The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-08-30

EvANsvILLE IND, August T.-The loco
motive engineers, fremen, brakemen and
smithmen on the Peoria, Decatur q Evans-
vile; Evansville & Terra Haute; Evans.
vile g. indianapolis, and Evansville Beitl
railroads, about 800 miles in all, went out
on q strike yesterday at 2 p. IN. The inn
mediate cause of the trouble was
the refusal of President Mackey to
discharge f. G. Smith, Master Me-
chanic Of the P. d. q =. railroad at Mat
toon, ILL., The men claim that smith IS
overbearing and unreasonable and tnat
they are unable to agree with him. smith
has been on the road since October, 1887.
Chief Arthur, of the Brotherhood OF Lo-
comotive Engineers, and Chief Sargent Of
the Firemens Brotherhood, arrived
in this city last Friday, and in
conference with General Mana
ger Ewing, of the Mackey system
demanded the immediate discharge of Mas
ter Mechanic Smith. This was refused.
Upon the receipt of the refusal OF the
Mackey Company to comply with their
demands, Chiefs Arthur and Sargent,
through their committeeman, Messrs A.
NJ Kimball and c. ]. Singleton, notified
President Mackey that the men would
strike on Sunday afternoon. Accordingly
at that hour last evening the engineers,
6remen, brakemen and switchmen left
their places.
No riot or trouble is reported so far. The
trains leaving here last evening" Will, 1T IS
claimed, get out some hours late Little IS
known of the motives Of the switchmen
and brakemen in Joining the engineers and
6remen as all refuse to talk. However, the
common cause of complaint-the obnox-
ous treatment by Master Mechanic Smith
is believed to be the prime reason for the
move.
President Mackev when interviewed last
evening submitted the following as his side
of the case: In October. NJ. +. G.. Smith,
Cincinnati, was appointed Master Me-
chanic at Mattoon. Soon after there were
petty differences which are constantly arls-
| ing in all railroad work, and in brief
time committee composed of some OF the
men waited on and demanded the dismls-
sal of Master Mechanic Smith, which re-
fused in the most positive terms. From that
| time on there had been insubordination to
some extent continuously to Master
| Mechanic Smith. At the last difficulty we
had, and when Mr., Arthur was here,
| anticipating that we might dismiss some OF
| the prime movers in the matter they i'm
posed a condition that we would not dis
| miss an engineer or fireman without a
| hearing This we consented to. They
| then made new demand for the dismissal
| of Master Mechadic Smith. replied that
| | would investigate the charges and the
| necessary action See the consistency
| They demand the dismissal of a
| high official without preferring q
| charge, come to us with this demand
when we were overrun with business, seek
| ing to take advantage of our surroundings
| and all this week have been working on
our men to get them to join in this in
famous work. l charge them with this
mean, low, contemplate dodge and theil
chief, ?. NJ. Arthur admitted this time had
been so chosen because of the work we hac
to do and now this afternoon at 2 oclocl
they spring this on us, when we have
thousands OF people to move, many O
whom are long distances from home, and
but for the fact of having engineers in all
departments, much inconvenience woulC
be visited upon our passengers"
"Do | understand then, there is no OBJ
lection to wages or other conditions%
"None whatever. A band of men con
spired to make us dismiss Mr. Smith ant
have sought this chance to spring the mat
ter upon us
The three railroads, il is probable, will b
able to run very few passenger trains, an
no freights for at least day or two. II
impossible to tell with certainty the nun
Der of men that can be obtained to tax
the places Of the strikers, if no compromis
is effected Neither Chiefs Arthur or Sal
gent are in the city, the former having RI
turned to Cleveland, and the latter
| Terre Haute.