Evening journal., 1892-08-19
NICKEL PLATE MEN OUT.
A General Railroad Strike APP
pears to Be Imminent.
TROOPS HURRYIEG ON TO BUFFALO,.

PeremptoriiY Decline TO Arbitrate.
BUFFALO, Aug. i9-The overwhelming
militia force here has put an end to the
rioting but, as Grand Master Sweeney, Of
the switchmen, remarked, all the troops in
the country couldn't keep the strike from
spreading. The strike Of the Lake Shore
switchmen extended westward to the
Nickel Plate aud on the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western, the only road east now
open, a few men have gone out and the
Others seem to be wavering, and the Michi-
gan Central switchmen bro ready TO go ont
the minute any one insists on their hand
ling freight from lines on which there is a
strike
The leaders Of the strike have witnessed
the movement and massing Of troops with
growing determination to meet every nd
vance Of their opponents with counter
stroke
Before shutdown 5000 troops in the state
service viii be upon the field here 20 watch
and control about 800 strikers The pres
ence Of SO large a number of soldiers is re-
lied upon by the railway officials as cover
under which they may put to work nom
nnion men already engaged to break the
freight blockade.
The Nickel Plate Men Out.
The latest addition Of strength 20 the
striking switchmen was ninety men in the
Nickel Plate yards, who struck because
they were asked to handle boyco.tcd
freight The switchmen upon the entire
Vanderbilt system in this vicinity are now
out The Lake Shore men, TO be suns, vera
working on the western schedule at tho
same rates for which their colleagues in
Buffalo went on strike last Saturday
They went ont solely 20 add strength 20
the movement Of their fellows
The Nickel Plate men who went out
struck only ont of sympathy, for they are
receiving a. least 10 per cent. higher rates
than the men who originated this strike.
The Michigan Central, which Is Of the Van.
derbit system, practically has no yards ia
Buffalo, their switching being done on the
Central's tracks
The leaders Of the striking men hold that
the Vanderbilt roads are tied up and in
active at this point. They urge In addition
that the Erie, the Lehigh Valley and the
Buffalo Creek roads are likewise paralyzed
by their strike
They feel that the movement against the
roads by the men has now reached such
magnitude and completeness in this locality
that Il may not be necessary fo~ any mon in
allied trades 20 be called out at this point
Their reserve ground for operations is a
possible calling out of the switchmen on
the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western,
Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg and the
western New York and Pennsylvania road
The relations Of these roads with the strikn
leaders arc extremely amicable, and they
viii not be called out except TO make the
strike absolutely complete in this vicinity.
Significant Preparations.
Brigadier General Doyle has removed his
headquarters from the yards to the city
proper. in order that the assignment OF in
coming men and the direction of affairs may
be closely attended 70.
Preparations OF a suggestive character
were being made today at the Fitch hos
pital over twenty cots with bedding
have been furnished. together with several
field stretchtrs These arrangements have
been made IN view Of the danger Of riot and
bloodshed In the city. There viii be to-
night accommodation at the Fitch for forty
wounded men, and even more II necessary
Several doctors have signifed their in
tentiou OF assisting tho Fitch surgeons
should the necessity arise An ambulance
from the Fitch viii report az headquarters
for service, and viii remain at the Willard
street crossing all night. Another ambu-
lance and two wagons, prepared for the re-
ception Of the wounded viii be held in re-
serve at the hospital
webb Refuses TO Arbitrate.
The state board OF arbitration met and
prepared a circular. which was sent 70 the
executive officers Of the roads on which the
trouble exists. 1t states that the switch
men had expressed willingness 20 arbi-
trate. and asked 20 be informed whether
the railroads would consent 70 an adjust
ment OF the difficulty by such arbitration.
Vice President Webb returned a reply
which Is believed 20 e1nbody tho sentiment
OF the officials Of the other roads lt was 20
the effect that the Central had nothing to
nrbitrate
IN the Lake Shore yard a crowd Of stril-
ers gathered and stoned two yard engines,
breaking the glass In the cabs and driving
the engineers and fremen from their posts
A messenger was dispatched 20 General
Doyle for a force of militia. and pending
their arrival work was suspended. A few
other skirmishes here and there served Il
relieve the monotony but none was Of :
serious nature. There wero a few freight
trains moved, but il was as a drop in IA,
ocean toward lifting the immense blockad,
that exists here.
Vice President Webb was the most cheer
ful man seen. In his opinion the backbou,
Of the strike was broken, at least SO far n
his road was concerned. He claimed tha
the Central was in good shape and that thu
Lake Shore was the only portion Of TIE
Vandsrbilt system seriously affected, an,
he asserted that the blockade there woul,
be lifted today.
Notwithstanding this optimistic view o
affairs the gravity OF the situation can hard
~ be overestimated. AS it now stauds
general strike of firemen. engineers con
ductors and trainmen is impending.
1t is either this or a fiat failure Of Ia
swftchmens strike And the latter sa,
III We fail now it win be your turn next.
The grand officers of an the unions ar
either in the city or within easy call Chic
Arthur is in Toronto and can be called her
N few hours
A General Strike Threatened.
1t is stated on good authority that at tn
meeting Of the striking switchmen Gran
Master Sargent Of the fremen. and Wikii
son. Of the trainmen, were present. an
while counseling peaceful measures and n