Omaha daily bee., 1892-12-18
THEY RELY on THE BOYCOTT
Rock Island Strikers Determined Not to
Give Up the Fight
HOW THE COMPANY WILL FINALLY LOSE


1t is apparent from expressions of opinion
by the striking Rock Island telegraph
operators at the Union Depot hotel last
night that they were no longer sanguine of
success. There are now seventeen operators
stopping at the hotel some of them men
who recently came to the city, and who are
being taken care of pending their securing
work on other railroads to prevent them ac-
cepting positions on the Rock Island system
Some of the telegraphers have already
secured work, few being employed by the
Union Pacific. The strikers still have a
committee at work along the line but admit
that the railroad company is filling up va
cant positions. BY Monday, they believe,
the outcome of the strike will be practically
decided
Last night secret mass meeting of rail
road men was held at Stuart. Similar meet
ings are said to have been held at other
points along the Rock Island. Besides the
operators, the engineers, conductors, iiremcn
and brakcmen are said to have participated
in the meetings. The telegraphcrs strike
was the matter discussed, but what signiii-
canCc there is in the meetings was not
clearly explained.
report was received by the operators
from Des Moues yesterday that Chief
Ramsay, who is now stopping at the Palmer
house, Chicago, contemplates making his
headquarters further west and may decide
TO come to Omaha. This report came from
one of Chief Ramsays right hand men, 1t is
said. Nothing has been learned from Mr..
Ramsay on the subject, however.
Thinks the Case Hopeless.
Last night the operators, while declaring
their firm determination not to yield to the
railroad company did not seem TO think that
the company would come to terms. They are
inclined 10 believe that efforts to arrive mt
amicable agreement will be abandoned and
that the Rock Island will be boycotted.
ID. ii. Wheaton, one of the operators said:
''The Rock Island is sure to quit loser on ac-
have become timid of travelling over its line
and are taking other routes. They fear that
some accident may be caused by the employ
ment of incompetent operators, who are
not familiar with the work they
are expected to do. Big shippers are sending
their goods over other lines and an immense
amount of traffic has been diverted from the
Rock Island notably cattle shipments. The
Rock Island has been forced to turn over a
| great deal of business to the Union Pacific,
which will permanently. remain with the
latter company. n1titing everything into
consideration, the company is the big loser
in this affair.
None of the men who quit the Rock Island
will return to the service of that company,
no matter how the strike is settled. They
are all experienced operators, capable OF
holding down jobs with any railroad and it
will only be short time before all are again
at work on other systems. OF course, we
would like to see the trouble settled but we
are not worried about The NATTER
All the operators talked the same way.
They seem to think that the matter of con
tention will not be adjusted The striking
operators will get work with other railroad
companies and do AL, in their power to in.
duce union operators to give the Rock Island
a wide berth.
They claim to Bd able to divert a still
greater amount of business from the Rock
Island, declaring thatmany station agents
ON other lines are operators in sympathy
with the strike, and will keep as much busi
ness from the Rock Island as they possibly
can.
Everything points to the operators placing
a boycott on the Rock Island and theI
quietly awaiting developments.