The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-05
Chlef Art1ur confiaent OF success.

CHICAGO, Feb. 4--Chies Engineer Arthur took
rest to-day. IL was the least busy day that ne
and his lieutenants have had since the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy strike began. All were re-
cuperating their energies for the meeting to-
morrow morning which is TO determine whether
or not the engineers and fremen of the Western
and Northwestern railroads will go on strike.
Among the first things said by Mr.. Arthur to
the reporter was: You can deny, officially,
that there was any secret meeting Of the chair
men of grievance committees held yesterday.
such as described in morning paper. It is Mt
terly false. The fact that the Northwestern
railroad still holds to the classification system is
well known. but meeting was held TO discuss
that. No sessions of grievance committees have
been or viii be held until Tomorrow
Chief Arthur then went on to chat about the
state of affairs in the Burlington strike as viewed
by himself and comrades.
'sOur reports, said he, ''are most reassuring
The fact that for seven days there has not been
break in the Brotherhood on this line is, of
itself, of most reassuring nature. On the
contrary, we are in receipt hourly, of letters
and dispatches from all the system, show
ing the loyalty Of the men,"
lis il not a fact Mr.. Arthur asked
that all the Western roads are giving the Bur-
hngtou a moral suppnrt-which being equiva-
lent to financial-gives the Brotherhood a clear
right to discontinue work these outside
roadsl,
lines giving the Burlington moral support.
lf they are, it is in violation of solemn pledge
from the managers of the other roads that they
would maintain strict neutrality. In giving
party moral support one 10 not maintaining
neutrality
f'If you found that the other roads were doing
this would you order strikeg"
'If grievance of that nature was brought
my attention, should carefully look into it
rs it not probable that Congress will be called
on to investigate this strikel"
Congress will not be asked to look into it by
us There is DO necessity for an investigation.
What we have dons has been done openly, and
been gwen to the public through the press"
In yonr opinion. could the management OF
the Burlington have had mercenary motives in
permitting the strike for the purpose of depress-
ing stocks and buying them in at low 6guresP
mo. | think the BURLINGTON management
miserly, not mercenary. They profess will
ineness to pay their men as much as their neigh
oors do and yet they will not"
"Do you believe that all of the 800 men sent
forward for distribution the Burlington for
the past three days are bona fde engineers and
iremeng
''Oh, have heard rumors, but am not going
to follow the course of the Burlington and talk
about hearsay matters. But will say this:
know, of my own knowledge. that it is impossi-
ble for the road TO get competeut engineers to
ruiz the line for year to come It can't make
them from the stock it has"
ION what do you base the assertionW
II base 1t on statistics in my possession show
ing that there are not 800 idls competent loco
motive engineers in the country out of employ
ment. not counting. of course, the Brotherhood
men the Burlington
"And you confident of winning the fghtls
If the men stand frm.it is beyond cues ton
that will"
"We propose to fight it out on the Burlington
railrcad,' were the words in which Grand Mas
ter Sargent, of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen. put the sentiment around the head
quarters of the strikers this evening. Both Mr..
Arthur and Mr.. Sargent professed to be de-
cdedly opposed to calling out the engineers and
iremen on other Western roads. Mr.. Sargent
was particularly emphatic in stating that
there was intention of calling
out the other roads simply for the purpose
- bringing the Burlington to terms. And"
be said, 1--WE shall not go looking for pretexts
to pick quarrel with the other lines and call
out their men. The object OF calling together
the chairmen of the various roads is investi-
gate the rerorts that there has been assistance
given the Burlington by connecting parallel
lines If these reports are found TO be true, I
will not say what may happen