The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-17
DISAPPRoVED THE GRrRyAyoE.
The supreme Council Decide Against the
Striking Switchmcn.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, May l6.-After a session
which lasted from 10 o'clock this morning till
? o'clock tonight the Supreme Council of the
United Order of Railway EMPLOYEES decided
70 dlsapprove the grievance of the Switch
mems Mutual Aid Association against the
chicago and Northwestern Railroad Com
pany. during the session the full history of
the difficulties between the company and the
sWltchnen was gone into, and especially that
part relating TO the trouble arising out of the
appointment of Mr. McNierney as yardmaster.
FROM the outset 1t was apparent that there
was bitter fight between the representatives
OF the swltchmen and the trainmen, the con-
ductors leaning toward the side of the SWITCH
men, while the hremen in the person of the
president, Seemed to favor the trainmen. 1t
was brought out during the discussion that
the brotherhood Of Irainmen had deter
mined 10 support McNerney who
aud 1t was shown that meetings had
been held between the officials of the Brother
hood OF IralDmen and Firemen and the Off
GERS OF the railroad 20 take measures TO get
rid OF the switchmen 1t was pointed out
that these meetings by the Trainmen and
Firemen's Brotherhoods that it would be i'm
possible for them to take the places of any
swltchmen If they struck. IL was also shown
that various ways of getting over the diff
Guilty had been considered
Atlast scheme was devised and agreed to by
the chief officials of the firemen and trainmen
that the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad
Company should discharge all the switchmen
on account OF some grievance and that tnen
the tralnmen and fremen could take their
places temporarily This agreement was
made III writing and signed by rep
resentatives of the two organizations
with the full connivance of the chief
executives of these organizations. These
10 tf1l-.
ever, unheeded and it was ruled that the
uMnmen were not on trial before the cOun-
Gil, but what they had met TO discuss was q
grievance OF the sWitchmen.
A vote was eventually ordered TO be taken
on the question of approving or disapproYing
OF the switchmens grievance The fremen
only having two representatives present were
not entitled TO vote. and this left the settle
ment of the question TO the conductors, switch
men and tralnmen BY the rules of the council
a grievance 10 be approved must have the
unanimous vote of the organizations and If
one vote ~ cast against II the grievance 10
dlsapprOYed. The conductors and switch
men, or a total OF SIX voted in favor of ap-
proving the grievance and the trainmen, three
IN number, voted TO dlsapprOve. In conse-
quence the switchmen lost their case and the
action of the road was sustained.
A resolution was then introduced that all
the tralnmen now IN the service of the North
western railroad and filling the switchmen's
places would withdraw and make way for the
switchmen who had been discharged. This
was carried bya vote Of to 3, and then Grand
Master Wilkinson, of the trainmen, got uu and
refused 20 abide by the order, defying the
council 20 make him do so. w. A. Shehan
the secretary of the council and the grand
secretary OF the tialnmen also refused TO send
ont Ony such order to his men. Eugene Debbs
of the fiTemen then made q pretty warm
speech IN which he scored the action of
Wilkinson and Sheehan in defying the
council He said it was not the first time they
had done it. and if matters were TO be run in
that way it would be better to smash the
federation altogether The resolution was
withdrawn and another was offered which
allowed McNierney to be retained IN his pres
ent position. but providing for the return Of
the discharged switchmen TO their old places.
This was also opposed most yehemently by
the the trainmen, but was withdrawn.
A resolution censuring those officials con-
nected with 1.-THE united orders of railroad
employees who had cOnsplred with the
Northwestern railroad against a kindred
labor organization was attempted TO be ln-
trOduced, but after some discussion It was
laid aside and no further definite action was
taken. The cOuLcl suggested that Grand
| Master Sweeney on behalf Of the sWitchmen
should wait on the officials of the
! Northwestern road. and request that all the
| switchmen who had been discharged. except
| those guilty OF melting 10 illegal acts should
| be-reinstated. Grand-Master Wilkinson was
| advised TO see that as many Ofthe tranmen as
| possible should return to their former busi-
| ness and leave places open for the swltchmen.
/ The council then adjourned till the regular
meeting in June