The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-05-23

CHICAGO, H., May 1i.-This morning
every union switchman III the employ OF
the North-W Western Railroad not only IN
Chicago but st every other point was
discharged. This was done in carrying
out the company's resolve not to allow
the switchmen to inter r.ere in the affairs
of the road, and dictate as to tie
charge Of yardmasters, etc. Tie
company has been preparing for
months for the battle, and has been hir
ing non-union switchmen all over the
country. So quietly has it been ding
this work that the union switch
men did not get an inkling until
the very last moment of what was going
on. As soon as the local force was dis
charged 200 new men were ready to
take their places at the switches. The
newcomers were for the most part
experienced men, aad under the
supervision of the various dlyIs-
ion superintendents had no trouble
in doing the work. Each division SUI
perintendent had his crew of men and
went at work carefully and systematical-
" and the result was that passenger and
suburban trains as we'll as all freight
trains came in and went out on schedule
time. All the perishable freight was
also promptly handled and delivered.
No violence was offered by the old
men who stood about in groups
watching the newcomers ct their
labOrs. Policemen were stationed all
through the yards and about the down
town depot TO prevent trouble. The
Northwestern officials are very conf
dent Of victory, while the discharged
men are somewhat daZed at the turn
affairs have taken. Dispatches from
various points on the road tell OF the
discharge of the switchmen there and
the hiring Of new men.
The North Western officials state that
for more than two years the situation
regarding the switchmen has been con-
stantly growing worse. The men have
not only struck frequently for trivial
causes, at times seriously delaying SUI
burban trains at the busiest part Of the
day, 10 the great inconvenience to the
needs of the people. but about two
months ago they demanded the dis
charge of lardmaster Frank McNerney,
and to avoid trouble he was ostensibly
dismissed, but he was kept on the pay
roll of the company, and was this morn
ing reinstated in his old position.
General Manager Whitman saws:
"Thc 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,
1t proposes to manage lis own
property, and It's own husinesss in lis
own way. and to place Itself in posi-
ton where the pubic which it serves
can be properly accommodated without
being, put to Inconvenience and annoy
ance.'
Other railroad companies are ap-
plaudlns the action of the North-W est
crn and will come 10 its support if
necessary. The discharged employos
are only those on the North w estern
system proper, which does not include
the hucs west Of the Missouri River, the
Sioux City 4 Pacific or the Chicago. St.
Paul, Ninneap polls q Omaha. Reports
from all points are to the effect that
trains are moving pretty generally on
time, and the interruption to business
is very slight. At all points where new
swltchmen have not been provided the
trainmen are doing the switching.
At noon W. a. Gardner, superintend-
ent of the Wisconsin Division, made
the following verbal report to General
Manager Whitman:
In Chicago every passenger crew is
filed Every passenger train is arriving and
departing on time. Every freight crew has
been completed and is at work. with but
one exception. All treights in and
out have been cleared up, and from now
on we will move on tlEr. At Milwaukee
all passenger crews have been filled. ard
all trains in and out have been on time.
Iwo-thirdS of the freight complement at
Milwaukee has been filled and is at
work. Outside of Chicago and Milwaukee
there are sixteen yards. in ali of which
every vacant place has been filled On 6UO
miles of the division not a switchman re-
mains who was in the employ of the road
at O'Clock.
BOONE, Ia, May 14.-Ail the switch
men and yardmasters of the Iowa D-
vision of the Chicago 4; North Western
were discharged this morning. In this
city three crews and two vardmastera
were dismissed. The switching is being
done by trains, and there is no inter