The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-01
The Knights of Labor Ene,ue.rs.

PITrsBURG. Feb. 29-The Knights of Labor
engineers of the Reading railroad have clearly
outlined their policy According to an inter-
view with one of the engineers. they will take
the places of the Burlington strikers, and will
promise Chief Arthur, of the Brotherhood, to
return to their homes if he calls his engineers
off the Reading and Brooklyn elevated roads.
Five carloads of engineers and firemen passed
through the city this morning, en- route to Chi
cago. There were 200 in the party, and they
were nearly all Knights of Labor and mostly
former employees of the Reading. They were a
fne-looking body of men. In an interview, one
Of them said:
'The statement published of there being 300
Knights of Labor engineers out on the Reading
IS correct The balance to follow us.
Brotherhood engineers are filling every place.
You see this party2 How you blame Us for
going to work on the BaEilngton system9 We
are not going as Knights of Labor. but as indi-
Viduals Every man in the party 10 sx-
perienced engineer. and each of us has with him
his fireman, SO that the question cannot be
rails ed as to whether we are competent to take
the places of the strikers. We compelled
to make this move We could get work no place
else. 1t is question of home aud family with
us. On the Reading road the Brotherhood
jumped in aud assisted the company to defeat
us, and we now go to Chicago to take the places
of their men. There are 9, 600 men who were on
the Reading who may all go to Chicago"
VIM. II. Bailey, of the executive board of the
Knights of Labor, was passenger on the same
train that brought the engineers to the city this
morning. He did not sanction their move, but
thought they had been treated very badly by
the Brotherhood. He stated that be was not
with the party but that it was purely accidental
that he the same train that brought
them to Plttsburg. Last night, however, while
on the train. he mingled among the men and
obtained from them their exact position as they
talked freely to him, whom they recognized as
a representative of the Knights of LABOR. Mr..
Bailey intimated that while the order did
not sanction the members taking the
places of the strikers the proper course for the
call his engin eers off the Reading and Brooklyn
elevated roads, and then the Knights of Labor
and the Brotherhood could each handle their
own strike. II am very sorry" said he, "to be
compelled to say that the men going to Chi
cago 90 take the places OF the strikers on the
Burlington eystsna. but do not know whether
they will claim allegiance. 1t is a desperate
move on their part, and that is to be de-
plored by all having the interests of organized
labor at heart Yet il seems TO be enly desire
for retaliation on their part for the wrongs that
have been committed upon their interests I"
PoTTsvILLE. Feb. 90 About seventy-hve
1ocked-out Reading engineers and fremen left
this city to-day to enter the service OF the Bur-
lington. Recruiting is still going on despite
General Master Workman Powde.Iy's appeal TO
the Knights of Labor not to embarrass the
Brotherhood strike. All the men who have
already gone out Knights of Labor The
Powderly's letter, but favor the action being
pursued by the late Reading strikers quite as
much as measure of retaliation of self
interest