River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-05-21
FURIOUS sWIIcHMeN.

the Locked Out Northwestern Employees
The Trainmen Are Charged with Con-
spring with the Railway Onicials to
Work the Downfall of Their brethren.
CHICAGO, Nav 1s-After a session
which lasted from IL o'clock Saturday
morning until 0 o'clock Saturday night
the supreme council of the United
Order of Railway Employees decided to
disapprove the grievance of the
Switchmen's Mutual Aid association
against the Chicago & Northwestern
Railroad Company.
1t was brought out during the discus
sion that the Brotherhood of Trainmen
had determined to support Mclnerny,
who was a member of their organiza-
ton, and it was shown that meetings had
been held between the officials of
the Brotherhood of Trainmen and
Firemen and the officers of
the railway company to coucoct
measures to get rid of the
switchmen. A scheme was devised
and agreed to by the chief officials
of the firemen and trainmen that the
Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Com
pany should discharge all the switchmen
then the trainmen and firemen &C uld
take their places temporarily. This
agreement was made in writing and
signed by representatives of the two
organizations with the full connivancc
of the chief executives of these organi-
cations.
These charges made by the switch
men were. however, unheeded, and it
was ruled that the trainmen were not
on trial before the council, but that
what they had met to discuss was a
grievance to the switchmen. A vote was
eventually ordered to be taken on the
question of approving or disappearing
of the switchmen's grievance. The
firemen, only having two representa-
tives present, were not entitled to vote,
and this left the settlement of the ques-
ton to the conductors, switchmen
and trainmen. BY the rules of the
council grievance to be approved
must have the unanimous vote of the
organizations, and if one vote is cast
against it the grievance is disapproved.
The conductors and switchmen. or a
total of six, voted in favor of approving
the grievance, and the trainmen, three
in number, voted to disapprove. In
consequence the switchmen lost their
case and the action of the road was sus-
tanned.
A resolution was then introduced
that all the trainmen now in the SER
vice of the Northwestern road and filling
the switchmen's places would with
draw and make way for those switch
men who had been discharged. This
was carried by a vote of 8 to 3, and
then Grand Master Wilkinson, of
the trainmen, got up and re-
fused to abide by the order.
defying the cohncil to make him do so.
w. A. Sheahan, the secretary of the
council, and the grand secretary of the
trainmen, also refused TO send out any
such order to his men.
The resolution was withdrawn and
another resolution was offered which
allowed McInerny to be retained in his
present position, but providing for the
return of the discharged switchmen to
their old places. This was also OPP
posed most vehem entity by the train
men and ultimately it was withdrawn.
A resolution censuring those officials
connected with the United Order of
Railway Employees who had conspired
with the Northwestern railway against
a kindred organization was at
tempted to be introduced, but
after some discussion it was laid
aside and no further definite action was
taken.
Judging from present indications
there will be no further trouble be-
tween the Chicago 81 Northwestern
railway and the discharged switchmen,
nor is there any likelihood of any dis
turbance occurring on other roads.
The grand lodge of the Switchmen's
Mutual Aid association met Sunday
and discussed the action of the supreme
council of the United Order of Rail-
way Employees on Saturday. The course
pursued by the representatives of
the trainmen and President sargent
was unanimously condemned.
The switchmen recognized the fulfil
ity of contending against a powerful
railroad corporation backed by the
engineers, firemen and trainmen and
made up their minds to surrender
gracefully rather than carry on fight
which was certain TO end in defeat.
Acting under the advice of the officers
the switchmen will endeavor to obtain
their old situations, and from the opin-
ions expressed by General Manager
Whitman and other officials of the road
it is probable that so per cent of the
men will be back at work within the
next few days.