St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-15
SWITCHMEN ARE OUT.
The Northwestern Discharges
Every Switehman in It's
Employ.
This Action Is the Result of
Months Of Careful
Planning.
When Old Crews We're Paid Off
New Men Took Up the
Work.
Officials Claim 1t Is a Matter
Of Discipline and
Necessity.

every union SWltchman III 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 switchmen to interfere in the affairs
of the road and dictate as to the dis
charge Of yardmaSterS, etc. For months
the company has been preparing for the
battle and has been hiring non-union
swltchmen 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 going on. AS soon as the
local force was discharged 200 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 vari-
Gus division Superintendents, had no
trouble in doing the work. Each divi-
sion superintendent had his crew of
men, and went at the work carefully
and Systematically. The result was
that the passenger and suburban trains,
as well as all freight trains, came in and
went out on schedule time. All live
stock and 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
any trouble. The Northwestern officials
are very confident of victory, while the
discharged men are somewhat daZed at
the turn affairs have taken and have not
yet determined upon their policy. Dis.
Matches from U1riOnc nOintc fba rood
tell of the discharge of the switchmen
there and the
Hiring Of New Nen.1
At Milwaukee twenty-five new
sWltchmen took hold, and all trains are
leaving on time. No trouble is reported
there. The Northwestern officials state
that for more than two years the Situa-
uOn regarding the Switchmen has been
constantly growing worse. The men
have not only struck frequently for
trivial causes. at timaS seriously delav-
ing suburban trains at the busiest part
of the day to the great inconvenience of
thousands of people, but they have
number OF times demanded the dis
charge of men who performed satis-
factory work, and whose only fault was
that they were not members of the
Switchmen'S union. About two months
ago they demanded the discharge of
Yardmaster Frank McInerney, and to
avoid trouble was oStenSibly dismissed,
but he was kept on the pay roll of the
company, and was this morning rein
stated in his old position. Genaral
Manager Whitman says: "The man.
agement 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 any griev-
ance properly presented, it also pro-
poses to manage its own property and
Its own business in its own way, and to
place itself in a position where the
public which it serves can be properly
accommodated without being put to in
convenience or annoyance" All the
other railroad companies are applaud
ing the action of the Chicago d North
western, and will come to its support if
necessary. 1t is understood that the
SWitchmen on all the roads were pre-
pairing for general strike June l. and
1t is thought they may change their
minds as result Of steps taken by the
Northwestern. Discharged employees
are only those on the Northwestern sys-
TEN proper, which does not include the
lines west of the Missouri river, the
Sioux City & Pacific or the Chicago.
Minneapolis & Omaha. Reports from all
points are 10 In6 eH6cL tnat
Trains Are Moving
pretty generally on time, and the inter-
ruptiOn to business is very slight. At
all points where new sWitchmen have
not been provided the trainmen are do
ing the switching. The circular an
nOuncing the discharge of the switch
men stated that in reOrganZlng 1.-THE
switching service preference would be
DlVHn fO Snal nrauinnclvy rl0
as were, in the judgment of the
company, capable and worthy, other
wise their positions would at once be
filled by other men arranged for. Quite
number availed themselves of the
offer and went to work with the new men,
and the company claims that with its
new force it has been able to handle all
It's passenger and suburban business
and perishable freight. About 200 30
ncemen are stationed at different points
III the city. About fifty men of this
force were stationed at the North Ave
hue and Wood Street yards, the most
threatening points. The precaution of
masSlng larger force at those two
points than at any other proved wise
one, as mObS of angry sWitchmen as
sembled at both places. They were ex-
cited and demonStrative, but refrained
from any serious outbreak, being appar-
6uIly ONSIdWeu ny lne superior force OF
police. The company claims that it is be-
ing supported by all the orders belonging
TO the federation of railway employees,
except the SWitchmen's Mutual Aid as
sOciation. All trainmen are doing the
work Of the discharged switchmen. A
committee representing the men who
were discharged called on General Man.
ager Whitman this forenoon and asked
for conference looking toward an ad-
Justment of the trouble. The confer
ence lasted some time. This is not
hight directed against the union, nor is
II instituted for any question of wages"
SAID PRESIDENT Marvin Hughitt, sbut
simple matter of discipline. For the
last two years the officials of this road
have been
HUniliated by Employees.
We now propose to ascertain who is
running the Northwestern railroad. AS
to our plan, all | can say is that it has
been well arranged, and feel confident
OF success. We decided to discharge
every switchman in our employ. We
are backed up by every trainmen's order
in the Federation except the switcbmen.
Now, this is not an attack upon unions
in any way. but simply matter of dis
clpllne. We must know who are going
to dictate, officials or employees This
afternoon the discharged men in the
West Chicago yards went into secret
meeting to settle upon a course of
action. 1t is known that some of them