The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-14
RIVAL LABOR UNIONS.
Switchmen Quarrel With the
Trainmen's Brotherhood.
IT MAY TIE UP A RAILROAD
EIack workmen for tho Far weat-The
Apprentice System In the
Boiler Shops.

CHICAGO, May IA serious strike Is eI-
pected to occur on the Chicago 4 North
western road tomorrow morning. The
difficulty is with the switchmen. Great
secrecy is maintained tonight both by en-
ployes and officials, with the result that
the question Is an open one whether the
trouble will not involve the whole
system 1t is known that the company
is making preparations for struggle in
this city at least, as large number of POI
lice have been ordered on reserve duty in
the northern part of the city tomorrow
morning. The expected strike Is the out
come of reinstatement of the switchmen
objected to by the union, about whom
there has been so. much controversy.
Several weeks ago Yardrnaster McNerny
incurred the displeasure of switchmen
working under him because he discharged
man who refused to obey orders. The
switchmen threatened to strike il Nc
Ncrny is not discharged. The latter is a
member of the Order of Railway Trainmen,
and that order took up the fight, but he
saved the company an embarrassment by
resigning temporarily. Then the strikers
demanded that one of the discharged
switchmen be put in McNerny's place.
This was done and the switchmen were
jubilant. Now the trainmen Of all divi-
sions of the road have taken up McNer-
ny's case, and it is expected that bitter
struggle will ensue. 1t is peculiar in that
1t is the company and large majority of
the employees arrayed against the order Of
switchmen.
ST. LOUIS, May 13.-Today's session Of
the convention of the Order of Railroad
Conductors was very important. The re-
port of the committee appointed last year
to look into the question of joining the
Federation of Railway Employees was read.
1t was brief and heartily favored amalga-
nation. A vote was then taken. re
sulting 293 in favor of federation
and opposed to it. This is the most
important act yet taken by the organiza-
ton. The report of the committee on in
surance strongly seconded Clark's sugges-
ton to make a change in the insurance
laws so that all members shall hereafter be
compelled to belong to the insurance de-
partment instead of at their option, as
now. The report will probably be adopted.
The American Boilermakers' Association
today discussed material and tests. An
indianapolis dispatch referring to the
action taken by the Brotherhood of Boiler
makers as to the apprenticeship question
was regarded by President Lappen as very
important. "Our association" he said.
'has always been in favor of a strict
apprentice system. Itappears the brother
hood agrees with us on this subject"
ST. PAUL, May l3.-Six hundred colored
laborers from st. Louis passed through
this city last night and today, en- route to
Washington for the purpose of breaking a
strike now on there among white laborers.
ST. CLOUD, Mimi, May 13.-The quarry
men, stonecutters and tool-sharpeners
went out on strike this morning, with
the exception of fifty men in the Carlson
and Robert Graham quarries. The strik-
ers number 400.
MANCHESTER, n. H., May bah the
members of the Cigarmakers' union here
went on strike today for an increase in
wages. The Manchester union includes
all the cigarDakers in the state, and it is
probable the strike will be general.