The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-05-21
NONE WE'RE SPARED.
The Northwestern Railway Company Dis
charges Every switchman on Its Entire
system-Reasons for Its Action.

NONE WERE SPARED.
The Northwestern Railway Company Dis
charges Every swftchman on Its Entire
.systsm-Reasons for Its Action.
CHICAGO, May 15..-At precisely z
o'clock a. m. Thursday, every
switchman in the employ of
the Chicago & Northwestern Rail-
way Company-2OO in this city and
800 employed at points along the line
was discharged and paid off. The
company chose this hour as the most
to notify both the day and
night men that their services would no
longer be required.
General Manager Whitman Of the
road reports that so far there has been
no trouble or disturbance occasioned by
the lockout. The road has been pre-
pairing for this action during the past
two months, and for every man dis
charged there was another ready
to take his place. Yardmaster
Frank McInerny, whose discharge the
switchmen demanded and inforced by
a tie-up during General Manager Whit
mans illness six weeks ago was rein.
stated and took charge of the new men.
The company say that McInerny was
never really discharged. His name
has never been taken off the
pay rolls of the company, but
his position has remained vacant,
as he has remained away from his work
pending the trouble starting on his ac-
count. Mr.. Whitman said the company
would no longer put up with
the state of things that has
existed during the past three
years and it's action is practical
demonstration of its intention to run
it's own business. On account of the
men being always ready to strike on
the slightest provocation the train serv-
ice has been unsatisfactory to the
public and to the company itself,
and now he proposes to put a
stop to it. A few weeks ago, after
the trouble caused by Yardmaster Nc
Inerny, a canvass was made of the
1.O71 locomotive engineers in the en-
ploy of the Northwestern by repre-
sentatives of the company. Every
man promised to stand by the company
in case strike or lockout should be in
augurated. They sympathized with
McInerney.
The officials of the company say this
is not a fight against the Switchmen's
union. Their men, as in many other
yards. have frequently quit work with
out a moments warning and without
the sanction of the union. The COM
pany will probably hire men without
discrimination, but will not be dictated
to any longer.
The circular announcing the dis
charge of the switchmen stated that in
reorganizing the switching service
preference would be given to such men
previously employed as were, in the
judgment of the company, cap
able and worthy, otherwise the
positions would at once be
filed by other men arranged for.
Quite a number availed themselves of
the offer and went to work with the
new men, and the company claims that
with it's new force it has been able to
handle all it's passenger and suburban
business, and perishable freight.
About 200 policemen are stationed at
different points in the city. About
fifty men of this force were stationed
at each of the North avenue and Wood
street yards, the most threaten
ing points. The precaution of
massing larger force at these
two points than at any other proved
wise one, as mobs of angry switch.
men assembled at both places. They
were excited and demonstrative, but
refrained from any serious outbreak,
being apparently overawed by the
superior force of police. The company
claims that it is being supported
by all the orders belonging to the Fed
Grafton of Railway Employees except the
Switchmen's Mutual Aid association
All trainmen are doing the work of the
discharged switchmen.
This wholesale discharge of men is
has occurred in the railroading history
of this city and if the company comes
out ahead will be followed by
results of the utmost Importance
to the travelling public. Should
the plan adopted by the North
western road prove successful the
switchmen on other roads will think
twice before striking on June /, as has
been arranged. Owing to the great
financial loss and danger to property
and life caused by strikes of the switch
men other roads have been afraid to
adopt the bold plan inaugurated by the
Northwestern road, but if this step
proves a success other roads have signi-
fed their intention Of following suit.
No railroad company in the United
States has ever had the nerve to dis
charge at one time all the men in any
single department of the road. This fact
makes this affair of worldwide interest,
and the fact that this is not strike,
but plain discharge for insubordina-
ton places the company on an entirely
different footing than has been the
case heretofore when trouble between
the management and employees was
pending.
The men as yet seem to hardly know
where they stand; they are even uncer-
tain as to whether they will get the
support of other railway labor organi-
cations, and say they will make no
move until the meeting of the supreme
council of the Federation of Railway
Employees, which has been called for
Saturday. Most of the organizations
composing it are said to be favorable to
the company.
Dispatches from Fort Howard, Es-
canada, Baraboo Milwaukee, Winona,
Council Bluffs, Boone and Des Moines
state that the new men are working
we'll.
Strikers Victorious.
ST. LOUIS, May 1.-THE journeymen
carpenters held meeting at Central
Turner hall Wednesday, and it was re-
ported that several more bosses had
given in. The master builders held a
meeting Tuesday, and after an excit-
ing debate resolution to lock the men
out was defeated by large majority,
and another resolution was adopted