St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-11
STRIKE MAY SPREAD.
A Possibility That the Northwest
ern Operators May Be Told to
Leave Their Keys.
Chief Ramsey Holding Confer
ences With the Various Rail-
road Organizations.

CHICAGO. Dec. 10.-Intere st in the
Rock Island strike centers in possibili-
ties rather than in anything which is at
present taking place. The two most
important possibilities are a strike of
the operators on the Chicago 81 North
western. with its 5000 or 1000 miles
of road, and strike of the
switchmen, engineers, firemen, con-
ductOrs and employees of the Rock Island
company. The possibility of the first
event was discovered by the committee
at the Palmer house today owing to the
receipt of information that the Chicago
d Northwestern was showing desire
to help the Rock Island through
its present trouble by supply
ing 1t with competent men to
replace those who have quit work in
obedience to the comm and of their rep
resentatives. Chief Ramsey, on hear
ing this report. declared emphatically
that IL 1t were true he would have no
hesitation in calling out the men over
the whole line, upon which 50 per cent
are members Of the order.
As to strike of the switchmen, while
nothing has been decided on, 1t Is gen.
orally asserted that such an event is
highly probable. Chief Ramsey attend
ed conference with local representa-
tiYes of the various railroad organiZa-
tions on the Rock Island system
The meeting was or the purpose of
giving Chief Ramsey some idea of
the feeling of the two orders towards
the striking operators. Further it is
learned that a poll of these orders is
being made to gauge the sentiment
of the members with regard to
the general strike. Today the COM
mittee received dispatches from points
all over the line stating that the men
were all standing firm and meant to
remain so. The company is searching
for men at every place where it is
thought possible to secure them and
profferIng $40 more month than the
average.
General Manager st. John insists that
all trains are running well and that his
telegraph system is working as if no
operator had contemplated striking.
He says the stories of serious wrecks on
the Rock Island road, circulated by
strikers, are utterly false.
KANSAS CITY. Dec. 10.-The wreck
reported to have occurred OH the Rock
Island road near Horton, Kan, last
night proves to have no foundation in
fact. The places of the six striking
operators Id the Rock Island freight
offices in Kansas City have all been
filled. One striker went back to his job
Dies MONIES, Dec. 10.-Little change
has occurred in the strike situation here
today. While the Rock Island seems to
be having no trouble in moving its
trains the strikers talk in confident
manner of ultimate success, hoping for
assistance from other railroad
workers. Meetings are being held
here and at Stuart tonight to
induce the conductors and engineers
and switehmen to go out in sympathy.
The officials state that but three sta
tions lack operators on the Des Moines
& Fort Dodge branch. On the KeOkuk
81 Des Moines branch it is said there are
no vacancies. On the main line Supt.
Stillwell has every Office open between
Des Moines and Stuart, and men at the
instruments.