Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-04-04

CHICAGO, April 4.-The railroad situation
may be summed up as follows:
Burlington-No important change in the
situation.
Milwaukee g. St Paul-Suburban service
from Chicago resumed. Freight transfer
partially so. A large number oI new hands
at work. Striking engineers and switch
men in Chicago yards still defiant. In ac-
cordance with terms of notice issued by
General Manager Miller they are considered
as discharged from the company's employ.
Fort Wayne-Engine Inen and switch
men still out
Michigan Central, Lake Shore and Hi
nois Central all quiet. Will handle ,'Q
freight again and no trouble apprehended.
Rock Island firm in its refusal to handle
''Q'' cars. Its officials are cited to appear
before Judge Gresham in the United states
Circuit Court to-day, and show cause Tor
such refusal.
At conference of Burlington officials
it was decided that within the ensuing
twenty-four hours cars should be sent TO
every road running out of the city.
Every road will be rendered our freight,
and they will either have 10 fish or cut
bait, said an official.
The Burlington people have found an un-
expected ally in the lumbermen. There
was q secret and prolonged session Of the
lumber exchange yesterday. The paralyz-
ing condition of the trade was vigorously
discussed. Leading members of the organ
izat;on pointed out that over 80, 900 900 dol
lars worth of lumber was tied up in the
the city. That the Burlington was doing
its best 10 raise the blockade
but that it was hampered by
other roads while the striking
fpJ +i,,, ,,S;,., tha fact of
the blockade as a club 10 accomplish their
aims. The upshot of the gathering was the
adoption of resolution deciding TO take
legal proceedings against every road con-
Meeting with the Burlington which should
hereafter refuse to haul out their lumber
and transport it over their respective
lines. A committee was also appointed
with full power to take any action which it
might think necessary in order to bring the
embargo to an end. This committee had
circular sent TO the managers of all the
roads leading east and west. 1t sets forth
the action taken by the meeting and adds,
that legal proceedings will be instituted
under the Inter State Commerce law, and
without further notice, against every road
which refuses TO listen to reason.
The action OF the Michigan Central men
in returning to work after strike of seven
hours, and that of their own volition and
upon the understanding that they would
handle all 90 freight offered, was in the
nature OF a bombshell as far as the camps
of the Burlington and St Paul stri kers
were concerned. They were jubilant all
the morning over the stand taken by the
Michigan Central men, but their Joy was
turned into mourning and their praises
into muttered curses when they
learned of the unconditional surrender.
The conservative advocacy of the Mich
igan Central engineers was the cause of the
change in base. They stoutlv contended
that they had no part or parcel in the Bur
lington trouble; that they were opposed to
the affiliatiop with the switchmen,
and that there wss no reason why
the 30" men should not fight
their own battle without dragging
men who were contented and getting all
they wanted into the muss. These argu-
ments speedily had effect, the men went
back to work, and as an evidence of their
good intentions, the first thing they did was
70 send out three Burlington cars loaded
with grain for the east.
The Vice President of an important
Western road not yet identified with the
strike, said tonight that he looked upon
this development as significant. He be-
ieved that it was the beginning of the end,
and that in the absence OF unforeseen devel-
at an end before another week was over.
President Cable, of the Rock Island said
that the return of the Michigan Central
men would have good effect. II tue rail-
roads, he added, would take q little time
and not attempt TO force the
issue with their employees, he thought the
strike Would gradually go to pieces and the
men return to work. At the Burlington
office the opinion was expressed that the
plan which the strikers would next put
into effect would be to attempt to gain pub
lie sympathy by calling the strike off on
all the roads except the Burlington. "They
see," said an official, ''thst in tieing up all
the roads they are arousing public senti-
ment against themselves and they will
probably abandon this policy while con-
tnuing guerilla warfare against our
roads"
Outside of the facts already stated there
were no developments of importance. The
Burlington made no effort 10 deliver freight
or cars to any of the roads in consequence
of the city police, upon whom they rely
for protection. being scattered over the
city at the polling places attending to the
usual duties OF election days. The
st. Paul people managed to deliver
train of thirty-four cars of stock
into the Union yards and TO bring back
train of empty cars There was no molesta-
ton on the part of the strikers The Off
cials of the belt line had special session
for the purpose of deciding what action
should be taken in the matter of handling
20" freight and the striking employees Of
the different roads also held numerous
meetings
LATER-It is reported that the strikers on
the Fl. Wayne and St Paul roads have
agreed to return to work. It is also re-
ported that the Fit. Wayne has dismissed
its Pinkerton men and would depend upon
its own police force for protection to its
property.