The Indianapolis journal., 1892-12-10
Conference Between Chiefs Ramsey. Wilkin.
SON and Clark at Which the Extension of the
Strike Was Favorably Considered.
Indiana Knights of Labor Close Their
Convention with an Open Meeting.
Forty Thousand English Mill Hands in Starry
ing Condition, Owing to the Prolonged
Lockout of Cotton Operatives
MAY EXTEND THE STRIKE.
Trainmen and Conductors Favor Assistin
the Rock Island Telegraphers.

Trainmen and Conductors Favor Assisting
the Rock Island Telearaphers.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
CHICAGO, Dec. 9.-In connection with the
Rock Island strike the most important de-
velopment of to-day was the conference
held at the Sherman House between Chief
Ramsey. of the Order of Telegraphers and
Chief Wilkinson, Of the tralnmen, and
Chief Clark. of the Order of Railway Con-
dhctors. The conference was secret. One
of the officials, however, acknowledged
that 1t was called for the purpose of con-
sidering whether or not q strike of tho
switchmen. firemen. engineers and con-
ductors was advisable. You may state,
he said, that while we have not reached
any decision to go into effect at once the
representatives of the orders mentioned
were favorably inclined to the idea, and
that if the Rock Island company should
succeed In replacing our men with nom
union hands to q large extent strike
among the members Of the various railway
organizations on tho line Is inevitable"
Importance is given TO the conference re-
received telegram to-day from Wichita,
Kan., stating that seven conductors had
been unceremoniouslY dismissed there. The
dispatch did not state the details as to the
cause of dismissal. but the committee pre-
sumes that the action of the company was
due to the refusal on the part of the con-
ductOrs to take orders from the new hands
employed. Those in the best position to
Judge of affairs declare that If the strike Of
telegraphers continues it will be but q
question of time till strike among the
other railroad men follows. The engineers
conductors. firemen, etc., find ample reason
for q strike In the declaration that it will
not be safe TO run their trains on dispatches
received from the incompetent operators
whom they allege the company has en-
gagged.
This possibility Of the other railway en-
pl0yes walking out is practically the only
change In the condition of affairs so far.
While the company states emphatic ally
that but few of them have quit their keys
with equal positiveness that practically
every man mas gone out, and the state.
ments seem to be supported by the tele-
grams they are receiving from different
points on the c0nlpany's road. If the tele.
grams received are reliable the Rock Island
Is suffering much moro inconvenience than
General Manager ST John 10 inclined to
admit. The following bulletin was issued
this evening:
All DlsI atchers and Operators:
wires out of your Office or puts a scab in your
place. This is only temporary. Stand firm and
we will win sure. All reports received are most
favorable. COMMITTEE.
There is little change to be noted in the
Rock Island operators strike in the vicin-
ity of Kansas City. So far as can be
learned none of the men who left their keys
Yesterday have returned to work, and it is
claimed there by Chief Telegrapher Jenk-
ms that eighteen recruits joined the ranks
of the strikers in Kansas City to- day. The
officials of the road there say that the
strike is not botherIng them at all. but,
nevertheless. 1t is o fact that the yards of
the road at Kansas City, st: joseph. To.
peka and Wichita are blocked with freight
trains. which they are unable to move.
Very few trains have been moved there to-
day, and these move slowly and away be-
hind time.
A dispatch from Des Moines. Is.. says:
"The lines of the Rock Island are not seri.
ously embarrassed by the strike. Not to
exceed seventy-ive men are out, and quito
o number of these have applied to be REIN
stated. The only trouble is reported from
Stuart freight division point forty miles
west of Des Moines where the citizens
combined to starve the new operator. His
meals are being expressed to HIM from 9TH
or towns"
This afternoon. early. q bad head end
tween a passeng ger and freight train at q
point between Houston and Troy, Kan. Re-
port Is that the wreck was caused bv the
lncompetency of a scab operator at Hous-
ton. who took the place of one of the strik-
ers. AS all tho operators are out in that
part of the State it has thus far been i'm
possible to obtain particulars. A dispatch
from Topeka. however, states that the off,
ciais of tho road say thoro has been no
wreck, and that tho rumor was started by
strikers in order to injure tho rocd.