Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-03-10
STRIKE ON THE B. 8 II
Engineers on the Burlington q
Northern Strike in Aid Of the
20" Strikers.
Dislike Of Railroads to Handle Bur
lingtOn Cars Would Prefer q Law.
suit to a Strike.
Threatened Action Before the Interstate
Commerce Commission Circular of the
Union Pacific.

ST. PAUL, Mimi, March 8-The Brother
hood of Eng and Firemen on the Bur
lington & North ives ern read went out at
ten O'clock yesterday morning or as soon
thereafter as they had pulled their trains to
the end of their divisions. When every
thing was running smoothly, $50 engineers
and as many fremen were employed. but
the strike on the 20" system, of which the
Burlington & Northern was a feeder. had
reduced the number to about seventy. five
Very few Northern men are in the city,
most OF them having gone to their head
quarters at La Crosse Those here are
quiet and peaceable in their behavior and
determined in their action, and state posi-
lively that they will not return to work at
the present scale of wages.
At the Burlington Offices the officials
gave assurance that all trains would arrive
and depart on time as heretofore. One Of
the officials, questioned, as to the cause OF
the strike, said: 'It was not because the
men had any grievance, but simply to help
their brothers on the O. out of a hole" He
added that all OF the vacancies would be
filled, and filled permanently.
All OF the suburban trains ran as usual,
and the afternoon train for Chicago left on
time, with Master Mechanic Bryant Of the
road IN charge. A Reading engineer had
charge of the five o'clock train for La
Crosse. He endeavored to start the engine
with the driver brakes, but finally man.
aged to get off, amid the jeers of the crowd.
Travelling Engineer McGlynn was in charge
of the evening train for Chicago, which
also pulled out on time No freight was
carried yesterday, and it is said that, with
the present cut rate in force, the company
is Indifferent as to the immediate resump-
ton of that branch of their business.
The Omaha has felt the movement of the
strike, and announced that for the present
the through sleeping car service to Kansas
City would be discontinued and the sleeper
would run to Council Bluffs only. The
Omaha runs into Kansas City from Council
Bluffs over the St. Joseph & Council
Bluffs road, which is part of the COM
pany's system, so that their action is ap-
parent.
General Manager Egan, of the st. Paul &
Kansas City. returned from Chicago yes
terday, where he had been to see Chief
Arthur in regard to the rumored tie-up of
all Northwestern roads. He said that
Chief Arthur stated that be had ordered no
should go out it would be on their own re-
sponsibility. This the men admit, but they
confidently rely upon the support of the
entire Brotherhood. A meeting was held
by the Brotherhood last evening.
TENDING TO A LAWSUIT.
CHICAGO. March $50 far as heard from,
not single road upon which the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy had made demand
to handle freight, had responded favora-
bly,. The Wabash refused point blank and
the st. Paul declined, and a heavy train
switched on to it's tracks from the Burling-
ton tracks at Western avenue for trans
portation was hauled back. Other West
ern roads to whom the formal request was
sent have either refused or are prepared to
reject freight when offered.
1--WE would rather have lawsuit than a
STRIKE" said General Agent w. S. Heinlein
of the Minnesota & Northwestern road
(now the Chicago, st. Paul & Kansas City,,
''but if any formal request has been made
It probably went to the general manager
at st. Paul. We don't want ENHANCEMENT if
we can help it.''
Yesterday morning five Lake Shore en-
gineers refused to take a train of Burling-
ton cars from Englewood to Sixteenth
street, declaring that they would quit be-
fore they would haul any thing bearing the
20" label. The cars consequently re-
NAMED at Englewood. The Wabash
switchmen also refused to receive Burling-
ton cars which were brought to the yards
at Root street. The switchmen employed
by the Union Stock Yards and Transit
Company, which had charge of all the
switching at the yards, also decided that
they would handle no Burlington cars. The
company has as yet taken no action in the
matter. The twenty-five employees of the
20" at the yards, whose business it is to
care for all stock arriving over the Bur
lington, were discharged yesterday, as no
stock was arriving and consequently there
was nothing for them to do.
81 don't know whether the Wabash re-
fuses to take our freight or not" hurriedly
said Paul Morton of the Chicago, Burning
ton Il Quincy general Office. II don't
know what the policy of the road will be
unless it will be that we propose to stand
by our rights both as regards our employees
and other railroads. We have won the
fight with our employees and are sure to win
with the other. We believe the law COM
pels other roads to carry our freight when
we deliver the cars on their track. We
propose to maintain our rights at all haz-
ards"
THE o. p. IN FIX.
OMAHA, Neb., March 8.-Acting General
Manager kimball yesterday afternoon is
sued circular letter to the engineers in
the employ Of the Union Pacific road call
ing their attention to the changes affected
in the responsibilities of railroads by the
Inter-S State Commerce law and the re-
sponsibilities Of employees OF roads en-
gagged in Interstate traffic. The Burling-
ton strike was not referred to, but the
circular is understood to have been
issued to remind the engineers OF
the liability of the Union Pacific if
it should refuse to receive Burlington
freight and the danger Of an action against
the engineers themselves for conspiracy.
The local freight agent of the Burlington
sent to the agent of the Union Pacific a list
of cars to be switched, but they have not
yet been moved. An official OF the Union
Pacific being asked what his road would do
in case the engineers refused to handle
Burlington freight, said the company, to
protect itself against the penalties Of the
Interstate law, would have to order the