The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-15
swlrosMrN swI1oHRp orr.
The Northwestern Road Discharges
All Its Union Men.

All lts Up1oa Men.
CHICAGO, May 14.-This morning every
union switchman in the employ Of the
Northwestern railroad, not only in Chicago,
but at every other point. was discharged.
This was done in carrying out the company's
resolve not to allow swiicbmen TO interfere
the discharge of yardmasteTs, etc. For
months the company has been preparing for
battle. and has been hiring non-unfon
switchmen all over the country. So quietly
has it been doing this work that the union
switchmen did not got an inkling, until the
very last moment. Of what was going on.
NEW MEN PUT TO WORK.
As soon as the local force was discharged
200 new men were ready 70 take their places
at the switches The newcomers were for
the most part experienced mon, and, under
the supervision OF various division super
intendents, had no trouble in deing the
work. Each division superintendent had his
crew Of men and went at the work carefully
and systematically The result was that
the passenger and suburban trains. as well
as all freight trains, came in and went out
on schedule time. All live stock and per-
ishable freight were also promptly handled
and delivered.
NO VIOLENCE.
No violence was offered by the old men.
who stood about In groups watching the
newcomers at their labors. Policemen
were stationed all through the yards and
about the downtown depot 20 prevent any
trouble. The North hwsstern officials are
very confident of victory, while the
discharged men are somewhat dazed at the
turn affairs have taken and have
not yet determined upon their policy. Dis
patches from various points on the road tell
OF the discharge Of switchrnen there aud
the hiring Of new men. At Milwaukee
twenty-five new switchmen took hold and
all trains are leaving on time. No trouble
il reported there.
CLAIMS OF THE OFFICIALS.
The Northwestern Railroad Company
officials state that for more than two years
the situation regarding the switcnme1 mas
been constantly growing worse. The men
have not only struck frequently for trivial
causes, at times seriously delaying suburban
trains at the busiest parts of che day to the
great Inconvenience Of thousands of people,
but they have a number of times
demanded the discharge of men
who performed satisfactorily their work,
and whose only fault was that they were
not members of the switchmens union.
About two months ago they demanded the
discharge Of Yardmaster Frank Men erney.
aud to avoid trouble he was nominallv dis
missed, but he was kept on the pay roll of
the company, and was this morning rein
stated In his old position.
PROPOSE TO RUN THEIR OWN BUSINESS.
General Manager Whitman says: "The
management has fully determined that this
state of affairs has gone far enough, and,
| while it proposes to deal fairly and justly
+, with all its employees, and to give fair and
just consideration to any grievance properly
presented, it also proposes to manage its
own property and its own business in its
| own way. and to place itself in a position
| where the public which it serves
can be properly accommodated without
being put to Inconvenience and annoyance. !"
OTHER ROADS PROMISE HELP.
All the other railroad companies are an
plauding the action Of the Chicago and
Northwestern, and will come to its support
il necessary. IL is understood that the
switchmen on all the roads were preparing
for general strike June ], and 10 Is thought
that they may change their minds as a re-
suit Of the stand taken by the Northwest
ern. The discharged employees are only
those on the Northwestern system
proper, which does not include the lines
west Of the Missouri river, the Sioux City
| and Pacific, or Chicago, St. Paul, Mime
apolis and Omaha. News from ali points
is to the effect that trains are moving pretty
generally on time aud that the interruption
to business is very slight. At all points
where new switchmen have not been pro-
vided trainmen are doing the switching.
SECRET MEETING.
This afternoon the discharged men In the
west Chicago yards went into secret meet
Ing to settle upon course Of action. The
company is supported in its position by the
conductors, fremen aud brakemen's unions.
In fact, at the time of the McNerney trouble
delegation from these unions called on the
officials Of the road and demanded Nc
Nerney's reinstatement, promising that. IL
tbs switchmen should strike in consequence,
they would furnish men to fill their places.
The switchmen's union is not included In
the national federation of railroad en-
ployees.