Omaha daily bee., 1888-04-04
Affairs in

AHalrS IN CnlCagC.
CHICAGO, April 3.-Not a wheel was turned
in the Michigan Central yards since 7 o'clock
this morning, and while no strike has been
Declared, the Chicago end Of the road, at
least for the present, is completely tied up,
the engineers, firemen and switchmen all
having deserted their posts. The officials
will not admit that there is a strike, but
simply say that they are doing no work to-
day. 1t is learned that a committee Of the
Brotherhood Of Engineers are here
from Jackson, Mich, who are
earnestly opposed to a strike and they are
q laboring with their. bretheren here to pre-
vent one being declared. This explains why
the road will not admit there is a strike.
They are simply giving the men a little lee
way. The cause of the present state of af-
fairs in the Michigan Central yards is the
presence there of 90 freight which was de-
livered there yesterday, and the announce
Snent by the Michigan Central that they
would handle all freight delivered.
L. Hommedieu, who with Superintendent
Brown, is managing affairs forl the company,
said: I'VE intend to give the men as much
grace as possible. AT 7o'clock this morning
Brown and myself were here, ready to carry
out the programme announced yesterday
that is to say, to see that all cars received by
the company were handled without discrim-
tnatiou, or dismiss the men who refused.
JuSJ us VIC were proceeding 10 90 tnlS, a
delegation of road engineers entered the of
flee at Z :05. They had a few momen pre-
yiously arrived from Jackson, Mich, where
they had been deputed by the brotherhood
men on the Michigan Central to come here and
endeavor TO arrange matters satisfactorily.
They said they would at once call a meeting
Of the yard employees, who were Directing TO
handling Burlington freight, and urged that
action in the meantime be suspended. AS a
matter of courtesy to our employees we
readily consented They will bn pivnn ampla
time, of course.n
p1 SHOW ong2"
"Well, until noon at least"
The statement that no work was done in
the yards after Z this morning as explained
by the company's representatives, does not
> mean that the Michigan Central passenger
service was interferred with. All passenger
trains this morning arrived and de
parted promptly on time as usual. The
strike was confined to switch engineers, fire
men and switchmen in the local freight
yards of the company.
AT 2 o'clock this afternoon the Michigan
Central yard employees returned to work.
Upon what terms the strike was declared off
they would not say.
An officer of the company said the men
went back Internationally. AT a conference
between the strikers, officers of the company
and a delegation OF brotherhood
men from Jackson, this settlement
was agreed upon and at 2 pm, the men began
returning to work. 1t was stated at the
company's office that the train of Burlington
y freight which has caused all the commo-
ton would be forwarded this afternoon.
Two thousand delegates representing the
the engineers, brakemen and switchmen of
all the roads leading to Chicago, held a meet
& Ing this afternoon. General Manager JEFF
freys, of the Illinois Central, made q speech,
at the conclusion of which it was resolved
that the men on each road be allowed TO use
their W judgment in all questions growing
out of the strike. This is considered to be a
10. 80 2f tlA If--
trails men to-day.
The TT, Wayne strikers to-day asked the
general superintendent whether, il they re-
burned TO work in the morning, they would
be taken back. He replied IN the affirmative
. provided they would handle all business
without discrimination. This is thought to
! Indicate that the TT. Wayne strike viii soon
be over.
The Belt line employees decided tonight TO
stand by the company and handle all freight
as directed. This settles the trouble on that
line.
Apostle Stone 10 st. John.
CHICAGO, April 3.-When the Burlington
railway asked Judge Gresham for an order
20 compel the Rock Island TO handle "Q'
freight, the Rock Islend nswered by charg-
tng that the present strike was IA part of the
Burlington programme TO force other lines
into joining a railroad trust, - which the
burlington was said to desire. III.
Il. Stone, general manager Of the
Z Chicago, Burlington Quincy, makes answer
TO these charges in an affidavit which was
filed this afternoon. The affidavit denies in
detail all the charges OF the Rock Island,
1. which ii pronounces scandalous and false. 1t
says the rate war was initiated by the Rock
Island and other lines against the most earn
est efforts of the burlington. The ''trust"
story Is pronounced utterly false. Stone de-
hounces as false and reckless the charges
of the Rock Island that the strike
was allowed in order TO coorce
The Burlington's~ competitors into acquIesence
the "inexcusable falsity'i Of the Rock Island
charge that the complainant has
ncted in bad faith in crowding
the trafic exchange on the defendant with
the purpose OF disabling it in the operation OF