The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-04
THE GENERAL SITUATION.
Everything Indicates n Tie-Up on All Chica
goa Western Railway Lines.

Everything indicates n T1e-Cp on All ChfGA-
gO's Western Railway Lines.
Necial to the Indianapolis Journas
CHICAGO, March 3.-Two-thirds of the char
men OF the grievance committees of the Western,
Northwestern and South western roads, who were
summoned here by wire on Friday afternoon,
are in the city and from their determined mien
it is evident that they are here for business in
the fullest sense of the word. There was con-
ference this afternoon between the arrivals and
Messrs. Arthur. sSargent Debs and Detwiler. It
was informal, simply preparatory to the general
conference that opens Monday, but it gave
each man an opportunity of airing his views
upon the existing crisis. summary of these
views was given by Mr.. Detwiler tonight This
is what he said: ''The fight is going to be long
and bitter one. You have not yet seen even
the beginning. It is my firm belief that by
Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, at the
latest every road entering Chicago from the
west, northwest and southwest will be tied up.
There is not delegate who has come in thus
far who is not in favor of this course The
Brotherhood realizes that it is now engaged in a
struggle for its very existence. If it has any
power-and it has-now the time to show it,
and il intends tor
There is no question but that Detwiler spoke
by the card. Individual expressions of opinion
from tne delegates fuIIy corroDorated his views.
The Times says
Opinion in railroad circles is divided as to
the probability OF the strike being extended be-
yond the Burlington and involving other roads
Those who take the view that it will be confined
within its present bounds base their belief upon
feeling that the Brotherhood could not COM
nit such an extreme act of folly as to block all
of the Western lines. throw loo. 600 men out of
work. sti1e trade and destroy commerce to carry
a point which only interests 1000 or ], 400 men.
The optimistic officials argue that there is
enough conservatism and prudence III the coun-
ellis of the aggrieved engineers to prevent them
from taking radical a step. On the other
hand. there are many of the leading railroad
officials who are anticipating the worst. and who
firmly believe that events are leading MP to q
general and disastrous strike. Summed up
from railroad stand pout, there are a few of
the officials who do not believe the Brotherhood
will dare take the RESPONSE bility of ordering a
opinion that all of the Western lines will become
involved They all admit that in the event of a
general tie-up the railroads would be unable to
offer any effective resistance; that there would
be no possibility of supplying the strikers
places with new men. and that If such
come Is the result. there will be total cessation
Of railroad operations west of Chicago, except
on the Burlington road"
The absence OF advices from the Reading dis
trict, or rather of advices of satisfactory nat
ure. has changed the calm serenity of tho lead
ers of tho Brotherhoods 10 a condition akin to
desperation. They are awake to the fact that
the recoil of their attitude IN the Reading i'm
broglio Is as terrific as il is inopportune. aud
they realize the fact that only the Western con-
tingent can be relied upon to bring the Burling-
ton 70 terms; and unless more pacific counsel pre-
walls TIL 10 precisely what that contingent will