Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-03-10
CONCEDE NOTHING.
Chicago Railway Managers Re-
ply to the Switchmen.
DEMANDS UNANIMOUSLY REJECTED

And n Strike to BE Resisted with Equal
Unanimity-The Roads Establish EN-
pIoyment Agencies East and Prepare for
a Struggle Lockout to Follow
Strike-The Ann Arbor Tie-Up-Men Not
Responsible for That Wreck-World's
Fair Troubles.
CHICAGO, March 10.-Without dissent
ing vote the general managers of the rail
roads entering Chicago determined at their
meeting yesterday afternoon to refuse any
demands of the Switchmen's Mutual Aid
association. An answer was sent to the
switchmen by the general managers of the
thirty-two roads centering in Chicago de-
Ginning to grant any increase over the
present schedule of rates and inclosing the
following resolution, which was passed
unanimously at the meeting: Resolved,
That this association has carefully ex-
amined the schedule of wages paid by the
Chicago roads to foremen aud helpers in
switching service and that ii finds that
the scale of wages paid on the Chicago
lines is practically uniform.
The WAGES High, Revenue Low.
"And we find that the switchmen of Chi
cago and vicinity are paid the highest rate
ever paid for a similar service. and higher
than is paid in many localities. Further,
that the revenue from freight and passen-
ger traffic has constantly decreased and the
cost of the service has constantly increased
to the extent that no advance in wages can
be granted, and that no change can he
made from the present schedules or rules
affecting the compensation of men engaged
in this service"
This answer was sent to the officers OF
..
ernoon. The switchmen have not yet de-
termined what course they will pursue,
and officers of the association decline to
discuss the situation.
VIII BE Struggle of Giants.
If they should decide to strike the fight
against them would be n bitter one, as the
general managers of the thirty-two roads
have determined 10 act as unit and fight
the men as one road. still more signifi-
cant determination reached by the general
managers is an agreement to discharge all
union men on their lines in case the roads
should be crippled by strike of switch
men. This will apply to engineers, con
ductors, firemen and in fact all branches
of organized railroad labor The general
managers say that they will not pay union
men for doing nothing when their idleness
is enforced by strikers to whom they are
giving aid and comfort.
Preparing for IA Possible Fight.
In the event of a general dismissal of
union men the vacancies are to be filled
rapidly as possible with non-union men,
the road to act in concert in securing new
men and to C.stribute them according to
the needs of the individual roads. A tele-
gram from Baltimore says that an agent of
the combined Chicago railways is there
authorized to employ as many men CONVEX
SAINT with the duties As switChmen, yard
men, conductors, and the handling of trains
as come along. The agent tells each appli-
cant that the pay will be So to So
month. Competent yard bosses are in re-
mand also No promises are eXacted about
joining labor organization.
Nearly 200 Applications.
a telegram from New York says that up
to noon yesterday the agent of the Chicag go
railways there - had received 49S applica-
tions of men who signified their willing
ness to accept situations as yard brakemen,
switchmen or helpers away from New
York The PLACE has been open only few
days. Ike fact that similar agencies have
been opened in other large eastern cities
seems TO indicate to the minds of labor
men that the companies entering Chics.i o
anticipate big strike in the near future
and that they are preparing to defeat any
attempt to interrupt the roads"