The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-11-24
FIGHTOF THESWITCHMEN
BUT LITTLE CHANGE ~ THE STU
ALTON AT INDIANAPOLIS.


BUT LITTLE CHANGE ~ THE STU
ALTON AT INDIANAPOLIS.
One of the Roads Comedies the De-
mands of the Men and They Resume
Work-The Strikers Elated Over the
Precedent the Surrender Estab-
fishes.
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 23.-The strike of
the railroad switchmen is taking an ugly
phase. Not a single switch engine in the
city was moved this morning. In the
freight yards everything is in confusion.
The morning trains we're abandoned half
made up, or not made up at all, except in
the Monon and Lake Erie and Western
yards. The men, however, declared that
not an engine should be fire this morn
ing. In all the yards business was at
a complete standstill. In several
places the engineers and frelnen, or other
employees pressed into the service, tried to
go On with the work, but the strikers inter
fered and successfully prevented the de-
parture of any trains. Although some DIS
pos tion to blockade tracks and Oh Struct & e
progress Of the men who desired to work
was exhibited, only one instance of positive
violence was reported during the night
ENGINEERS AND FIREMEN MENACING.
A serious phase of the strike is that the
engineers and firemen are in close sym
pathY with the switchmen and make no at
tempt to man their engines. In nearly
every Instance they have quit WORK, RIM
their engines into their stalls and drawn the
fires when the switchmen requested 1t. This
adds much to the complication OF the Situa-
tict, While the SWltChmcn may be re-
p.acei 10y inexperienced men and traffic re-
ai,N, fiF1n mr., aE hn
gineers ard iiremen will not work, nothing
can be done. Inexperienced men Will not
do to trust upon an engine.
1fr. Sweeney, the grand master of the
swjchnen's union, has returned to Chicago.
All the forenoon the strikers were going in
ganus from one yard to another and warn
ing applicants for work that if they under
took 10 handle switch-engines they would
be handled roughly
Fearing trouble, the officers of the roads
called for police protection at noon and de-
cided to make All effort to start out some
new crews this evening.
NEW FEATURE IN THE ROW.
A new feature in the trouble. and one
which promises to lead to important re-
suits, is that this afternoon the managers
of the Indianapolis, Decatur and Western
company conceded the demand oil the
striking switchnen and the latter returned
to work. The concession includes 81 80 per
dsy for helpers, 81 20 for foremen, twenty-ziX
DAYS TO constitute month and ten hours
days work with pay for overtime; night |
men 10 be paid III excess in proportion as
heretofore, which is s. per month over that
of dav men. The switchme1 are jubilant
over this victory, as the Indianapolis, De-
catur and Western is considered one of the
lightest yards in the city in which to work,
and if that company can afford the advance,
they believe that the other companies will
be CONT eled to follow.
THE ENGINE MEN NOT TO QUIT
Later developments to-day show that the
engineers and fir.mea in the yard have not
Joined the strike When they went out
during tue night, it was because of a la k
OF switchmen, they we're unable to proceed. |
Conversation with the engineers brought
ont the fact that they are III mpathy with
the strikers, and earnestly hope the COM
panies may grant the increase asked for |
They state that they have taken no action |
in regard to the matter, and do not know
that they shall.
Very little stir is to be seen about the
yards of the Belt road. One bee line
'pony" is doing what it can for its road,
with the yardmaster and his assistant in
charge of tie switching.
AT THE vANDALIA YARDS.
At the Vandaiia yards this evening but
one lone swltchman is struggling with the
blockade of freight. Wherever any move
r1ent of trains is noted, it is found that the
yardmasters, agents and clerks are the
switchmen.
AT the Bee Line yards the engines were
all ordered back into the shells. The yard
master and his assistant were ordered by
the strikers to quit work, and they complied
The engineers and firomen came back to the
city for the day. There is a very evident
spirit of syml atny among the latter for the
strikers. and tire switchnlen counted upon
it for indirect, if not direct support.
SUMMING UP THE DAY.
To sum up the situation tonight, it
may be said the day was sue
cessful one for the strikers. They COM
pIeteiy paralyzed freight traffic. But one
train got through at the stock yards over
the Pan Handle and one over the Bee Line.
Inc ming trains continue to arrive and the
blockade is growing. All the roads have
sent our along their lines for new men, and
it is expec ed that a sufficient force
will arrive tonight to resume work
tomorrow. The strikers, however, are
greatly encouraged Il the concession made
by the Indianapolis, Decatur and We tern,
and many threats are made that if new
men attempt to replace them, there will be
q big fight. No serious attempts at pre-
venting clerks from working were made
to-day. The strikers contented themselves
with jeering at them. The leaders of the
strike counsel against violence, and no
serious trouble tomorrow is apprehended.