The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-17

going east The engineer was Pap Cunning
ham, who has some grievance with the Brother
hood. aud took engine west early this morn
ing for the purpose of bringing in this
train. Up to nothing definite had been
agreed npon AT the general othces one ofnclai
stated that traffic along the system was practi-
cally a. stand-still. except few through trains
which were en- route yesterday, and had not yet
reached destinations. This official stated that
their attorneys bad advised them that they
could not peremptorilly refuse ''l' freight with
out being liable to the penalties provided by the
interstate- commerce law. Engineers claim their
contract does not require them TO give thirty
days notice in event OF quitting. but only in
event of change Of conditions and rules in the
contract The company seems 70 take the opDo-
site view. and claims that Chairman Conroe has
PLAYED a doubie game and taken snap judg-
ment while conveying the impression that no
strike had been ordered Ihe company to-cay
says it has positive proof that strike was
ordered Saturday, to take place at O'Clock yes
terday afternoon.
General Manager Goddard General Traffic
Manager White and General Superintendens
Sands were at the Santa Fe Office until an early
hour this morning and were in constant tele-
graphic communication with division superin-
tendenrs all along the system. The report from
these suparintendents was that the men have
gone out all along the line, and business is prac-
ticaily suspended, except passenger-tralns which
are now on the road, which will not be stopped
until they reach the enc of the line. There are
about seven hundred engineers and seven hun
d-ed fremsn employed on the Santa Fe system,
and $500 trainmen employed by them. making
4. 200 men thrown directly out of employment.
General Manager Goddard says the amount OF
perishabl freight on the line between California
aud Chicago is larger than usual, amounting to
about eiRhtY-five carloads, nearly all of which
is stock and fruit II cannot be moved, and if
the strike continues any length of time
the company will be liable for the whole amount
In addiLion to this. there over 100 carloads
OF merchandise tied up on the various divisions
It is stated by the officers of the company that
they will make every effort to find engineers
aud fremen with which TO man their freight
and get it 20 it's destination They believe that
traffic will be resumed within q few days.
A union meetine of engineers and fremen
was held last night Nearly all tbS angiuemen
of the eastern division of the Santa Fe were
present The following statement of the situa-
tion was authorized To be published:
The question of the right TO stop was fully
considered, and for the present 1t was unaDi~
mously agreed that, 30 far as we are concerned,
the Santa Fc management having agreed that
they would not handle any @ freight, the engi-
neers and fremen knowing full well the Santa
Fe has violated this agreement every day for the
past week, there is nothing left for TO do but
TO quit hauling any until this trouble is set
tied. This is a question of life and death with
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and
Firemen, and they had been fully advised that
the management of the different connecting
lines with the @ are working in an under
handed manner to defeat them, and they think.
in justice themselves now and the travelling
public hereafter. it is better that this master be
brought TO settlement at once. and have used
this their last resort, to bring about an equita-
bls settlement. Thsy also desire to state to the
people of Topeka that the management OF the
Santa Fe had been fully warned aud knew what
going to happen. more than a week ago, in
stead OF thirty minutes, was stated in last
evenings papers"
The Santa Fe officials will divulge nothing,
have nothing to tell. The strikers have held
two meetings, and haYe adopted resolutions
the effect that they will not return work
the Santa Fe until the brotherhood engineers
and firemen are restored to the c., B. & @ road
at the wages asked. The local griev-
ance committee had conference with
Governor Martin to-day. but nothing came of
1t as the committee not empowered to act
Governor Martin expressed himself fully. and
deplored the strike, as did the committee. He
charged them to bring about a settlement as
soon as possible claiming that, as they had no
grievance against the Santa Fe, they
seriously injurlng Kansas business by
fighting the 90" road over the Santa
Fe's shoulder, when the 20" was
Kansas road. having only 180 miles in the State,
while the Santa Fe great and necessary
artery right through the State. The Governor
said lie could o. OF believe that the ~ailroad in
tended 90 continue to crush the engineers and
Gremens organization, and cited the fact
that the 20" had begun the freight war,
SO the other roads could not be very well
disposed to help it out in it's fight with the
gineers. He said, too, that the Santa Fe was
none too friendly toward tho 20" for, because
of it's differences with that road, it had been
forced TO build line of iTs own to Chicago from
the Missouri river. He recommended arbitra-
tion. and tonight telegraphed to l. Conroe, in
Kansas City, chairman of the grievance commit
tee OF the Santa Fe system, to come tc Topeka
t. confer with him.