The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-08
Chief Arthur Intimates an Extension of the
Trouble, While His Mouthpiece Says q
General Strike Is Not Contemplated.
The Matter Understood To Be Entirely
in the Hands Of the Brotherhoods.
The Men on the Burlington & Northern Cease
Work. and Strike on tha Kansas City.
Fort Scott & Gulf Seems Imminent.
A CRISIS APPROACHING.

tive, about to-day. that to use Mr.
Arthur's exact words, there was serious danger
that the strike of the engineers and fremen
would now spead widely. 1t is impossible to ap-
pease men, be said, .'when they know that
the railroad companies all over the country are
giving aid to the Burlington We are contin-
ually in receipt of kilograms showing that the
companies are rendering this assistance. and it
is not in my power or the power of any other
man to use restraint, unless such things are
stopped"
Mr. Arthur showed the following as a sample
of the communications with which he is duluged:
AURORA, ILL.,, March 4.
P. III. Arthur. Grand Chief. Chicago
f. Reynolds engineer, says he was in the employ
here and consider himself discharged. Investi
gate. j. A. BAUERIEsES.
Another communication was picked from the
pile by Dir. Arthur and handed over, with the
request that the identity of the sender should
not be disclosed. The message was from Jack
son. Mich. and said. in part:
On Saturday March g. the following was sent to all
agents Michigan Central Railroad Company: ..All en-
gneers wishing to Chicago TO work for the Chi
cago. Burlington & Quincy, send Free"
This message was sent under character No.
%, which is used by no one but the general
superint tendent or acting general superintendent.
''Now," said Chief Arthur. ''when you know
more is coming constantly. you can understand
the danger that the strike will spread It is not
to be expected that they will submit TO such
proceedings, but will put q stop to them effect
ually."
The full support of the entire Brotherhood Of
Locomotive Engineers and Firemen has been
pledged to their members, on any and all roads
througho the United States. who deem it nec-
essary TO strike and formally decide to do so in
order TO uphold their brethren the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy This information
obtained this evening the best of
authority, and verified through an
other source. IL can also be stated upon
authority that the general meetings of the local
grievance committees of various roads held to-
day were in each case convened for the purpose
of discussing the advisability of a strike on that
particular road, and if such radical step was
not considered essential, the object was to de-
eide what measures in lieu thereof should be
adopted. The sanction of the general executive
of the Broth erhood. thus given in advance to
the strike of the men on any road, was scarcely
obtained at the conference of the general griev-
ance committee of the Brotherhood, held
here on Monday. It no longer rests
with Chiefs Arthur and Sargent to
say that the men on any road,
Brotherhood as a whole. The men en- any single
railroad system. half dozen systems, have
it now absolutely in their power. not only to say
whether they shall strike, but also whether they
shall strike with the whole might OF the Brother
hood behind them. That the men are not dis
posed to use with undue haste the weapons in
their grasp may be partly inferred from the fact
that although several meetings were held to-
day, each clothed with complete authority TO
declare strike affec ting vast stretch of terri
tory. such declaration has been made up to
this evening
A prominent railroad official said this evening
that he understood the grievance committees cf
a number of railroads will each formulate au
by which they employed, asking for the in
tervention of the general managers OF the vari-
roads q body to help the Burlington
strike to a settlement It is rumored tonight
that meeting of the general managers entering
the city will be held here tomorrow next
day, to discuss the situation. Marvin
Hughtt, president of the Chicago &
the leading spirit in the move ment to bring
about Intervention by general managers of out
side roads. A knowledge of this fact is hinted
to be one canse of the reluctance of the c. & N.
W. grievance COMMITTEES, to-day. adopt a
hostile policy Among the many rumors float
ing about tonight. which could not be hunted
down 60 a verfcation denial. was one that the
merce commission asking that body TO take
official cognizance of the strike. and that dis
patches had been sent to Governor Oglesby, re-
questing him TO formally call the matter the
attention. of the Illinois State railroad commits
sion.