Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-04-03
TURBULENT CHICAGO.
ELECTION DAY CAUSES SOME TO
 ANTICIPATE TROUBLE.

The Situation Practically Unchanged,
 and the Sentiments of the Men
 the Same-The Rock Island Roads
 Position.
 CHICAGO, April 3.-A report was industri- ously circulated last evening and obtained 90 much credence that it was published in extra editions of the afternoon papers, that She Burlington officials had at last decided to effect a compromise with their striking em- ployes Inquiries at the general offices of the company, however. developed the fact that the report was simply canard. "Our position" said General Manager Stone, Sis precisely the same as it was two weeks ago. The places of all the striking engineers and firemen are filled. They are no longer our employees, and if they give up the battle internationally very few of the number could be given employment. Hence there is nothing to compromise, and all we are now asking is that we may be allowed to carry on our business without molestation, and that the other roads shall transact such business with us as they compelled to under the law, and as they did before we filled the places of our striking employees with new men. We have ample facilities for moving both our freight and passenger traffic, and all we ask is to be let alone"
 The most sensational event of the day was the absolute and unqualified refusal on the part of the Rock Island to accept any cars from the %" During the afternoon train was made up for transfer to the Rock Island tracks, and one of the %" officials notified the management of the competing lines of the fact, at the same time requesting reply None came. Then the Burlington,s at orney, Frank Collier, sent a similar message This was also ignored. For time thereafter both the telegraph and the telephone from the Burlington headquarters were kept busy with messages, demanding what the Rock Island intended to do, but all the messages were re- ceived with stolid indifference. Finally a demand was made for a reply in writing, and it was met with a positive refusal Then a demand was made for verbal reply and the messenger got it It was to the effect that the Rock Island management absolutely re- fused to take any train from the Burlington There the matter rests. What the "Qn in- tends to do in the matter its representatives decline to state, but it is pretty we'll under stood that it will go into court. and that all the power of the law will be invoked in the direction of compelling the Rock Island to fulfil its obligations as common carrier
 The position of the Rock Island was clearly defined last evening by Superintendent Cham
  said: stIt is true that we have returned a verbal answer to the Burlington, to the effect that we win not touch their cars What IS more, we have issued @ written general order to our employees not to have anything to do with them. We have made up our minds that we won't have any trouble with the @ folks, and we will keep out of it by refusing to handle their cars. We know our position, and the @ people know it. We will let their cars alone. What will they do about it !'
 ''We will show them what we will do about it" said Attorney Frank Collier last night. "We will go into court and see who will win
 There is division of sentiment among the men. Many of them, who argue that they have always been we'll treated by the road and that there is no necessity for outsiders taking up a fight which should be confined to the Burlington system, are in favor of the men going back to work The radical ele- ment, however, inspired by Chairman Hoge, of the Burlington grievance committee, insist that the cause is a common one, and that in union tlere is strength. The proposition of the officials to obtain a separate crew of men to handle all "Q" freight and do all "Q'' transferring was rejected, but the question is up again on motion for a reconsideration The indications at this writing are that an unconditional surrender on the part of the men is out of the question
 So far peace has prevailed in the regions where the strikers congregate. It is feared, however, that there will be serious trouble before night It is election day and legal holiday, and as the municipal ordinance clos ing the saloons will be ignored as generally as in the past, some fears are entertained that the lawless element will celebrate the day by making trouble. The strikers greatly incensed over information which comes from the east to the effect that company of Pink erton men from the coal and coke regions Of Pennsylvania will be here to-day, under the directions of Capt Linden, of the Philadel- phia agency, and according to the temper manifested their presence will only result in aggravating the situation.