The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-27
elimination of the Troubles Between
the Master Mechanic and Employees.
A Committee Of Engineers and Firemen De-
mand Mr.. Smiths Immediate Removal.
and President Mackey Refuses to Comply.
A Strike Is at Once Ordered, and the
Business ofthe Railway Suspended.
Thousands Of Visitors to the Evansville En-
campment Detained by the Stoppage Of
Trafic-Ths 20" Asked to Furnish Help.
Special to the indianapolis Jorrns..

ppeclei W tnS luulhuapous SOutue-s
EVANSVILLE, Ind, Aug. 26 AT o'clock this
afternoon the wheels Of the roling-stock Of the
Evansville & Terre Haute railroad, the Peoria,
Decatur & Evansville railroad and the
Evansville & indianapolis rallroad-known
as the MAcksy system-were brought
to standstili on the three lines,
the engineers, fremsn and switch
men going on strike. In this city IL had
bad effect, from the fact that there are thou
sands of strangers here in attendance On the
State military encampment and they wero COM
PEELED to remain over until some arrangement
can be made for the moving of passengers. The
encampment grounds, situated mile and q half
from the city. have been crowded with thou
sands to-day. most OF whom we're compelled to
walk to the ciry tonight for want of transports
tion. An investigation revealed that for some
time past trouble has been brewing between the
management and these employees. A year or
more ago Mr.. +. G. Smith Was made master
mechanic of the Peoria, Decatur & Evansville
road, with headquarters at Mattoon, and short
ly after trouble arose batween him and the en-
gineers and fremen. Chief Arthur, of the En-
eineers' Brotherhood, and Chief Sargent. of the
Firemen's Brotherhood, were called in, and sue
ceeded IN adjusting the difficulty for the time
being Lately it broke out again. and these
same officials were called in. and after making
an investigation, gave their consent for the men
to strike to-day il the evil was not remedied.
The strikers claim that Master Mechanic Smith
is an arrogant man, who is continually heaping
abuses and insults upon them. until patience
has ceased to be a virtue. They also claim that
Smith has grievances against the two brother
hoods, aud has been using his Official position to
bring the men into disfavor by constantly pre-
ierring charges against the more prominent
members and gradually wedding them out. They
say they have placed their trouble before the
officials o. the system. and they have refused
to give them relief. On Thursday last
Chiefs Arthur and Sargent were summoned here
and began an Investigation, and sitter carefully
reviewing the situation called on President
Mackey. and insisted on the removal Of Smith
This was refused. and the strike ordered at the
management claim that they have been treated
unjustly in the matter. holding that the order
to strike was held until the city was full of
strangers, in order that the roads could not
handle their business. and be brought into dis
favor with the general public. They also claim
that they have been gwen opportunity to
investigate the charges against Smith. All the
officials interviewed very bitter in their
denunciation Of Chief Arthur, and hold that he
is leading the Engineers Brotherhood around
by the nose. President Macksy stated this aft.
ernoon that every man who struck to-day would
never again be given work so long as he had
sontrolIot the system Of roads. He said he
would give up his entire fortune before be
would yield point. The officials Of these roads
to-day teleersphed to General Manager Stone,
| Of the Burlington systsm. for "seab" engineers
and firemsn No passenger or freight business
has been moved since the strike began. al
though the management promise that trains
| will be moving in few hours. The Mackey
| system operates about 700 miles OF road.
| President Mackey. when interviewed this
evening, submitted the following Is his side Of
| the case:
"In October Mr.. F. C. Smith, Of Cincinnati,
| appointed master mechanic at Mattoon.
| Soon after there were some petty differences
| which are constantly arising in all railroad
work, and. in brief time. . committee waited
| on me and demanded the dismissal Of Master
| Mechanic Smith. which I refused n the most
positive terms. From that time on there has
been insubordination to some extent continu-
| ousiy TO Master Mechanic Smith. At the last
difficulty We had. and when Dir. Arthur was
here. anticipating We might dismiss some of the
prominent movers in that difficulty thev i'm
posed condition that we would not at any time
| dismiss engineer fireman without a
! hearing. This we consented to, and
| after the dismissal Of the two men for improper
| conduct they called Chiefs Arthur and Sargent
| and demanded an investigation, which was ac-
corded. They abandoned their case as TO these
| two men, and then made a new one demanding
| the dismissal OF NJ aster Mechanic Smith. re.
piled that would investigate the charges asd
| take the necessary action. See the consistency
| They demand the dismissal OF q high Official
| without preferring charge. come to with this
demand when We are overrun with business,
| seeking to take advantage of our surroundings.
| and all this week have been working our
| men to got them to join in this infamous work
1 charged them with this mean, low, coutempti-
| bic dodge. and their chief, P NJ. Arthur, ad-
| mitted this time had been 50 chosen because Of
| the work we had to do, and Eow this afternoon,
| at o'clock, they spring this on Us, when we
have thousands Of people to move many of
| whom are long distances from home, and but
for the fact OF having engineers in all depart
| ments. much Inconvenience would be visited
| upon our passengers"
"Do understand. then, there Is no objection
| to wages or other conditons?"
| "None whatever. A band Of men have con.
| spired TO make rs dismiss Mr.. Smith, and have
sought this chance to spring the matter upon
| u.s."
The three railroads it is probable, will be
able to run very few passenger trains, and no
freights. for at least day or two. The strikers
seem determined to win. tits impossible to tell
with certainty the numbsr of men that can be
obtained to take the places of the strikers il no
compromise is effected Neither Chief Arthur
nor Mr.. Sargent is in the city, the former hav-
ing returned to Cleveland and the latter to
Terre Haute.
The Strike ut Mattoon.
| Special to the INDIANAPOLIS Journa,
MATrooN H.. Aug. 26.-At 2 o'clock this aft.
ernoon the engineers and 6remens strike was
declared on on the Peoria. Decatur g. Evansville
railway, sll trains having reached the termi-
nails or this city. The yard engine was run ia