The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-01
STRIKE EXPECTED TONIGHT
Local SWitchEnen, It Is Said, Favor Civ
ing the Railroad Companies Trouble.
ton Agent TO Take the Places of Strik-
ers Cause Great Indignation.

In railroad circles yesterday and last night
the probability of a strike among the switchmen
and perhaps the engineers and fremen ia In
dianapolis was the general subject of converse
ton. No persons were more interested and
knew less about what those classes of workmen
were going to do than the railroad officials and
their efforts 70 gain any reliable information
about the purposes of the men were futile.
Rumors OF pending trouble were
more numerous than on Friday.
and last night, though not much that was def
mite could be obtained, enough was cleaned to
make it almost safe predict strike among
the switchmen either tonight or tomorrow.
The-switchmen themselves. like the engineers
and fremeu, have closed their mouths, and it is
only occasionally that one can be found who will
consent to say anything. One man very prom
inert in their organization, and who is there
fore in q position to know what he is
talking about, said to Journal re-
porter last evening that it could be
stated that strike would occur. TT will either
begin Sunday or Monday night" said he; that
is unless the present condition of thugs changes
know that strike is contemplated and be-
HeYe that the majority of switchmau favor it.
The ssitchmsn are to hold meeting tomorrow
afternoon, and what is to be done will then be
night, but it was deemed advisable to hold
meeting first and discuss the matter"
GLOW far will the strike extendF he was asked.
sit will mean as understand, that not a train
will be allowed to run out of indianapolis. I do
not know what cooperation the en- ineers and
fremen will give, but considering their feelings
over the treatment of the Brotherhood men in
Chicago / believe they will aid us all they can,
and strike if it is necessary.
Nothing has aggravated the Indiauapolis
switchmen more than the passage through the
city last n light of twenty-five s'scab" switchneu,
in charge of one of Pinkerton's detectives, en-
route to Chicago, where they will take the
places Of the union men nov out When the
G., II. q l. train arrived at 1870 o'clock, 1t was
noticed by Switchmen about The depot that the
rear car was half filed with men who looked as
if they Were railroad workingmen. Some of
the switchmen attempted to get in the car for
the purpose of ascertaining whether or not the
men were such as they supposed, but they
found the door locked. That satisfied
tkem that their suspicious had been
well founded, and the word that 'scabsn were
being hauled to Chicago over the G. H & D.
and L.. n. A q G. roads was rapidly spread
among the men on duty. When Journal re-
porter raped on the door of the car in which
the suspected men were he was answered
through the glass door by the one in charge that
the car was private Finally. however the door
was opened very little. and the man on the in
side, on being informed of the business of his
caller invited him in.
uo man gave Ills name as Z. A. Greene. Il
thought maybe you were switchman." said he.
''and do not feel safe in letting one of them in
here" In answer to question he said: Il
have twenty five men, whom L secured at Day
ton, o., and am taking them to Chicago. /
have already found that it is very dangerous
business, too. Several times the way
over from Dayton it looked If the car
was going to be attacked by mob of union
switchmen At Hamilton forty fifty men
surrounded the car and threatened to shone it
and throw it from the track, but they did not
/
anticipated trouble here in indianapolis, but
was lucky to reach mere late at night, because
not many of the switchmen can get onto the men
have until we are gone"
els it difficult to procure men to take the place
of the strIkers2' 81 20 sasass
Not very. TIE greatest trouble is in getting
them over the country Agents are out every
where gathering up men, and do not believe it
will be long until all the old men will be
placed with new ones We are instructed to
employ nobody but experienced switchmen"
DO you believe the strike will become gen.
eral9"
II do not think it will; still 1 believe that
men viii go out great many more roads;
perhaps all the roads connecting directly
with Chicago. 1t is hard to tell what will occur,
though. 1 have had good deal of experience
with strikes, and have noticed that they become
contagious Switchmen. especially, seem to have
a mania for striking"
A large number of railroad employees climbed
on the platforms of the private" car of the
''scabs" and gazed at them through the window.
but no movement was made TO interfere with
their journey. While the local switchmen who
knew of their going through would say moth
was heard to remark, ''the hauling of scabs to
Chicago through hare is not going to help mat
ters any for the Indianapolis roads
Railroad officials expecting whatever is to
come will be developed to-day. They were
very uneasy last night, yet as a general rule
they claim that they do not believe strike is
really intended.
Prof McKeovvn,s Exhibitions