Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1891-05-21
WAR ON THE UNION.

WAR ON THE UNION.
The North Western Discharges Its Switch
men-Prompt Steps to Prevent Strikes
i'm the Future-Men In Readiness to
Take the Place of Old Employes-Ac.
ton That Was Carefully Planned
Weeks in Advance.
CHICAGO, H., May 14.-This morning
every union switchman in the employ of
the Northwestern Railroad not only in
Chicago but at every other point was
discharged. This was done in carrying
out the company's resolve not to allow
the swltchmen to interfere in the affairs
Of the road, and dictate as to tie
charge of yardmasters, etc. TIE
company has been preparing for
months for the battle, and has been hir-
ing non-union switchmen all over the
country. So quietly has it been ding
this work that the union switch
men did not get an inkling until
the very last moment of what was going
on. AS soon as the local force was dis
charged POO new men were ready to
take their places at the switches. The
newcomers were for the most part
experienced men, and under the
supervision of the various divis-
ion superintendent had no trouble
In doing the work. Each division SUI
perintendent had his crew of men and
went at work carefully and systematical-
ly and the result was that passenger and
suburban trains as well as all freight
trains came in and went out on schedule
time. All the perishable freight was
also promptly handled and delivered
No violence was offered by the old
men who stood about in groups
watching the newcomers at their
labors. Policemen were stationed all
through the yards and about the down
town depot to prevent trouble. The
North Western officials are very conf
dent of victory, while the discharged
men are somewhat dazed at the turn
affairs have taken. Dispatches from
various points on the road tell of the
discharge of the switchmen there and
the hiring of new men.
The North Western officials state that
for more than two years the situation
regarding the switchmen has been con-
stantly growing worse. The men have
not only struck frequently for trivial
causes, ut times seriously delaying SUI
burban trains at the busiest part of the
day, to the great inconvenience to the
needs of the people. but about two
months ago they demanded the dis
charge of Iardmaster Frank McNerney,
and to avoid trouble he was ostensibly
dismissed, but he was kept on the pay
roll of the company, and was this morn
ing renstated in his old position.
General Manager Whitman says:
''The management has fully determined
that this state of affairs has gone far
enough, and while it proposes to deal
fairly and justly with all its employees,
and to give fair and Just consideration
to Aany grievance properly presented,
it proposes to manage it's own
property, and its own BUSINESS in its
own way, and to place itself in posi-
ton where the public which it serves
can be properly accommodated without
being put to Inconvenience and annoy
ance.'
Other railroad companies are APP
plaudinE the action of the Northwest
ern and will come to its support if
necessary. The discharged employees
are only those on the North estern
system proper, which does not include
the lines west of the Missouri River, the
Sioux City & Pacific or the Chicago, st.
Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha. Reports
from all points are to the effect that
trains are moving pretty generally on
time, and the interruption to business
is very slight. At all points where new
swtchmen have not been provided the
trainmen are doing the switching.
At noon w. A. Gardner, superintend-
ent of the Wisconsin Division, made
the following verbal report to General
Manager Whitman:
In Chicago every passenger crew is
filled. Every passenger train is arriving and
departing on time. Every freight crew has
been completed and is at work. with but
one exception. All treights in and
| out have been cleared up, and from now
on we will move on time. Al Milwaukee
al passenger crews have been filled, and
all trains in and out have been on time.
Two-thirdS of the freight complement at
Milwaukee has been filled and is at
work. Outside of Chicago and Milwaukee
there are sixteen yards, III ali of which
every vacant place has been filled. On 600
miles of the division not q Switchman re-
mains who was III the employ of the road
! at Z O'Clock.
BOONE. Ia, May 14.--All the switch
men and yardmasters of the Iowa Di-
vision of the Chicago & North Western
were discharged this morning. In this
city three crews and two yardmasters
were dismissed. The switching is being
done by trains, and there is no inter-