St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-15
SEEN BY A REPORTER.
What Reporter Saw in a "Trip
Over the Burlington.

CHICAGO, March 14.-On March s,
when the general grievance committees
of the railroads centering at Chicago
met at the Grand Pacific hotel, resolu-
ton was adopted asking that the Asso-
ciated Press send reporter over the
Burlington system. The resolution also
asked that the reporter should not color
his reports in favor of the BrotherhoodS
of Engineers and Firemen or the rail-
road company. In accordance with
this the reporter left Chicago
the next day. He was accompa-
MED by brotherhood engineer
who gave him access to the meetings OF
the men at each place visited. IheSe
places were Aurora, Mendoza, Gales
burg, Burlington, Charlton, erosion
and Kansas City. At the latter point
the reporter met S. NJ. Stevens, who
represented Chief Arthur and Grand
Master Sargent, and also u. Hanahan,
vice grand master of the Brotherhood OF
Firemen. Throughout the whole trip
the object was to ascertain the true
state of affairs on the Burlington sys-.
TEN. Not only were the meetings OF
the brotherhood men attended, but at
each point the railroad officials we're
seen. Naturally, both sides had their
own story to tell and it took hard work
to get at the real facts. But as nearly
as one can Judge from the evidence OF
both sides the Burlington system is do
ing from 40 to so per cent OF the busl-
ness which it did before the strike. AT
every point mentioned passenger trains
were from one to six hours late. In re-
regard to freight business, each division
superintendent seen frankly stated that
the road was
DOING MUCH LESS BUSINESS
than before the strike. They said that
there were no cattle carried over the
road except where the company had
bought the cattle in the pens. Freight
trains, where they were formerly made
up of about thirty cars, are now COM
posed of from nine to twenty. In some
Instances engines drawing way car are
sent out and counted as train. AS to
the officials of the road at the different
points, it can be said that they are doing
their utmost to keep traffic moving.
While they do not express themselves
as in sympathy with the engineers. they
do say that they wish the old hands
were back at the throttles. The brother
hood men at every point visited are
firm. So are the officials. AT the
farther western points the men VINO
are out seem to be more determined ana
more radical than the men here. This
is especially true at Kansas City.
Meetings are held there daily,
and the chairmen of grievance
committees of other roads speak at the
meetings, and without exception ex-
press themselves ready to abandon
their engines if necessary. AS regards
the brotherhood, the situation as eX-
pressed by Chief Arthur to-day is this:
If they lose the fight they have inaugu-
rated against the Burlington system it
means death to their organization. The
brotherhood commands now from $780,
900 to $500, 900, and the chiefs claim that
by assessment as much more can be
raised. Therefore the men are in a
fighting position. And yet they realize
that if a break comes in the ranks the
order will retrograde and become such
a one as that now organized by the con-
ductorS-an insurance company. AS
rule the conductors are Keeping out or
the fight. Those OH the Chicago q
Northwestern are the only ones who are
openly in sympathy with the engineers.
The brotherhood of brakemen have
grievance against the engineers, result
ing from differences which occurred in
1876 and 1877. Yet as far as could be
learned there is not brotherhood brake
man who is willing to act as pilot to
non-union engineer. Grand Master
Wilkinson, of the brakemen, is visiting
at this time all points on the Burlington
system pledging the support OF his men.