Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-15
SWITCHMEN DISCHARGED.
The Northwestern Railroad Company
Takes the Bull by the Horns.

Takes the Bull by the Horns.
CHICAGO, May 1.-THE trouble be-
tween the Chicago and Northwestern
Railroad and its switchmen, over the
discharge OF yardmaster, eliminated
this morning in the discharge of the
entire force, numbering $50 men.
The company has been anticipating
this step for some time, and was pre-
pared for it. New men were hired and
distributed through the yards this
morning, taking the places of the dis
charged men. All the trains went out
as usual. Thus far no trouble has been
reported.
General Manager Whitman said:
The Northwestern Company has de-
cided that it will hereafter manage its
own business, without interference
from the switchmen or the Switchmen's
Association. We have had great deal
Of trouble with the switchmen AL over
the line within the last three years"
Every union switchman in the employ
Of the Northwestern Railroad, not only
in Chicago, but at every other point,
was discharged. For months the COM
pany has been preparing for the battle,
and has been hiring non-union switch
men all over the country. So quietly
has it been doing this work that the
union switchmen did not get an inkling
until the very last moment, OF what was
going on. AS soon as the local
force was discharged, 200 men
were ready to take their places. The
newcomers were for the most part ex-
perienced men, and, under the super
vision of the division superintendents,
had no trouble in doing the work. Each
division superintendent had his crew of
men, and went at the work carefully and
Systematically. The result was that
passenger and suburban trains came in
and went out on schedule time. All
live and perishable freight was promptly
handled and delivered. No violence
was offered by the old men, who stood
about watching the newcomers at their
labors. Policemen were stationed all
through the yards and about the down
town depot to prevent any trouble.
The Northwestern officials are very con-
fdent Of victory, while the discharged
men are somewhat dazed.
Dispatches from various points on
the road tell of the discharge of the
switchmen there and the hiring OF new
men. At Milwaukee twenty-five new
switchmen took hold and all trains are
leaving on time. No trouble is reported.
A dispatch from Boone, Ia, says:
All the switchmen and yardmasters Of
the Iowa division OF the Chicago and
Northwestern were discharged this
morning. Three crews and two yard
masters were dismissed. The switching
is being done by trainmen, and there is
no interruption of business.
To committee Of the men who call
ed upon President Marvin Hughitt, that
official said:
"The switchmen Of this road for the
last two years have been running the
road. We have been humiliated, Mr..
Whitman and /, and other officials, and
now we propose to ascertain whether
we can run our own road. We decided
to discharge every switchmen in our
employ. We are backed up by every
trainmen's order in the Federation, eX-
cept the switchmen. Now this is not
an attack upon unions in any way, but
simply matter OF u scpline. We must
know who are goihg I'D dictate, officials
or employees"