Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-03-17
Tho Strike situation.

The Strike Situation.
KANSAS CRY, No., March 1O.-The mem
bers of the Switchmen's union, sixty ~
number, employed in the yards of the Kan.
eas City,St. Joseph d Council Bluffs railroad
and the Hannibal d st. Joseph, both OF
which are q part of the Burlington Z
Quincy system. are ON the eve of striking
This morning they expressed determine
ton not to work with the engineers now en-
ployed by the Burlington. Their reasons
are the danger is so great because OF
the incompetency of the new men, that
they fear that they are liable to be crippled
or killed at any moment. The switchmen
are holding meetings and have passed reso-
buttons to the effect that they will uphold the
Brotherhood of Engineers and Firemen.
The situation at this point is becoming ser
ious. In the next twenty four hours mat
ters are liable to develop which will have
great effect.
At a conference held this morning by the
Brotherhood men who are out it was deci-
ded not to yield the point, this action being
backed up by the sentiments of all the roads
centering here.
A SIGNIFICANT MEETING.
A most significant meeting of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen
was held here this afternoon. An Associated
Press reporter was allowed to attend and re-
port it. The principal guest of the Brother
hood was Grand Master @. E. Wilkinson, of
the Brotherhood of Brakemen, who had come
to the city from his home in Peoria, Ill. He
was introduced by s. M. Stevens,
Of the fremen's organization, In his remarks
Mr.. Wilkinson said that the brakemen's
brotherhood was comparatively young or
ganization, but they had determined to give
their mite to the cause of the engineers and
fremen. The interests of the brakemen
were identical with those who had left their
engines, and he wanted it understood that,
Individually and collectively, the brakemen
were with them. He VAS sorry they were
not brought ~ j., directly l1ss; into the
men knew, he said, that the
engineers now employed by the 'Q' were
incompetent, and let the water run so low
in the boilers that the brakemen were con-
strained to take refuge in the caboose for
fear of being blown up. They had many in
stances reported of this state of affairs to the
officers of the roads. MIR. Wilkin son believ-
ed that some tine in the future there would
be grand organization of trainmen, CON-
posed of engineers, firemen,
brakemen and conductors, and then
all would get their rights. He closed by
saying that in the present fight the brake
mems brotherhood would stand by those
who are out, and refuse to run engines for
the Burlington road if asked to do 50.
WILL FOLLOW TO MAN.
s. M. Stevens, of the Firemens' Brother
hood, assured the meeting that the engineers
on the roads centering in Kansas City
intended to strike, and the fremen would
follow to man. II. E. Wills, secretary
of the general committee of the Chicago &
Northwestern railroad, followed Mr. Wilkin-
son. He said that he had visited Aurora,
Mendoza, Galesburg, Burlington and Cres-
ton, and had found all the Brotherhood
men firm.
READY TO STRIKE.
In the meeting were representatives from
the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf railway,
the Kansas City, Wyandotte & Northwestern
road, the Missouri Pacific and other roads,
who reported their men ready to strike, if
necessary, for the success of those now out
on the Burlington. The chairman of the
grievance committee of the Wyandotte
road said his committee was on the ground
now, and if the signal came he would order
all his men out, through his officials and the
men were working harmoniously. To-day,
he said, they had refused to move six cars
of freight consigned by the 20" to points
over their road. The Burlington had sent
three notices to the general manager of the |
Wyandotte road to take the cars, but |
that official refused to touch them.
ENDORSING ST. JOHN.
Before the meetsng closed, the following
resolution was offered by SIN. Stevens and
adopted:
WAEREAs, Mr.. E. St. John, general man
ager of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
has, in manly letter to the public
defined the position of his road in the mat |
ter of handling Chicago, Burlington & Quin-
cy business, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That we name that gentleman
as one of the foremost railway managers in
the country.