The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-01
ENGINEERS GRIEVANCES.
A Great Strike Threatened Unless the Rail-
way Companies Cease Aiding the 60"

A Great Strike Threatened Unless the Rail-
way Companies Cease Aiding the 60"
CHICAGO, Dec. 31.-A local paper says:
One of the leading spirits of the recent
railroad engineers meeting in this city said
last night to a reporter: This meeting we
are holding is one of investigation rather
than of action. We have learned by re-
ports made at this meeting that all the
great roads of the country, with the ex-
ceptiOn of three which run out Of Chicago,
have been assisting the c., b. & @. road
financially and boycOtting all 90 striking
engineers who were applying for work.
The magnitude of the figure it may cut in
the future may not be appreciated until
explain it little in detail. Last April,
when the Brotherhood was bOycotting the
90 road and others which were attempting
to help them out, several general managers
said to us, raise your boycott against roads
other than the o. and we will hereafter
treat striking % engineers on equal foot
ing with others as far as giving them en-
plOyment is concerned. We accordingly
raised the boycott. We have just learned
OF the % strikers, which has apparently
been running now for several weeks. We
had reports from skilled, sober and reliable
striking % engineers, who have travelled
all over the United States looking for work.
1t was refused because they were % strlk-
ers, and the refusal to employ them was
part of an agreement which covered all the
roads of the country, with the exception, as
l have stated, of three of the Chicago lines.
Our evidence that other roads have helped
the 20 financially is complete. To say that
the Brotherhood men are wild over this dis
covery is drawing it mildly. Unless this
financial support and boycott by these roads
is discontinued soon this country will
see the greatest strike that has ever
of the country will simply be paralyzed by
it. as it will be a fight to the death between
organized labor and organized capital. The
fireman, brakeman, and switcbman and
every class of organized railway labor Will
be arrayed on our side"
A prOtracted conference was held to-day
between the officials of the Chicago, Bur
GngtOn d Quincy road and the grievance
committee of the brotherhood of LocOmo-
tive Engineers, with view to settlement
of differences between the company and the
engineers who have been on strike for
many months. No conclusion was reached,
aud the conference was adjourned until
tomorrow.
After the adjournment of the conference,
Mr.. Writ Dexter, solicitor for the road
said that the meeting was only an informal
one, and that simply general talk was the
result. He said, however, that the COM
mittee would meet the officials again to-
morrow, and it was almost certainty that
the trouble would be patched up then. 1t
is the general opinion that at the meeting,
tomorrow, the committee, on behalf of the
brotherhood, will declare the strike off.
and such of the strikers as can be employ ed
the strike. to-day, a Texas & Rio Grande
engineer said: 1.-THE Brotherhood has
grown tired of supporting the 20 strikers
who are unable to obtain work, and entered
SO strong protest against it that it was
decided by the brotherhood to cut off all
such allowances to-day, and this would
leave many of the men entirely without
support. Over 80 per cent. of the strikers
are still unemployed, and are, in fact black
o. 1t has already cost the Brotherhood
$4,000 to support the strikers, and some
thing must be done, and that at once.v