The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-28
The ~Switchmen's Side.

Though the superintendent express great as
surance of q speedy termination of the difficulty,
Is has been their won't for several days, the
strike, the switchmen claim, has reached that
point where . coup de grace would naturally be
expected from the aggressors, and they say they
are preparing to execute it with the greatest
care. They were particularly active all day
yesterday in inviting the presence OF all engi-
neers, fremen and brakemen who could posi-
bly, come, to attend their three meetings in the
building once occupied by the State officers. aud
the largestattendanc yet wasthe outcome ofthe
effort. While the engineers and hremen would
not say what they intend to do, being in constant
expectation Of guidance from their respective
chiefs. the brakemen, on the other hand.
unanimously decided TO refuse TO work the
switches, which. in other words, il, at this
5uncture, to strike. A number Of them had
already taken this action on sunday. without
the authority Of the order, and had been
promptly discharged for failing TO obey orders,
aud their brethren determined to do likewise to
O man. They have issued official notice warn
ing all members of the brotherhood to refrain
from tending switches lin the universal inter
est Of labor"
Frank Swssny. grand master of the switch
mems organization, who is here again from
Chicago, WAS asked last night what would be
done BY the order, now that the railroads
had shown their ability to help
themselves. The whole trouble"
Is right here he said. 'They are doing some
business with the engines, TO be sure. but, when
1t comes right down to the truth of the matter,
the s~witchmen, who are the honest toilers. the
revenue makers, are absent. and therefore the
revenue cannot be maintained. There has been
o total of I'll switcbmen on a strike. To-day
they have appealed TO the highest authorities,
the presidents of every road. The switchmen,
j want to say plainly, have never appealed to
the brotherhood at all, and the presence OF
anninaavu onA Ofba- ara+t-a 20 o atr =, ~;
has been wholly spontaneous. their interest in
them being principally enlisted from the fact
that there were several questions at stake which
affected their own future welfare. They believe
that our men undoubtedly have grievances,
and sympathiZe with them. In this
city there has been nothing for switchmen but
long hours OF arduous work, with nothing like
sutncient time either TO sleep or eat There are
some switchmen who have seen years of serv-
Ice. and have grown gray in the ranks of their
companies employees. When such men as these
come to the superintendent to ask an hour to
eat their meals, instead or taking them out of
hand, and on the run as they do now, they are
simply refused. All through the North west and
the South. the switchmen never work ever ten
hours a day, except on occasional emergencies.
and then they are paid extra fog it. One of
them has been arrested on the most trivial
The others. when they learned of the
warrants out for them. promptly surrendered
themselves, knowing that they had committed
no ofenss, and az wero Voluntarily bailed out
At once by q prominent merchant OF the city.
The whole cause of the strike can be summar-
lied by srying that the officials had slapped the
men IN tie face and that they resented the In
suit AS n last resort, to secure justice from
the public mind. our men have determined TO
let You publish an important private transaction
OF the order. viz. the mutual agreement upon
which they went out, and which was signed by
over 200 of the men,"
The matter TO which Mr.. Sweeney refers is q
preamble aud resolution in which the switch
men submit their grievances. and TO substan-
TAKE which they express themselves as being
ready 10 furnish proof for every particular.
we petitioned our respective officers. on Sept.
II, Tor an increase OF pay and shorter hours"
The preamble continues. ''and also requested to
have all crews equipped with additional men.
I'd 10 this time no reply has been received. IL
was no surprise TO Us, as we were ignored on all
previous occasions. no matter how trivial or
Berious the questions At issue. Wa think ar
least, we deserve recognition. and a committees OF
switchInen ought 10 hsve been called in 10 give
our side OF the question. The scale OF wages re-
ouested Is that paid In other cities, viz: Michi-
gan City, Cairo, Chicago and many other points
200 numerous To mention: Day foreman, $40 per
month; day helpers, $65; night foreman, S75:
night helpers, $40, twenty-six days. ten hours
per day, To constitute q months work: each ad-
sitional day. or fraction thereof, TO be paid in
proportion TO the aboye-named scale. Our re-
quest for the additional man on each crew ia
based on. in our opinion. fair and cogent rea-
tons. The yards are situated on an incline.
and every car has to De rode in. As a conse-
quence, thers are unavoidable accidents occur
ring almost daily. When cars are
broken owing 10 this manner of
handling them, we are compelled to pay
Tor breakages or leave tho service of
the company. Then we must accept ~inexperi-
eneed men as helpers. which makes things more
hazardous, along with working at ereat oisad-
vantages, 1eopartiZing our positions and also our
lives When promotions are made, instead of
taking them from the switchmenis ranks they
are taken out Of the Office, and they are general
" nsn who are not experienced in switching.