Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-29
THE TABLES TURNING.
Switclmen are Jubilant and Railroad
Officials spOndingly Despondent.

| INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 2S.-The switch
mems strike has assumed new and
threatening phase. Traffic in the yards
and on the Belt road moves along with
+! commendable regularity today. The Off
Gals assert new men are applying con-
stantly. The situation with the strikers
had grown desperate; they must do some
| thing, consequently they called secret
| conference last night with the engineers
and fremen at which. a very strong senti-
ment favorable to the switchmen was man
| ifested. After a prolonged discussion a
decision was reached (which the striking
men hailed with pleasure. In accordance
with the action of the meeting a commit
tee composed of representatives of the
three brotherhoods was appointed to
call upon the officers of the various
roads today and request them to
submit the matter at issue between them
and the swltchmen to arbitration. This
forenoon the committee called upon several
superintendent and followed instructions.
No threat accompanied the request and
the officials were left to judge for them
selves whether refusal to heed it would
lead to greater complications. That they
regarded this phase of the trouble as much
more serious than the mere surface ap-
pearance indicates is evident from the haste
with which they gathered into a secret
conference at the union station. The re-
suit of this conference of the superinten-
dents has as yet taken no definite form to-
ward arbitration or concession.
The rumor that Chief Arthur is to come
to the city gains more credence every day
If he comes the heads of all of
the brotherhoods except the conductors
will be on the ground, Chief Sargent. of
the hremen, having come this morning
and joined Wilkinson, of the brakemen,
and Sweeny of the swltchmen. The brake
men have been outspOken IN their SYM
patny for the switchmen ever since the
strike began. On several occasions early
in the trouble they refused to fill the
places vacated by the strikers and were
discharged. This action they took simply
as individuals, but it is now understood
their brotherhood has passed on the ques-
ton and officially instructed its members
to fill no places which switchmen have
abandoned The reasons for the support
which the brakemen are giving the strike
are substantially those animating engi-
neers and fremen The number of
discharged because of their refusal to do
yard work is said to exceed thirty, and to
be increased daily.
In view Of the serious turn that the
strike now assumes the switchmen tonight
made public for the first time the paper
WEIGH Jut1 uftW ttD anu Slpucu en-
tering on the strike. 1t sets forth: 1--WE
petitioned our respective officers on Sep
TENDER II for an increase of pay and shorter
hours, and also requested to have all
crews supplied with an additional man.
Up to this time no reply has been received.
1t WIS no surprise to us, as we were lg
nored on all previous occasions; no matter
how trivial or serious the question at ISSUE
we think at least we deserve recognition
and a committee of switchmen ought to
have been called in to give our side of the
question"
The demands are then stated in detail as
already published. The document is
signed by over 200 switchmen, who agree
not to return to work until their requests
are complied with and all are restored to
their positions.
Grand Chief Frank Sweeny, Of the
Swtchmen's Brotherhood, in an inter
view tonight said: I'VE are willing and
anxious 10 place the questions in the hands
of an arbitration committee and abide by
its decision. That has beee our position
all the time. / think the officials will con-
cede as much as that and then the differ
ences will be settled in short order. All
talk about agitators from Chicago being
here to stir up our men is simply non
sense. This has not been true at any time
since the trouble began, nor will it be true
at all. There is nothing more involved in
the strike than has been freely made pub
lie; no concealed purposes whatever"