The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-02
ANEW PERIL AT CHICAGO
THE BELT LINE MEN MAY STRIKE
AT ANY MOMENT.

the Shape of a Letter From the Presi-
dent of the Chicago and Eastern Illi-
nois Road-The Burlington Road OBJ
serves the Sabbath.
CHICAGO, April 1.-The prospects of an
immediate tie-up of the Belt Line added
graver aspect to the railroad situation this
evening than at any time since the strike of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
and firemen cf the Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy. Every railroad entering Chicago
depends almost entirely upon the Belt Line
as a means by which the interchange of
freight is to be conducted with any
. other roads. Practically every railroad
track stretching from Chicago is intersected
by the Belt line, and there has been a
general feeling from the start that the
issue of the struggle might be swayed one
way or the other by the attitude of the
Belt line officials and the men in their
employ. The latter have all been among
the staunchest allies of the Brotherhood,
while the management of the Belt Com
pany have apparently sought as far as pos
sible to maintain a position of so-called
neutrality.
A new face was put on affairs when some
time yesterday Gen. Porter, President OF
the Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad,
sent a strongly worded letter to John B.
Carson, President of the Belt Line.
The Eastern Illinois Company hold a con-
trolling interest in the Belt corporation,
and Gen. Porters letter demanded formally
and explicitly that: "The Belt Line trans
fer cars for every railroad and individual in
" +bO nd hot n
all employs that do not choose to do their
whole duty, and the same duty toward
any one car or railroad company or individ-
ual as another shall be immedially dismissed.
and no employe shall in any way be allowed
to handle any particular car that will not
handle every other car in the same way"
President Carson replied, asserting to
Gen. Porter's letter.
TO STAND BY THEIR GUNS.
A meeting of the employees of the Belt
line was held at which the whole subject
was earnestly debated. 1t was currently
reported this evening that the Belt men de-
cided to stand by their guns and see
whether the company would dis
charge them en- masse No provocation
for an extension of the strike was given to-
day by the Burlington company Whether,
as alleged, it was for the purpose of resting
the new men, or that there was no business,
danger of riot was increased their GER
tainly was no attempt in any quarter to
handle Burlington cars, even in the Burllng-
tons own yards.
ST. PAUL BUSY.
The managers of the Milwaukee and St
Paul road pursued exactly the opposite
course. They made most strenuous efforts to
keep things moving and as a result it is prob
able that the strike on the ST. PAU win cul-
inmate tomorrow in a renewal of The strike
on the Pan Handle. A train was got in
readiness so that tomorrow an attempt can
be made to transfer st. Paul freight to the
Pan Handle, and as the employees of the lat
ter were pledged to support the St. Paul
strikers there is little doubt that they will
refuse to handle the freight and a strike
will ensue.
EIGHT ENGINEERS AT WORK.
Eight switch engines were at work in the
st. Paul yards to-day and cleared the
blockade at Union street and another at
Western avenue. Four freight trains were
started to Milwaukee, and the suburban
passenger service was got into much better
shape than on Saturday. Large crowds of
sight-seers were scattered along the tracks
and on the Viaducts throughout the day,
but there was no attempt to riot.
A stormy meeting of the st. Paul
strikers was in progress during the after
noon. A majority Of the engineers and
fremen are said to have favored returning
to work on the terms offered by General
Manager Miller, while the switchmen and
brakemen insist on standing out. Without
reaching any conclusion an adjournment
was taken until tomorrow morning.
THE FORT WAYNE MEN.
The Fort Wayne men are fully determined
not to handle any 80" cars and may refuse
to have anything to do with st. Paul trans
fers. Saturday night Foreman Behem, of
the shops, asked every engineer to go to
Sixteenth street after train, but all refused.
Saturday, when the engineers, firemen and
swltchmen quit work, The hands in the
shops were told that they might go home.
LAKE SHORE HANDS RESTLESS.
The fremen, engineers and switchmen
employed by the Lake Shore are dissatisfied
with affairs and may not wait until election
day to 90 out. The switchmen, IL will be
remembered, were set to work during the
big strike. 1t is now known that the Switch
mems Union has offered to take them in
the union and thus square the differences
that have existed for nearly
two years. For this generous
offer on the part of the union,
the Lake Shore switchmen have about de-
clded to not handle any more 20" cars. In
the stock yards the switchmen employed by
the stock yards company are finding new
deal TO play against. Usually the Wabash
road takes Milwaukee and ST. Paul cars
from Hammond, Ind, and at the stock
Yards turns them over to the Michigan Cen
ira lroad.
swITCHMEN OBJECT.
Yesterday as usual train was brought
N and the switchmen objected to the
Michigan Central handling toe cars. Com
mttee' were appointed by the switchmen
10 wait on the stock yard officials. The
committees failed to DO anything, and the
men refused TO handle st. Paul cars. The
dissatisfaction among the stock yard men
was communicated to the men employed by
The Chicago and Eastern Illinois aud with
the Lake Shore road they are simply waiting
ior their turn 70 step out. Wednesday has
been settled upon as the day, and unless
there is a decided change the men employed
on the Lake Shore, Chicago and Eastern
Illinois and Louisville and New Albany will
90 out.
AN ULTIMATUM AT KANSAS CITY.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, April 1.-The
switch engineers and firemen of sll the
roads entering the city, with the exception
oi the Burlington, had a meeting late Sat
urday night, at which they resolved that
alter IL o'clock noon, Monday, April 2,
taey would refuse to handle any Burling-
ton cars of freight, except it be live stock
or perishable freight, which has been
EHnW~ ~f...l.