Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-03-26
SWITCHMEN
STRIKE ON tbs BURLINGTON.
The Roads Business Again at a Stand
Still.

ing practically the am as before the EN-
gineers' strike, is to-day at a standstill
again.
This condition Of affairs is due to the ac-
ton Of the two hundred s~witchmen en-
ployed in the Burlington yards here, who
struck early this morning without any no.
tice whatever to the road.
The switchmen at Aurora, ILL.,, also
stopped work, but that was the only out
side affected so far as the company knew
this morning. The officials decided, how
ever, 10 move no freight at all until the
second strike is settled, and, with the ex-
ception OF the live stock trains, no freight
is moving. Passenger trains are running
as usual.
The company has received no notice at
all from the switchmen and no grievance
has yet been presented or demand made
upon the company by the Switchmen's
Union. Late yesterday afternoon Iumors
of the contemplated strike were in circula-
ton around the Darlington strikers head
quarters, but q careiul Investigation failed
to reveal anything definite. Some of the
switchmen told Superintendent Bessler
that no strike wa contemplated, but
others said they were tired OF working
with incompetent engineers. The railway
officials claim that this reason is the merest
~pretense, as since the new engineers have
been at work not "a finger has been
pinched or a coupling bar broken" as one
Of them put it this morning.
In the yards this morning, and around
the Brotherhood headquarters, it was com
mon gossip that the switchmen had been
taken into the fold of the Brotherhood in
consideration Of their going out on strike.
II has been intimated ever since Judge
Gresham's decision in the Wabash case
that the switchmen would tske this step.
The ~oficisls of their organization have been
very anxious from the beginning Of the
trouble that the Brotherhood Of Engineers
should take them into their councils and
place them on an equal footing, as they
have done with the firemen, but the engi-
neers seemed 10th to do it, and gave as a
reason that when there was q strike among
switchmen it was not long before coupling
pins were flying through the air, and not
long after that that the military were
called out. 1t would seem that the two
organizations have finally come to terms.
OFFICIAL OPINION.
The Burlington officials evidently have
hopes that they may reach some sort OF
agreement with the switchman during the
day, for they will do nothing until Mon
day toward filling the vacant places. II
is stated that a committee from the
Switchmen's Union will visit the General
Superintendent, and until that conference
is ended at least, nothing will be done.
at simply puts us back for q day or
So" said General Passenger Agent Nor
ton, who had Just come from a conference
with General Manager Stone and other of.
fcials, when seen by a reporter. There
will be no difficulty whatever 10 filling the
mems places, if that is found necessary.
The men have NO grievance, nor do they
pretend to have any as far as | have heard
they are simply striking out of sympathy
with the engineers. Their sympathy
comes q little late, however, and can
not seriously affect US for any length OF
time"
There are about two hundred switchmen
employed by the Darlington here, and two
or three hundred at the other points along
the line, SO that in all abont five hundred
men are involved.
Chief Arthur was in q calm and peaceful
frame OF mind this morning as he glanced
ut the morning papers in the parlor Of the
Grand Pacific. The information that he
was able TO give in regard to the new phase
developed in the strike of the switchmeu
this morning was not great, however.
"The switchnen on the % have gone
ont" suggested the reporter.
80 | see by the morning papers," re-
piled the Chief.
Have negotiations between the epgi'
neers and switchmen been under way Ia
attain this end?"
mo, sir"
"Why did re ewitchmen 90 oui2"
That is their busiL:To, not ours
We have had nothing TO do With
the s%witchmens strike, MOI do we intend
10. The Brotherhood will attend to its
owo affairs, and will not presume "a
NEEDLE with those OF other organizations. u
whats the condition OF the strike ut
the present time?'
1.-The men won't give in, and the com
pany say that they will not; that's the
way it stands"
The men are still hopeful of success?"
"Yss, from the reports that come to us.
ID you know anything about the
brak,men going ont to-day"
NO, l know nothing about it," Chair
man Hoge and a number of friends were
in the adj DING room discussing the situs.
tiol. When asked about the matter they
prd.ssed entire ignorance.
WHY THEY STRUCK.
4 member Of the switchmans brother
hod said to-day: The s%witchman's strike
Hnot because of the pay. Themen object
b working on an engine not handled by q
Brotherhood man. As one of them put il
his morning, Il don't throw another
for a non Brotherhood man, and no
man can make me-"
The general impression among the brake
men is that the officials Of the road will
order them to turn in and help ont with
the switching. The general opinion wa
that in case such a demand shOuld be made
On them the brakeman would strike from
end of the system to the other rather
than do the work of the striking switchmen.
Il is thought that as fast "a the Grievance
return to their homes all the
'%witchmen between this point and Denver
will quit.
The chairman who presided over the
Switchmen's nass meeting at Turner Hall
asst night, gave the following particulars
concerning the strike: Forty switch en-
zines are tied up, which leaves one
hundred aud twenty switchmen out. We
will not jeopardize u lives. Why, half
he engineers don't know any more about
engine than the men who never saw
ne. The c~Ompapy's officials say that no
myers have been smashed or hauss broken
Why, there have besl three or four of the
oys laid mp already. This strike was
ct ordered by the Switchmen's
'niou. We struck in order to
reserve ourselves. cannot tell You any
liug that occurred at last nights meeting,
nd do not know when will meet ag ain.
he executive committee will cail the
"How do you intend To approach the
,mpany on this question:
I'VE will ask the officials TO place re-
able and competent men on the engines"
$40 you think the company will come
. - ;,n,ol,aka oaEalanaant ~