The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-11-20
LEHIGH VALLEY STRIKE
Both Sides Seem Determined to
Win the Contest.
A COMPLETE FREIGHT BLOCKADE.

Different Story, Which the Facts Seem
to Justify.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 20-By an order
which was sent out from this city by tele-
graph by tha grievance committee of the
Lehigh Valley railroad 1000 employees Of
the company struck ut 10 o'clock Saturday
nlght, crippling traffic all along the line
and stopping 1t completely at many big
cities. At nearly every point the order
met with instant response, the employees
Of the company having been prepared for
the outcome of the visit of the. committee
to this city.
Reports received by tho general grievance
committee at the Bingham House indicate
that the strike is of a much grnver nature
than the railroad officials are willing to
acknowledge.
Vice President Theodore Voorhees,, who
was seen at his home last evening, stated
to representative of the Associated N bs
that his information was to the effect that
nil trains on the road were moving. The
only desertion from the ranks of the en-
ployes, so far as he had learned, were two
telegraph operators, several firemen and
one or two engineers. The small number
of men who had quit on account of the
refusal Of the company to reinstate dis
thHIScu opSIutoI hhu hob hdhptItu tho
road to any considerable degree. When
questioned as to the alleged omission Of
certain clauses or paragraphs in his off,
cial bulletin posted along the line last sum-
mer, which Is said to have stated the COM
pany would respect certain alleged rights
Of the employees, he denied the assertions
In the most emphatic manner.
voorhees, Charges Falsehood.
"Tell Mr.. wilkins. with my compli-
ments," he said that he lies when he
says any sIch omissions have been made.
To prove what say, / have documentary
evidence in my office which will bear me
out In my statements. However, / am
not given to lying, but in order to convey
conviction to my doubters 1 am ready to
produce such evidence. We do not appre-
bend much il any, trouble from now on,as
1t does not appear to be as much of a
strike as one might be led to believe from
the manner in which the men have
acted"
Meantime reports from different Sec
tions show that the strike is not SO insig-
nificant as Mr.. Voorhees, indicates. Al
Buffalo the Lehigh Valley passenger
trains are arriving and departing as
usual, but freight business Is totally tied
up. 1t is understood at Buffalo that the
Lehigh Valley will be met with refusals
II they request parallel lines to move their
freight from every road except the New
York Central.
At Wilkesbarre freight and coal traffic
Is suspended, and only trains carrying
the United States mail are passing
through. Tho strikers there have ap-
pointed committees to guard railroad
property, ns they fear their enemies may
precipitate trouble, which would give the
company an excuee to call upon the gov.
ernor for the militia. One striker saidl
IF we can keep the militia away we will
win"
A number of passengers bound for New
York and northern points were obliged to
take the Jersey Central road at Wilkes
barre.
At Easton the men claim that the freight
traffic is completely tied up all along the
line. The officials deny this, but admit
that it is badly crippled. The engineers
and firemen are nearly all out on strike,
while passenger trainmen, who are mostly
non-brotherhood men, stick to their posts.
A number of non-union employees who are
In sympathy with the strikers refuse to 20
to work.
wilkins Returns the Compliment.
When Chief wilkins, who is chairman
of the grievance committee, was informed
of Vice President Voorhees, statement, he
said: "."..
I'VE also have documentary evidence to
sustain us in our statements and l will
say further that | must heartily return
the compliments Of Mr.. Voorhees,, which
has been transmitted TO me- Never, at
any time, have we asked the reinstate-
ment of Mr. Hughes, the discharged ope-
rater. But when Voorhees, was asked to
receive the committee he exclaimed: Ask
me to do anything In reason, but do not
ask the company to back down from the
stand it has taken.'"
'1l don't want the company to back
down, but he does want us to do so. Well,
we won't We arein the fight to stay, and
will win it for the men"
"They failed to have the promises made
by the company fulfilled, and the men
came to the grand officers as the last re-
sort to assist them, said Assistant Grand
Chief oungson, who is the personal rep
resentative of Grand Chief Arthur, of the
Locomotive Engineers, land we intend to
help them all we can"
Chief Wilkins then explained at length
how concessions and agreements had been
violated, and why the grand officers were
called in to adjust the difficulty if possi-
BILE without having to reso rt to strike.
4