.
'WILLIAM KERR1aAN"
Although the officials will make no statement
concerning the affair, it is generally believed
that they are now employing new men to take
the place of the strikers, and that the movement
of freight trains will be attempted tonight.
Should this be attempted, the Knights of Labor
will undoubtedly offer resistance.
1t is now authoritatively stated that the Mis-
souri, Pacific Railway Company will attempt to-
morrow, instead Of tonight, as stated in a pre-
ius dispatch to resume freight traffic upon its
bad The order issued this morning by Super
intendent Kerrigan applies not only to the men
formerly in it's employ in this city but to all the
strikers on the system, and they have all along
the line Of the road. withdrawn quietly from the
company's premises.
The departure of the passenger trains Of the
Missouri Pacific tonight was delayed about
two hours, in consequence of somebody
having withdrawn the fires in the locomo-
tives 1t was expected that an effort would
be made to start freight trains tonight, but up
to q late hour no attempts had been made A
force Of some forty new mon has been employed