Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-11-02
TRAINS TIED UP.
brakemen ana SWftchmen Strike
ON the santa Fe.

Brakemen and Swftchmen Strike
ON the santa Fe.
At noon yesterday the brakemen and
switchmen on the California Central and
California Southern railroads went out
on strike. Although trouble had been
brewing for some time the crisis was
quite unexpected and it took the officials
OF the road by surprise, so much so that
it was some hours afterwards before
many OF them knew of what had occur.
red. HERALD reporter who went to the
flrst.street depot to Investigate the matter
found Judge Brunson standing there
awaiting the departure of the San Ber-
nardino train. When questioned as to
the cause of the trouble the Judge re-
piled that it originated from dissent
among the employees regarding some pro-
motions that had been made. General
Manager Dan McCool appeared on the
platform few minutes later and made
the following statement: Last spring
when business was overwhelming on the
road Trainmaster Allen, when employ.
ing new men, obtained a number
| of reliable and trained brakemen from
other railroads. 1t was necessary to
create some new conductors, and some
OF these arrivals being good experienced
men were promoted accordingly. This
has created some dissensions among the
working establishment, and recently a
message was sent to me stating that the
hrakemen would 60 out on strike unless
these newly-created officers were re-
duced to the ranks. Tbey also
wished me to make an agreement
to the effect that all promotions were to
be made by seniority instead of merit.
Of course this was rather remarkable
request, so sent word to the members
OF the committee they had appointed
that | would meet them in conference in
San Bernardino on Friday afternoon.
For some reason, unknown to me, they
went out at noon to-day, however, and
although it has necessarily crippled us
have no doubt that even if we
do not get the strikers back
we can get all the men we want in a few
days. The switchmen followed the
brakemen without any apparent cause.
and what little yard work we are doing
is being done by the foreman and depot
officers. All freight trains are at stand
still, but, although the passenger brake
men are out, We will run all passenger
trains as usual"
Mr.. McCool, Judge Brunson and Gen.
eral Agent Williamson Dunn left on
the O'Clock train for San Bernar-
dino where conference with
the strikers will be held to-day. A chat
with a few of the strikers give their
side of the question. They Stated the
new men had been brought in, put over
the heads of old employ ees and it was
said that a number of the old hands had
been recently discharged without any
apparent cause, and these the men
desired reinstated. There are no finan-
cial questions at all connected
with the strike as was rumored
at one time during the day.
The company is doing all it can to obviate
any Ill effects OF the strike, and Super
lntendent =. w. Sanborn telegraphed
late in the day from San Bernardino that
he would have everything moving by to-
day, though this is very doubtful. No
perishable freight will be received while
the strike is on, but as soon as men can
be obtained the regular freights will be
got running.
1t was feared that as these strikes are
epidemic it might communicate to the
Southern Pacific, but visit to the
San Fernando-street yards last night
showed that everything was running as
usual. The switchmen and brakemen
had heard of the strike, but did not
think that they were directly interested,
although if the Brotherhoods act in the
matter they will, of course, follow or
ders.
ALL QUIET AT A. NJ.
AT O'Clock this morning a HERALD
man visited the Santa Fe depot for the
latest developments. All was quiet in
| the yards, and not a switch engine was
to be seen. The trainmen say that there
is no fear of any riotous trouble, and
that there is is every possibility that the
matter will be settled amicably. Re-
ports from all along the Santa Fe's Cali
fornia lines were of the same tenor-all
quiet, but nothing moving but passenger
trains.
A Missing Gold Piece.
u. ii. Vallaway states that YESTERDAY