Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-03-07
THE READING MEN.
An Arrangement by Which knights of
Labor VIII Be Kept Off the Burlington
Road-Prospect of the Strike Spread

The following was sent out from Chi
cago on the LIST inst: It was rumored
tonight that the chairmen of the engi-
neers' and fremen grievance commit
tees of all the Chicago roads with West
ern connections would meet in this city
to morrow or Saturday. The meeting
will include representatives Of the Chi
cago, Milwaukee & st. Paul road, the
North Western, Wisconsin Central.
Rock Island and Minnesota &
Northern. These men will consider the
question Of ordering a general strike,
and will probably take decisive action
in the matter. Such strike will prob
ably involve other organizations than
the firemen and engineers. The brake
men and sWltchmen have grievances.
The Knights of Labor, it is said, will
want to take advantage of the aid the
Brotherhood can give them to have their
grievances adjusted.
The position of the striking engineers
was materially strengthened to-day.
Chief Arthur made a concession to the
Reading strikers and it will cut the Bur
llngton road off from a visible supply Of
nearly 600 Knights of Labor engineers
and fremen. Joseph Cahill, secretary
of the Reading employees, brought Chief
Arthur and Grand Master Sargent Off
cial information that $50 members of
their order had taken the places of
Knights OF Labor on the Read
ing road. Both Chief Arthur
and Mr.. Sargent have denied
repeatedly that they knew that their
men had taken the places Of the Read
ing striking employees. They assured
Mr.. Cahill that they had no knowledge
other than newspaper reports that this
had occurred. Both gentlemen ex-
pressed willingness to play fair with
the Knights and an agreement was en-.
tered into by which Mr.. Arthur and
men to quit the Reading roads en-
ployment. In return for this Mr..
Cahill agreed to keep the $50 Reading
engineers and firemen in the city
from taking places on the Burling-
ton road. These men will be held here
twenty-four hours. If the Brotherhood
men obey the request of their chiefs and
quit the Reading road the Knights of
Labor men here will return to Reading
and other points along the Reading
lines whence they came. Mr.. Cahill
telegraphed to other contingents of
Reading men to remain where they are.
He estimated the number Of engineers
out Of employment along the Reading
LILIES DIT OUU 10 OUU.
AS a result the following kilograms
were sent out:
"Henry Walton, Philadelphia, Pa, Chairman
EGecutiUe Board Of the Brotherhood Of LoconaOtive
FirenaeD-See all members of Brotherhood of Lo-
connective Firemen on the Philadelphia & Read
| ing that have taken the places o. the men that
went out December "a, 1887 and request them to
sever their connection with the company, and
will pay them until they can find employment
elsewhere, and allow the men now out to return
| TO work. By doing this the bad feeling eX-
listing will be obliterated and viii assist US TO
win our struggle with the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy. F. P. SARGENT"
Mr. Walton wired that he would at
once transmit the necessary orders to
the Brotherhood lodges. Mr.. Arthur
then sent the following:
'EdaCard Kent, Nelo York. Chairman Ere tastiUe
Board of the Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers:
Go TO Philadelphia at once and use your in
f1uence to get all Brotherhood engineers who
| took the places of Reading strikers to leave the
| service of the company, furnishing them with
the financial support of the Brotherhood. The
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy are using the
strikers to beat us in the conflict. We must
checkmate them. P. NJ. ARTHUR"
Mr.. Kent replied that he would leave
for Philadelphia at once. Eighty of the
striking Knights on the Reading, who
arrived here Wednesday night to take
the place of the strikers, returned late
tonight