The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-12-19
THE LEHIGH TROUBLE.
There is Considerable Appre.
hension of a Fresh Out.
break There.
The Men Are Not Satisfied
With the Terms Of Set
Element.

Lehigh Valley employees took start
ling and unexpected turn to-day when
several of the old engineers, who had
been among the strikers, but who had
subsequently been returned to work,
we're given notice of discharge. On
inquiry at the superintendent office
they were informed that the difficulty
was that they were over 45 years old
and it is understood that none of the
engineers who went out with the
strikers and are beyond the age men
toned will be given employment. This
rule will not be enforced against men
over As who did not 60 out on the
strike. The order will affect about
thirty engineers on the Wyoming d.
vision alone. Coal traffic has become
lively again and all the Lehigh Valley
collieries and individual cOllieries
along the line on the road started to
work full time. The Lehigh and
Wilkesbarre collieries are also on full
time and the prospect from the miner
standpoint is the brightest in six years.
Miners are in high spirits as the order
for full time affects a total of near
1000 men.
The feeling Of dissatisfaction which
at first manifested itself among the
Lehigh Valley strikers when they
found that but half their number
could be taken back to work at once,
has become gradually replaced by a
feeling Of confidence that the order of
things would be restored as fast as
possible. Fears Of men have been al
layed by chiefs and have counselled
patience and moderation: in fact,
Chairman John Rice has been ex-
planning the situation at various points
along the road since the termination
of the strike. He was expected home |
yesterday, but has been detained in
Buffalo, presumably with reference to
reduction of wages on the northern
division: Chairman Rice is anxiously
awaited by employees in this city now.
tor there are deep murmurs of dis
satisfaction regarding the action Of
the company in discharging all engi-
neers over As years who we're engaged
in the strike. These men we're called
back for duty last week and after
three days service we're notified Of
discharge by the new rule of age limi-
tation. Perhaps no grievance pro-
ceeding in the strike has caused such
strong feeling as this. Four engineers
on the Wyoming division, who we're
discharged yesterday, average SO years
old and are we'll preserved. They
have served the company for twenty
to thirty years and were among
best engineers on the road. Already
indications are that this action of the
company may cause serious trouble
and conservative business men here
abouts affirm that unless this rule is
modified that the company will have
another strike on its hands and that
other roads are likely to be involved.
The situation is critical men here
seem to be in temper to resent these
things and should the chiefs give any
Encouragement, it is believed that a
second strike would be precipitated
and would be a tighter tie up than be-
fore. Men say that one Of the cardi-
nal features of the settlement of the
strike was the agreement of the COM
pany that the old employees SHOULD: not
suffer.
There is prejudice on account of the
strike, vet wages of former strikers
on the northern division are being re-
duced, while wages of those who did
not go out remain as before and engi-
neers over 40 who did not 60 out are
retained in the service of the COM
pany. Men who have canvassed the
situation here say that not more than
three-fourths of the men can 60 back
and that prospects are remaining that
one-fourth must be shelved "a indefi-
mite period. Steps have been taken