Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-11-29
TRACK TROUBLES.
Much Bitterness Aroused at In
dianapolis By the Arrest Of
Strikers.
Something Like . Riot and Worse
Threatened - The Vanderbilt
Switchmen
Move For More Pay and Less Work-Ea-
gineers On the Soutl en- Pacific Have
Grievance.

Grievance.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Nov. 26-During
the early evening on Saturday a large
number Of striking switchmen gathered
| about the Panhandle yards. They spent
their time in loud abuse of the substitutes
working the passing trains and shouting
oaths and the familiar ''scab" at them.
Among the crowd it was said that il the
freight clerks and roadmen continued to
work after dark they were going to ''lay
for them and break their necks with
rocks" They sent deputations to the men
at work and made similar announcement
at their meeting. A number of the new
men thereupon became alarmed and left
| their posts. taking the early evening
freights out of town. Nothing could in
duce them to remain.
A crowd at the Noble street crossing be-
! came very boisterous as early as six
O'Clock and stoned Panhandle switching
train SO that it was brought to a full stop.
The ill-feeling of the men was increased
by the Panhandle officials discharging the
strikers who were in their employ. Two
of the switchmen thus dismissed were re-
ceiving So per month. One at the Gin =
cinnati. Hamilton & Dayton who struck
was getting SS0, and four more SO. Prob
| ably the strikers wages everywhere over
the city averaged from $50 to $40, and
they are among the best paid unskilled
workmen, it is claimed by the officials,
employed in this country.
Late Saturday night warrants wero
sworn out for the arrest of four of the
railroad strikers, and one of the leaders, W.
A. Conkling. was placed under arrest, but
was Immediately released on bail. This
aroused much bitterness among the strk-
ers and they intimate that if this policy is
to be pursued the engineers and firemen
will come to their assistance. Railroad
officials, however, claim that they
have the backbone of the strike
broken, and that to-day will witness
the moving of their trains with con-
siderable promptness. There is some doubt
about this, however, and the trouble as
sumeS something of a serious phase, as it
is announced TO the press by a committee
from the strikers that the grand officers Of
both the engineers brotherhood and the
firemen's association are now en- route
here. The result of their conference with
the strikers and with the railroad officials
will determine speedily whether the strik-
ers may expect any support from either OF
these two powerful sources.
Platform men were at work Yesterday,
and some switching was done in the yards
without the men being molested. The
strikers were very quiet so far as the city
yards and union tracks were concerned,
but gave more or less trouble on the belt
road. Their plan has been to uncouple
at a dozen places when they slowed down
for a railroad crossing. The superin-
tendents will hold a meeting to-day.
to be in shape to meet any new phase the
strike may assume. While some of them
are sanguine that the worst has been
passed, those of longer experience will not
be surprised if the men. when they really
find that they are out OF jobs, are NOR Q
troublesome than they have been.
VANDERBILT SwITCHMEN UNEASY.
BUFFALO, N. Y, Nov. 26.-Late Saturday
afternoon orders were received from New
York for a representative of the switch
men employed on the Vanderbilt roads in
this city to proceed to New York without
delay to take part in a conference with
officials of these lines relative to the de-
mand for an increase of wages and shorter
hours. Pending the result of this confer
ence matters here will remain in statu quo.
Switchmen here say the movement ex-
tends from New York to Chicago and if
they are forced out at any point general
strike will result. 1t is now generally be-
lieved among them that their demands
will either be granted or a compromise ef-
fected.
TROUBLE ON THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC.
Houston, Tex, Nov. 26.-For several
days past the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers in this city have been in secret
session. 1t has leaked out, however, that
the engineers of the Southern Pacific Com
pany have a grievance against j. j. Ryan,
master mechanic of the road, and propose
to take firm stand against him. A COM
mittee from the brotherhood left for New
Orleans last night to consult and arbitrate
with the management. Things look squally
and it is thought by many that unless mat
ters are speedily adjusted strike affect
ing the entire system will be inaugurated.
An IrOnclad Agreement Signed With Jay
Gould BY the Southwest Roads.
NEW YORK. Nov. 4.-For more than q
year the railroads of the Southwest have
been engaged in bitter rate war. Prompt
4 ~. 49,