The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-27
No. Encouraging for tho Strikers.

W. M ~ tho n
IL has been apparent ever since the switch
men went out that the only hope they had of
winning was through the engineers, fremen and
brakeman supporting them by. quitting. Sun
day evening it looked very much as If the men
IN the three departments named would strike,
but yesterday the situation changed, and last
night there was no probability of their joining
the switchmen. Without the aid Of the engi-
neers aud iremen the strikers have little ahead
Of them but to submit to the inevitable, and
many who saw the turn affairs had taken were
almost ready to draw ont OF the difficulty.
The more conservative switchmen helped this
feeling somewhat by urging that it was time
another effort was being made to nave al
honorable adjustment with the superintendent
Of the various roads.
In their refusal to join in the strike the en-
gineers and fremen do not take the ground that
They believe the companies have not
treated fairly that class OF en-
ployes, but no matter what grievance the
switchnen might have, the conservative engin-
GERS would oppose a strike The last two days
have been very trying ones with the Brother
hood in Indianapolis. and if the Journal report
er was permitted to give all that has transpired
IN their meetings as he learned IL in confidence
~ would make very interesting reading. One
thing can be said. and that is indianapolis. on
Sunday night, came near seeing one of the big
Eest strikes that ever occurred 10 the United
states. At one time il seemed as If no power
could prevent every locomotive engineer in this
branch Of the Brotherhood, the largest in the
country. the dremen and the switchmen from
going out and remaining away from their work
until every striking switchman was
returned TO work on the conditions demanded by
them. The only thing that interfered was the
GOODNESS aud sound advice of a few members of
The Brotherhood. The meeting of epginsers
Sunday night was taken in charge by one or two
hot-headed men, They did not stop TO count
the cost OF the acton they advocated. Led OH
by these radicals, the meeting at one time was
practically unanimous in declaring a strike on
sentimental grounds alone. At that ~iuncture
the conservative advisers began their
work in setting out the cost OF such o
movement, citing the Burlington failure and the
pledge the engineers had made TO their respect
i've companies MOTTO assist other employees in
their demands. The legal right OF the men to
strike was In addition questioned. These en-
gineers showed that. according to the constitu-
tion of their order. the men could not quit WORK
simply because the employees in some other de-
partment had a grievance. 10 was claimed, too,
that unless the men en- each road had a griev-
ance OF their own with that particular road.
they could not 60 out without ignoring the
brotherhood constitution. It was also stated
mat Chief Arthur could not order the men out
-tnat they had TO be guided by the
facts before them and their constitution. There
conservative members of the Brotherhood rea-
" nOuEts ouu
although it WAS a difficult task, they succeeded
In changing the minds of many who, when the
meeting began, were in favor Of quitting work.
However, when sdjournmenr came, a majority
were still in favor of striking. Hoping TO pro
vent what they said would be a suicidal act. the
opponents OF a strike spent the entire night Wis
iting engineers ~ their homes and urging them
TO reconsider their determination to assist the
switchmen. The result of this work
was that by yesterday morning there was
q wonderful change OF sentiment, and the ma
iority believed IL was their duty TO remain at
work, however much they would have liked 10
assist the s~witchmen.
There are still members OF the Brotherhood
bent on going out. BY agreement, the advice of
Grand Chief Arthur has been asked, and he
will likely be heard from to-day. The conserva-
tives feel confident that Arthur will advise
against a strike. They say he could not order
the men out il he desired 10 90 so. but he can
interpret their constitution for them, which
would not permit & strike under existing circum-
stances