Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-18
M'NERNY THE ISSUE
Nub Of the Trouble on the
Northwestern Road.
DECISION OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL

men, Aithoush Ihey bad the Most
votes-Negotiations Between the Com
pany and the Trainmen, the Latter of
Whom Made a Fight for McNerny-
Leaders of the swftchmeD Denounce
the Proceedings-yiews of the other
side-wiH Take Their Medicine.
CHICAGO, May IS-After a session
which lasted from IL O'Clock Saturday
morning until Q O'Clock at night the su-
preme council of the United Order of
Railway Employees decided to disapprove
the grievance of the Switchmen's Mutual
Aid association against the Chicago and
Northwestern Railroad company The
members of the council present were:
Firemen-F. P. Sargent, Eugene Debbs;
switchmen-Frank Sweeney, J. NJ.
Downey, Miles W. Barret: conductors
G. W. Howard, j. W. Martin. d. ]. Carr;
trainmen-S. Z Wilkinson, w a. Shea
han and l. w. Rogers. F. P. Sargent was
president and ". a. Sheahan secretary of
the council During the session the full
history of the difficulties between the
company and the switchmen was gone
into, especially that part relating to the
trouble arising out of the appointment of
y
set 1t was apparent that there was Bit
ter fight between the representatives of
the switchmen and the trainmen, the con-
ducrors leaning towards the switchmen,
while the hremen. in the person of the
president, seemed to favor the trainmen.
Conspiracy Against the switchmen.
1t was brought out during the discus
sion that the Brotherhood of Trainmen
had determined TO support McNerny,
who was member of their organization,
and it was shown that meetings had been
held between the officials of the Brother
hoods Of Trainmen and Firemen and the
officers of the railway company to con-
coct measures 10 get rid of the switch
men. II was pointed out that at these
meetings the traiumen. and firemen's
brotherEOol- had declared that it would
be impossible for them to take the places
of any Of the switchmen if they struck.
1t was also shown that various ways of
getting over the difficulty had been con-
sidered. At last a scheme was devised
and agreed to by the chief officials OF the
fremen and trainmen that the Chicago
and Northwestern Railroad company
should discharge all the switchmen on
account OF some grievance, and that then
the trainmen and firemen could take
their places temporarily.
Ruled Out All the Charges
"Ihis agreement was made in writing,
and signed by representatives of the two
organ cations with the full connivauce of
the chief executives of these organiza-
tions. These charges made by the switch
men were, however, unheeded, and it was
ruled that the trainmen were not on trial
before the council bat that what they
had met to discuss was grievance of the
switchmen.' \ vote was eventually or
dered to be taken on the question of ap-
proving or disappearing Of the switch
mems grievance The fremen only having
two representatives present were not en-
titled TO vote, and this left the settlement
OF the question to the conductors, switch
men and trainmen. BY the rules of the
council grievance to be approved must
have the unanimous vote of the organiza-
tions, and if one vote is cast against it the
grievance is disapproved.
Refused Point Blank to Obey
The conductors and switchmen, or a to-
tai Of six, voted in favor of approving the
grievance and the trainmen, three in num-
Der, voted TO disapprove. In consequence
the switchmen lost their case, and the ac-
ton OF the road was sustained \ reso-
luton was then introduced that all the
trainmen now in the service of the north
western road and filing the switchmen's
places should withdraw and make way
for those switchmen who had been dis
charged This was carried by a vote of 6
to 8, and then Grand Master Wilkinson.
of the trainmen, got up and refused TO
abide by the order, defying the council to
make him do so. w A Sheabau. the
secretary OF the trainmen, also refused
to send out any such order to his men.
Debs Makes a Warm Speech.
Eugene Debs, of the firemen, then made
pretty warm speech, in which he scored
the action Of Wilkinson and Sheahan in
defying the council. He said that il was
not the first time they had done it. and if
matters were to be run in that way il
would be better to smash the federation
altogether The resolution was with
drawn, and another resolution was offered
which allowed McNerny to be retained in
his present position, but providing for the
return OF the discharged switchmen to
their old places. This was also opposed
most vehemently by the trainmen, and
ultimately it was withdrawn. A resoln-
ton censuring the conspiring officials was
offered, but it also was Withdrawn.
One Crumb of Com fort for the Switchmen
The council suggested that Grand Mas
ter Sweeney, on behalf of the switchmen.
should wait on the officials Of the North
western road and request that all the
switchmen who had been discharged, ex-
cept those guilty of melting to Illegal
acts, should he reinStated Grand Master
Wilkinson was advised to see that as
many of the trainmen as possible should
return to their former business and leave
places open for the switchmen. The
council then adjourned till their regular
meeting in June.
THE FIGHT WAS ON M'NERNY.