Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-06-25
AT A STANDSTILL.
A VERY SERIOUS RAILROAD TIE-UP IN IL
LIN0IS.
Thirteen Hundred Men Quit Work in Chicago -
A Demand for the Removal Of Superin-
tendsnt - Another Phase Of the
Situation.

CHICAGO. June 4=Thc strike OF freight
conductors, switchmen and brakemen on
the Illinois Central railroad has become q
serious one and threatens 10 blockade It's
entire business. The suburban train men
struck this morning after the early trains
had come in and there are now about l,3n
men idle and the business of the road is
paralyzed The bone of contention in the
strike is undoubtedly T.. G.. Russell, super
intendent of the northern lines of the llll-
nois and Wisconsin railroad. He came 10
Chicago a year ago and ever since his ac-
cession TO the Office II is said the men under
him have been dissatisfied.
The immediate cause was the resignation
of Trainmaster Berry and his assistant
Irwin f.. Pushie A rumor went the
round of the freight yard yesterday that
IL was the intention Of Superintendent
Russell TO dismiss Berry and Pushie.
AS the trainmaster and his assistant
KNEW Oh NO REASON
for their dismissal they took the bull by
the horns and went to the Superintend-
ent's office TO learn the truth OF the ru-
NOR They also formulated grievance
which has been sore point Tor some
months with the brakemen and conduc-
tors.
Under the old rules freight train ar
irving in the depot first was always allow
ed TO depart before the others, but Mr.
Russell inaugurated new rule by which
certain men were allowed 10 run their
trains before others, despite the fact that
they had arrived at the depot much later.
To Trainmaster Berry's inquiry whether
the Superintendent would insist on the
new rule, he answered Yes and being
questioned further as 10 their intended dis
missal. again replied in the Affirmative.
| In A -. . A.I in hnlfs
designations.
AS the news spread through TIE yards
groups Of excited men gathered together
and
DECIDED To STOP WORK
until their grievances were settled. Last
evening the matter was laid before the
switchmen, who stYuck at once, and at a
subsequent meeting, at which the subur-
ban service men were represented, de-
mand for the removal of Superintendent
Russell and the reinstatement Of Berry and
Pushie was formulated. This was pre-
sented this morning, and, as IL was not
complied with, the suburban men joined
the strikers.
The strikers did not wish TO be held re
sponsible for interfering with the United
States mails, the Express companies aud
bonded matter They therefore attached
the Mail and Express cars to the engine OF
the New Orleans Mail train, but left the
coaches with their exasperated passengers
unconnected. IL was the intention 10 send
the dismembered train down at the sched-
ule time.
General Superintendent Sullivan said
they had no authority To carry mails eX-
cept on regular passenger trains. The
strikers refused TO allow the passengers To
nroceed and warned Mr. Sullivan that he,
not they, delayed the mails
General Manager Beck. General Super
intendent Sullivan and the heads OF traffic
departments had conference to-day with
representatives of the strikers in General
Manager Beck's office. The men demand
ed that Superintendent Russell's name be
STRICKEN FROM THE CARD,
and stated their determination not 10 re-
turn TO work until this was done. They
would not compromise nor work under him.
General Manager Beck was ordered 10
support Russell The only decision arriv-
ed at was that they would resist the de-
mand for Russells discharge and will
await overtures from the men. II is said
that unless the men return TO work to-
morrow morning the company Will proceed
10 hire new men. The tie-up will cause
serious trouble, not only 10 Chicago, but
throughout large section OF country both
west and south, but the suburban traffic of
the road is enormous aud all these
people are left to shift for them
selves. To stop freight traffic of the
Illinois Central means TO prevent thousands
and thousands of people in Northern Iowa,
in Southern Illinois, in Kentucky, in Ten
nessee, in Mississippi and Louisiana from
getting products to market. The yards in
this city are already filled with freight cars,
and the
sTALLING OF THE TRAINS
now in transit will jam every transfer track
touched by the road. The Michigan Cen
tral, Baltimore and Ohio and Big -Four
roads. which enter the city over the Illinois
Central tracks. were seriously interfered
with, owing to the blockade created by the
motionless trains of the Illinois Central.