The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-08
OPERATORS ORDERED OUT
Big Strike on the Rock Island Railway
TO Commence at 10 O'Clock To-Day.
Grand Chief Teleerapher Ramsey Gives the
Word After Conferring with officials
General Manager st. Johns Statement


Special to tbs Indianapolis Journal
CHICAGO. Dec. THE telegraph opera
tors of tho Rock Island road will be called
ont at 10 o'clock tomorrow at every Office
from Chicago to the remotest points of the
company's lines. This decision was
reached at meeting of the committee rep
resenting the men held at the Palmer
House tonight. and the decision was rati-
fed by Grand Chiet d. G. Ramsey. who was
summoned here last night in view of the
critical stage which affairs had assumed.
The number of operators employed on the
road is 675, and it is believed all will GO
out 1t is possible that the strike may
spread to other roads through the refusal
of operators to do any work to help in the
movement of the Rock Island trains. The
Rock Island officials claim to be able TO
fill all vacancies that may occur by reason
of strike of their operators The causes
of the strike are thus given by MI. Ramsey:
The operators on the Rock Island wished to be
placed In the same position as those on other
prominent lines The leading men among them
began obtaining information as 70 the pay their
pointed committee to draft rules to be submit
ted TO the company for consideration. Mean
time the subordinate officials and. as am In
ing and intimidating the men, and informing all
who showed themselves in favor OF the step be-
ing taken that they would be dismissed Some
members of the D. Il. T. Therefore the commit
tee. called in my aid for the purpose of
fyn of the matter s The e'' committees m eaIed
on General Manager ST. John last week,
and from time to time the members were put off
members of the committee called on Mr.. st.
John, they were asked II they had petition be-
hind them requiring a recognition of the order.
The mon replied that they would supply the list.
Then Mr.. st. John SAID he would not treat with
them, nor would he treat with me. He would
not recognize the order. So the committee have
met and decided TO order a strike / approve of
its action. The order is strong and. having the
support of all fairminded men, must gain q
victory.
At the conference to-day General Man
ager st. John made the following state
ment:
The position occupied by the officials of this
company toward its employees is that OF desire
to do justice to all. There is no employe of the
this IA so. There 10 no man In its employ but
knows that II he has, or thinks he has, a griev-
anee and in presenting it to his immediate
superiors does not obtain the satisfaction TO
which ha thinks himself entitled. can continue
presenting it until he reaches q decision at
the hands OF the highest official of
however. for any committee to announce
its presence by kilograms containing threats of
what 1t proposes TO do IN advance or any con-
ference, and that this bas been the case in your
advent TO our city has led to the belief that you
were not a representative committee, supported
in your actions by the mon in whom the CON-
pany has ever had confidence, and whom you
claim you are here To legslate for. Investiga-
tion shows that our suspicious were true, and We
have the statement in writing. signed by the
men themselves. that such is the case. and the
signatures represent a large majority of the op-
orators in our service. Our dispatchers state In
q communication which you have heard. that
although
TO, and that they have no grievance whatever.
In view of all this this meeting must terminate.
and we shall await the coming OF another COM
mittee, II that Is desired by our operators. which
shall be representative of the majority and one
fully authorized to speak for them.
After the conference Superintendent
Swift. of the telegraph department. sent
out q circular to the agents and operators
of the road. stating that the officials of the
company had declined to treat with the
committee from the Order of Railway Tel
egraphers. but were ready to receive a regu-
lariy appointed committee of their own
employees at any time.
The operators committee has also de-
cided to call out the operators of the Bur-
linguon, Cedar Rapids * Northern road for
reasons given In the following order which
was sent TO the men on both roads:
Rock Island officials positively refuse to treat
with as your committee representing
either the employees or order. although SIS out
of 635 on the system have requested us to do So
BY n unanimous vote strike is authorized to
take effect on the Rock Island and tho b., G. X.
Il N. system at O'Clock Thursday morning, Dec.
8. The b., G. r. & n. road is controlled by the
Rock Island, and is urging its operators to scab;
furthermore, II has violated the agreement re-
Gently made. Stop work. But protect company
all rumors and success VIII crown us In the end.
L. NJ. COOKS. Chairman.
Approved: ID. G. RAMSEY, Grand Chief.
Wages Advanced.