The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-16
NO COMPROMISE.
The Reading Will Not Tnke Back Strikers
and Will Punish Rioters.

The Reading Will Not Tnke Back Strikers
and VIII Punish Rioters.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. Is. The switch
mems strike on the Lehigh Valley railroad,
while viewed with becoming seriousness
by the Reading management, occasions no
apprehension as to the outcome. Men In
numbers more than sufficient to fill the
places of the strikers have been secured,
they say. and thus far there has been no
absolute stoppage of traffic. Three freight
trains were moved this morning None of
the perishable freight has been stopped.
In an interview to-day President Mcleod
furnished some exceedingly interesting in
formation concerning the strike. ITO in
telligently understand the situation at
Buffalo," he explained. you must know
that Buffalo is the dividing line between
the Western roads and trunk lines. Both
concentrate there. and that point forms
the geographical line between the
Western and Eastern railway sys-
TENS. 1t likewise supplies the
line of differing conditions between the
Eastern and Western roads. The roads
west of Buffalo get higher rates for their
traffic; the classiticati0ns are higher; every.
thing Is on a higher scale. even the cost OF
living 70 the railway employees; hence they
are paid higher wages than are paid In the
East. Some years ago. labor organizations
starting at Chicago. inaugurated move
ment for higher wages along the western
lines, moving eastward In their work OF ar
biiration. One by one they took che vari-
Gus Y ards until Buffalo W as finally reached.
Here tho two systems meet. and here, as at
Chicago, the employees OF the Western
roads get higher wages because the West
ern roads. receiving better rates, can at
ford to pay the difference. The walking
delegate jumped at tho opportunity and
urged equalization of wages. ithstand-
ing the widely differing conditions.
When the demand for an advance was
made TO the Eastern roads at Buffalo, oil
Lncknwnnna & Western. which granted
the advance, although IN so doing 1t ex-
ercised manifest discrimin alton against Its
other employees in the East. Although the
Lehigh Valley declined to meet the de-
nands of the men when the road was q
separate organization. they renewed them
when the road was leased by the Reading.
/ personally investi gated the matter and
decided that we could not grant the ad-
vance without raising the wages or our
men in New York, Philadelphia. Reading 2
and everywhere else on our system and
this. under the circumstances was un war
ranted. TO have done 80 would have been
unjust to the rest of our people. On our
declination, the strikers held meeting on
Jnly 60 at Waverly. What occurred there
may be learned from this chapter of the
proceedings:
1.-The worthy master says that the present 90
casion would he good one To show how n strike
should he conducted. Mcnamara says he was
in favor of using force should IL become neces-
sary TO do so; that his plan would be To run ears
OF the track, 40 through the yard. knock holes
into engine tanks, cut hose, etc. so as 10 dis
able engines. Murray smith and others spoke
against too much violence. but agreed, however,