Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-04-01
THE MORNING MOANS.
How the Situation Looked at the Esrly
Hours Yesterday.

How the situation Looked at the Esrly
Hours Yesterday.
CHICAGO, March 3l.-The strike situa-
tion is steadily growing more serious. The
rumor that strike on the Chicago, Mil
waukee and st. Paul was decided upon at
meeting of the strikers last night proves
to have been true. The engineers, fire
men, switchmen, brakemen and number
of the conductors of that road have quit
work. The strike includes the employees
Of all the divisions centering in Chicsgo,
both freight and passenger. The last pas
seuger train manned by a Brotherhood
crew left the Union depot at / | o'clock last
night.
The leaders of the striking freight meu
were busy all yesterday notifying every
st. Paul emplOyc Of the meeting to he
held and insisting upon his attendance.
The incoming tTainmen were met at the
depot and hurried over to the hall. Fully
700 men were present. This included all
the freight and switch engineers and fire
men living in Chicago and many from
points hundred miles away, all of the
local switchmen and brakemen and large
number of conductors. The meeting was
an excited aud enthusiastic one. and lasted
till / o'clock this morning. No outsiders
were admitted, and il was not possible to
ascertain what had been done for some
time after the adjournment. From one of
the men it was then learned that when the
motion was made to tie up the road it was
carried without dissenting voice.
The strike-which by tonight may in
clude every division of the st. Paul sys-
tents the result of yesterdays work at
the yards, The men are incensed over the
action of the company in employing new
engineers and iremen, and conductors who
have acted as engineers, to take their
place. Many Of the men regarded Thurs
DAYS strike as trivial affair, and expect
ed that the company would gracefully con-
cede and make binding promise not TO
receive . cars. Instead tho company &C
cepted the situation and commenced filling
the:places of tbs strikers at once.
LONG STRUGGLE AHEAD.
This is the real cause of strike that
promises to be long and desperate one.
1t was expected by the officials of the COM
pany that a committee would be appointed
at last nights meeting and q conference
held at which satisfactory settlement
could be reached. A tacit agreement of
this kind was made yesterday afternoon
and the officers OF the road met at Division
Superintendent Collins Office to await the
result Of the meeting. These gentlemen
waited and waited, but the committee
never came. In the excitement of the
occasion the committee was overlooked by
the strikers, and after waiting until mid
night, the officials went to their hotels un-
conscious of the fact that their road was
tied up.
When the news was brought TO Assist
ant General Superintendent Earling, at an
early hour this morning, he refused to say
anything. The strike was not declared by
any organization or brotherhood, at least
not formally. The men say it is entirely
an individual action on their part. Even
if the strike extends no farther than at this
writing, the effect will be the practical
suspension Of business on the entire system.
This morning business on the Chicago
division of the st. Paul. was at stand
still. No train Of any description has been
moved by union men, and all
the suburban residents dependent upon
this road are stranded at their
homes and aud unable to reach the city.