The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-15
IN RAILWAY CIRCLES
Wholesale Discharge of North
western Switchmen.
TRIVIAL AND FOOLISH DEMANDS
These are Urged as Reason for the Action
The Order Favors a Resort to Vio-
Ience If Necessary.

CHICAGO, May 1.-THE trouble between
the Chicago & Northwestern railroad and
its switchmen growing out of the discharge
of yardmaster eliminated this morning in
the discharge of the entire force, number
ing $50 men. The company has been antici-
pating this necessity for some time and
prepared for it. New men were hired and
distributed through the yards taking the
places of those discharged. All the morn
ing trains went out as usual and no trouble
was reported up to 1890 a. N.
The Northwestern officials state that for
more than two years the situation regard
ing the switchmen has constantly been
growing worse. The men not only struck
frequently for trivial causes, but they a
number OF times demanded the discharge of
men who performed satisfactory
work and whose only fault was
they were not members of the Switch
mems union. About two months ago they
demanded The discharge of Yardmaster
Men erney, and to avoid trouble he was
ostensibly dismissed, but kept on the pay
roll OF the company ana was this morning
relnstated in his old position. General
manager whitman says the management is
fully determined this state of affairs has
gone far enough, and while it proposes to
deal fairly and justly with its employees,
and give fair and just consideration to any
grievances properly presented, it also
proposes to manage its own business in its
own way.
All the other railroad companies are ap-
plauding the action of the Northwestern
and will come to its support if necessary.
Inc discharged employees include only
those on the Northwestern system proper,
which does not include lines west of the
Missouri river. Reports from all points
are TO the effect that trains are moving
pretty generally on time and interruption
10 business is very slight. At points
where new switchmen have not been pro-
vided, the trainmen are doing the switch
ing. ..tNs,5s
Dispatches from Milwaukee and Madi-
son, Wis, Clinton, Ia, and other places on
the road say the switchmen were dis
charged and paid Off this morning.
This afternoon the discharged men here
helo secret meeting to settle upon q
course of action. 1t is known some OF
them favor asking the company to rein
state them. The order favors holding out
and resort to violence if necessary. There
is rumor the order will be called on tc
declare general strike on the ST. Paul
ROCK Island 81 Burlington, whose managers
are supposed TO be in sympathy with the
Northwestern. The company is supported
IN its position by the Conductors, Fire
mems and Brakemen's unions. The
Switchmen's union is not included in the
National Federation of Railroad EN-
ployees.
To committee of men who called or
President Hughitt, he said: "The switch
men for the last two years have been abou
running this road. All the officials have
been Inundated and now we propose tx
ascertain whether we can run our road
We are backed up by every trainmen'.
order in the federation except the switch
men. This is not an attack on the union.
in any way, but simply matter of dis
cipline. We must know who is going t,
dictate, the officials or the EMPLOYEES