St. Paul daily globe., 1888-11-25
MONEY AGAINST MUSCLE.
Railroad Managers and Striking Switch
men As Far Apart As Ever.
SYMPATHY FOR STRIKERS
It Nay Lead to a Complication
Of the Existing
Troubles.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Nov. 24.-The
railroad managers and the striking
switchmen do not seem to be any nearer
an agreement than yesterday. The
superintendent of all the lines held a
conference this afternoon, aud it was
understood that no concessions should
be made, The number of freight
trains leaving the city during the
last twenty-four hours was not more
than a dozen. The regular freights
continued to arrive all day, however,
and the blockade is becoming serious.
On one road alone sixty heavy trains
arrived. The fact that the roads, dur
ing the afternoon, began to handle some
of the accumulated freight in the
yards was keen disappoint to the
strikers. 1t became so evident that
they were being gradually locked out,
shortly after noon, that they determined
to ask the engineers and firemen to be
present at their meetings to induce
them, if possible, to join their move
ment. They succeeded in getting a
number of them to attend, and while
the men of the two other brotherhoods
eXpresseG strong
SYMPATHY FOR THE swITCHBIEN,
and unofficially hinted at intentions of
important movement, yet definite action
was postponed until their meeting to-
morrow. The engineers and firemen,
while at their duty on the engines in the
afternoon, talked among themselves
about going outMonday if something was
not done on the part Of the superinten-
dents. Of course such statements were
unofficial, but they point to the possible
action of the local brotherhoods. Nearly
all Of them were questioned in various
parts of the city railroad yards, and
they almost uniformly said that, while
the brotherhoods were not at present
switchmen's strike, If the W roads
continued to ignore it, the local
men would be, before forty-eight hours
more had elapsed, for they thought the
switchmen should have their demands.
During the early evening large num-
Der of the strikers gathered about the
Panhandle yards, and many of them
were under the influence of liquor.
They spent their time in loud abuses
of the substitutes working the pas
sing trains, and shouting oaths and the
familiar epithet of ''scabs" at them.
Among the crowd, it was said, that if
the freight clerks and roadmen contin-
to "lay for them, and break their
neeks with rocks" They then
sent deputations Of the crowd to
the men at the switches and made
similar announcements in their press
ence. A number of roadmen thereupon
became alarmed and left their posts,
taking the early evening freights out of
town. Nothing could induce them to
remain. The crowd at the Noble street
crossing became very boisterOus as
early as O'Clock and stoned the Pan
Handle switching train SO that it was
brought to full stop. The
nL-FEELING OF THE MEN
was increased by the Pan Handle Off
cials discharging the strikers who were
in their employ. Two of the switchmen
thus dismissed were receiving SS5 per
month. One at the Cincinnati, Hamil-
ton & Dayton who struck was getting
$50, and four more S75. Prob
ably the strikers wages everywhere
s65 to $40, and they are
among the best paid unskilled work.
men. it is claimed by the officials, en-
ployed in this country. Grand Chief
Sargent. of the Firemen's Brotherhood,
is in the city, but his presence is not
regarded as particularly signifi-
cant by the officials. His known
preference for peaceful meth
ods Of settling trouble between
employer and employe causes the super
intendents to regard his coming as evi-
dence that his brotherhood will hold |
aioof from all complications at this
time. 1t was determined by the super
tendents Of the roads this after |
noon to have the leaders of the !
strike arrested for interfering with |
traffic, but when District Prosecutor |
Mitchell was consulted he refused to is
sue warrants. The superintendent of
several of the roads Will make an at
tempt to open their yards Monday. with |
a full force. of men. Until then prob |
baby little effort will be put forth to do T
more than move barely such freight as |
is absolutely necessary, in the mean
time new men are being employed and I
engaged to report for duty Monday
The police will likely be
called upon and assist in making the
plan SUCCESS.