The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-27
Talk with vlo.-Pre.iden. Peasley.

Talk with Vfcs-Presfdent Peasiey.
Special the Indian aDoiis Journa..
CHICAGO. Feb. 26-In an interview. Vice
president Peasley, Of the Burlington stated that
the total number of engineers employed on tho
Burlington system was about one Thousand, and
the number of firemsn was about the same.
"How many men employed on the Burlington
system will the strike affectl.
About $4,000, OF course, it will be manifest
" impossible to keep our employees on the pay
rolls in case of a protrActed strike. We shall.
however, treat our loyal employees just as we'll
as is consistent with good business principles,
and soon az the strike ends the old men who
may be laid off by reason of tho strike will be
taken back. We do not want to discharge any
competent workmen, but will be forced TO do so
temporarily through the action of the engineers. "
How will the strike affect your earnings. and
how many will it tie up2"
'sWell, that is difficult question to answer,
but / should say that We run about 250 passen-
ger trains and an equal number Of freight trains
on the entire Burlington system per day. We
have 20. 900 to %, 900 cars, and of course, when
the engineers lay off the hulk of these cars will
be side-tracked. We expect, however, to keep a
few trains moving. and we have been told that
the Brotherhood engineers will not be called off
from their mail trains and certain of the sub
urban trains. As to the loss which will result
even approximate idea in advance Of the act
ual occurrence. think it will not be far out of
the way to say that we are earning from SIC. 600
to $75, 900 per day. In this connection, however
the fact must be taken into consideration that
rates Oh freight business between all principal
points have fallen TO such an absurdly low figure
that net earnings have been seriously reduced.
To be sure, passenger rates are maintained, but
passenger business does not produce much
over % per cent. OF the revenue
Of our. our road; 1t is, perhaps:
does at time when freight rates are hardly on
paying basis is not such an unfortunate affair
as 1t would have been in more prosperous
times
How are the other employees of the Burling-
ton disposed to regard the strike?"
$50 far as know. they are loyal to the COM
keep as many of them employed as we can. We
shall have engineers. and shall make
every effort to start our trains as soon pos
sible."
What Grand Chief Arthur Says.
CHICAGO, Feb. 26-The strike is not likely to
involve any other roads, in the opinion OF Mr.
Arthur and Mr.. Sargent though they expressed
opinion thu contingency that some other
company might endeavor to aid the Burlington.
st is purely our own affair."" said Mr.. Sar-
gent. mo other road is concerned, and no
other orders except the engineers and firemen.
The brakemen and switchmsn will remain
neutral We have not asked them to help us,
and will not If We are beaten we propose to
stand it a1one.n
When told of Mr.. Stones final determination
not to yield to the employees, Mr.. Arthur's face
was couded for q moment. I'm sorry he
said; II hate to nee strike, but could do
nothing else. I had TO approve this strike or
resign. The demands were reasonable. my
conscience comp slled me to approve it. If had
said mo- the men would not have gone out, but
Id have been branded as coward and as truck
ling to the railroads Tho men in the entire
Burlington system were unanimous for the
strike / told them all the difficulty they'd have
TO encounter They decided TO go into IT, and
we'll fight as hard we can"
Can the company get enough good menf"
1t can't get enough good men. Il may en-
pioy some men we have expelled for drunken
ness or stealing; but will such men be safsI Can
the road afford put its passenger trains in this
hands of such men2 Then, they are more dan
gerous than our men. 1t won't be long until
these men they're employing now will get them
into bigger trouble rh.n we are now by strik-
ing for more wages. You sss how it was on the
We are Intelligent body of men. A man, to
belong to orker, must be able TO read and
write. and be of good moral character. The
men they get will not be reasonable"
Whats the trouble between the Reading
railroad Knights of Labor engineers and the
BrotnerhoodF
assertion that sent men TO take the places of
those now on strike on that road, / did not
send man there. I did not know that any
Reading road.p
Have you heard of any Reading men COM
inRp
have not Il told our man what they might
expect. They discussed this view of the situa-
tion. and decided to go out on the strike. If
the company get other engineers to ill their
places our boys must acknowledge their de-
feat"
Chief Arthur asked to his intentions.
II may 60 East" he said ''ror short time, any
day or hour, but you ali understand this We
have fathered this strike. aud will take care of
1t 70 the end. It Is not tight between tho en-