The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-15
A Report from an Impart' al Observer.

CHICAGO, March 14-On March 5, when the
general grievance committees of the railroads
centering at Chicago met at the Grand Pacific
Hotel, resolution adopted asking the AS
sociated Press to send reporter the Bur
lington system. The resolution also asked that
the reporter should not color his reports in IA
for of the brotherhoods of engineers and firemen
railroad company. In accordance with this,
q reporter left Chicago the next day. He was
accompanied by Brotherhood engineer, who
gave him access to the meetings of the men at
each place visited These places were Aurora,
Mendoza, Galesburg, Burlington. Charlton.
Creston and Kansas City. At the latter poin {
the reporter met. S. NJ. Stevens who represent
ed Chief Arthur and Grand Master Sargent. and
also j. j. Hanahan, vice grand master of the
Brotherhood of Firemen. Throughout the
whole trip the object was to ascertain the true
state of affairs on the Burlington system. Not
only were the meetings OF the brotherhood men
attended. but at each point the rail-
road officials seen. Naturally,
both sides had their own story to
tell. and it took hard work to get at the real
facts But as nearly as one can judge from the
evidence of both sides, the Burlington system is
doing from 40 to 80 per cent of the business
which it did before the strike At every point
mentioned passenger trains were from one to
Elk hours late. In regard TO freight business,
each division superintendent seen frankly stated
that the road doing much less business
than before the strike Tney said that there
where the comnany had bought the cattle in the
pens. Freight trains. where they we're formerly
made mp of about thirty cars, are ROW COMPOSED
of from nine TO twenty In some instances
engines drawing way-car aud
counted train. AS to the officials of the
road tine different points, it car be said that
they are doing their utmost to keep traffic NOV
ing. While they do not express themselves as
In sympathy with the engineers they say that
they wish the old hands were back at the throt-
ties.
The Brotherhood men at every point visited
are firm, and so are the officials. At the further
Western points the men who out seem to be
more determined and more radical than here.
THIS Is especially the at Kansas City.
Meetings held there daily. and the chairmen
the meetings and without exception express
themselves ready to abandon their engines If
necessary. AS regards the otherhood. the
situation, expressed by Chief Arthur to-day,
is this:
If they lose the fight they have inaugurated
TO their organization The Brotherhood COM
mani now from $500, 600 To $500. 900. ana the
chiefs claim that by assessment. as much more
can be raised. Therefore the men are in a fight
ing posItion; and yet they realize that, If
break comes in the ranks. the order will retro
eAde and become such q that now organ
lied by the conductors-an insurance company
AS rule the cond uctorS are keeDing out of the
fight Those the Chicago 81 Northwestern
the only who are only in sympathy
with the engineers. The Brotherhood of Brake
men have "a grievance against the engineers.
sut:ne from differences which occurred in 1876
and 1877 Yet. far could be harmed there
is not Brotherhood brakeman who Is willing
to act pilot To non union engineer Grand
Master Wilkinson, OF the brakemen. is visiting,
at this time. all points on the Burlington sys-
TEN. pledging the support of bis men.