Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-15
SWITCHMEN KNOCKED OUT.
THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN
DISCHARGES ALL ITS MEN.
New Employees Who Know Their Duties at
Once Put TO Work-The Federation of
Trainmen Supports the Company in Its

New Employees Who Know Their Duties al
Once Put TO work-The Federation oi
Trainmen Supports the Company in Its
Action.
CHICAGO, May l4-The trouble between the
Chicago and Northwestern Railroad and its
switchmen, over the discharge of a yard
master, eliminated this morning in the dis,
charge of the entire force, numbering 35C
men.
Every union switchman in the employ OF
the Northwestern Railroad, not only in Chi
cago, but at every other point, was dis
charged For months the company has been
preparing for the battle, and has been hiring
non-union switchmen 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 GO
ing on. As soon as the local force was dis
charged, 200 men we're ready to take their
places. The newcomers were for the most
part experienced men. and, under the super
vision of the division superintendents, had
no trouble in doing the work.
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 downtown
depot to prevent any trouble. The North
western officials are very confident of vic
tory, while the discharged men are some
what dazed.
This afternoon the discharged men in the
West Chicago yards went into secret meet
known that some of them are in favor of 60
ing to the company and asking to be rein
stated, and Others counsel a resort to yio-
lence If necessary. There is a rumor that
the order will be called ON to declare a gen.
eral strike on the St. Paul, Rock Island and
burlington roads, whose managers are sur
prised at the Northwestern's action. Green
Bay, Wis.,, freight is tied up. Work at Es-
canada, Winona, Baraboo and other points is
proceeding quietly with new men. The COM
pany is supported in its position by the con-
ductors', fremen' 'syand brakemen's unions.
In fact, at the time of the McNerney trouble
a deputation from these unions called on the
officials of the road and demanded McNer-
ney's reinstatement, promising that if the
switchmen would strike in consequence they
would furnish men to I'LL their places. The
Switchmen's union is not included in the
National Federation of Railroad Employees.
To committee of the men who called
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.
Wedecided to discharge every. .switchman in
our employ. We are backed up by every
trainmen's order in the Federation except
the Switchmen. Now this is not an attack
upon unions In any way but simply matter
of discipline. Wemust know who are going
to dictate, officials or employees"
A dispatch from Terre Haute says that the
trouble among the miners in that section of
the State is not yet over and the prospects
are not very bright for an early settlement.
The miners hold out for 20 cents per ton and
the operators refuse to pay more than 65
G ,nts. Seven thousa ID miners are idle.
The miners strike that has existed at
Coshocton, o., for two months was declared
off this morning and as a result about 400
resume work Monday next.
The joint convention of Indiana bitumi-
nous coal operators and miners yesterday
agreed TO disagree, and adjourned without
date. The miners wanted 20 cents
a ton, last years rate, and g 10
for a days work. The operators first offered
65 cents and 81 95. Later they offered 6715
cents. The block coal people carried an
agreement at Brazil at 70 cents and 81 IS.