Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-08-18

Chicago, Aug. iT.-After conference in
the Switchmens National Headquarters at
which all the grand officers were present
except Sweeney, Grand Treasurer Simp-
cote said the Erie Il Western New York
and Pennsylvania system two of the
three greatest systems involved in the
strike acccded to our demands This leaves
only the I.ehigh Valley road to fight. We
have received telegram from Sweeney
announcing the fact rs is stated.
BUFFALO, Aug. T.--Before going down
into the yards this morning General super
| intendent voorhees, of the Central was
seen by an Associated Press correspondent
| and was asked how many OF the Central
| men were out.
There are about 100 men in all"
"What do the strikers demand, fewer
hours and increased wages
That's just what I'd like to make clear
| to the public through the press. II is
purely strike for increased pay. The
pretention of the men that they want
fewer hours is all humbng. They have
worked in the past IL hours day and
they expect to continue TO work that way
but they want their hourly compensation
increased by All amount which is l,ratti-
cally ~ per cent. 1t is. as ! said before, a
strike for increased pay. The men have
| never before made tile slightest objection
| to the number of hours they we're work
ing
! They made formal demand for it ?"
| "Ses, the night force came To us Tues
| day noon and made the same demand rs
| has been made on the other roads. They
| belong to the Swtchmens Union, and |
suppose they made up their minds to do as
| the other union men did. Their demand
| was refused. The men employed on the
| road in Buffalo have been receiving moro
| pay than any other men performing ike
| service ON this road in the state of New
| York, and we decided not to grant their
| Demands
"Do you anticipate much trouble as the
result of the men going uut?
No. There has been no demonstration
and no delay of trains. shall not worry
| about it,"
do you know whether there is in any
pcrishable freight III The yards"
Yes, know that there is none. In this
respect We are i'll good shape"
DO you expect any difficulty in getting
men to take the strikers places
NO not if we are given protection from
the authorities
ON being asked whether the fact that
! the West Shore has been carrying freight
trains from the Ere had anything to do
with the strike Mr. Voorhees, said he did
not think it had.
I'VE are Obliged" he said. ITO handle
whatever freight is brought to lis. The
Central yards in this city passed through Il
strike two years ago. The company dc.
feated the men, filling their places with
nOn-uniOu workmen. II was not believed
that the union could again get n strong.
hold in the yards but committees have
been 1T wurk for several months preparing
for this work. The action of last might
was the result of the ballot The company
employs about - day engineers and some
thing over Il dozen night engineers, each
having switching crew OF three men,
besides the engineer and fireman, making
q total of about rs men in switching work
in the yard. This is nearly as many men
as went out in the strike Of the Lehigh
Valley, Erie ana buffalo Central Thursday
night
LOCOMOTIVE MEN FESTIVE.
That u strike among the locomotive fire
| men Is imminent there seems little doubt
! Frank Sergeant, Grand Master of thu
brotherhood OF Locomotive Firemen, is
said to be in the city. 1t is said he was
present II Il large meeting of the Brother
hood last evening. The tiremen are known
to he i'll hearty sympathy with the switch
men. There can be little doubt thai
the sWitchmen are very AN Ninus to have
them strike. Should they strike it woulG
have the immediate effect to tie up any
line on which the strike was orderd.
Tho engineers are in the most hearty
accord with the lircmen and Switchmen
The brotherhood of Locomotive Engi
neers are under great obligations IL tbs
switchmen for the position taken by then
during the strike ON ,hc &, Il, n q. 1t i!
probable thar they would be willing to pay
the debt existing III this crisis.
The fash OF the hayuuets and the gilt
ter OF the brass buttons were the i'rA