The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-20
gOULDHiVE PREV[N|ED|T
Lshlgh officials Said Not To Be
AYerse TO a Strike
AND ENqRAPPED THE EMPLOYEES.
The Scheme said to 30 for the Purpose
of Raising tho Price of Coal--Express
Trains Running-No Freight Moving.
Another strike Possible.

spread TO all or Its branches to-
day and only mail trains were al
lowed 10 run. Exception was made only
in cases where the crews had not received
orders TO strike before taking out their
trains.
Then they almcs. invariably proceeded
To the end OF the run in compliance with
the law OF 1877, which makes 1t mis-
deamonor 10 abandon train on the
road.
Very few wheels were turning on the
entire Wyoming division, and the people
are beginning Co realize that what
may become one of the greatest la Dor
struggles in years has been inaugnrated.
A chance remark dropped by Ls-
high Valley railroad man who. holds an
executive position. caused reporter
20 begin an inquiry yesterday into
reasons for the strike which have
not been brought to light. The
result is that he found many persons
along the line OF the road who believe
the sudden tie up of trains is not un-
welcome 10 the railroad officials.
Men Have been Trapped.
In fact, the belief is boldly
expressed that the men have
been trapped into this present strike
and that the price of anth; acite will
shortly be raised In consequences
of it. The accusation is not made
that President Wilbur and General
Manager Voorhees, engineered the strike
for the purpose of forcing up prices, but
that they nave not tried to avert it.
The railroad man who-made the chance
remark was ON train which
left Jersey City yesterday for Beth
lehem. He was reading a newspaper
aud commented upon the reports Of an
impending strike in these words:
"if those engineers, con-
ductors, operators and brake
men quit work now they will do n
great favor TO the road. rhey could not
have chosen "A better time TO
strike than at present"
"What do you mean" the reporter
asked
why" he replied, ''there is no
freight business Of any account, for
the last shipments of grain were
made some weeks ago. AS to the coal
tonnage. the various companies have
enormous amounts in stock at
tidewater and rather not trans
port pound more for couple
of months. Take the Lehigh Valley
storage yards at South Plaindeld. y. j.,
and AT Perth Amboy. understand they
are jammed full"
Prices of Coal wonid Rise.
Suppose the coal trains are tied
up. how would that affect the
road? 1t would be natural to reason
that prices would rise when the supply
was shut off. even If there are hundreds
of thousands of tons In stock.
Exactly; but"
Couldn't the Central railroad OF New
Jersey aud the Reading carry enough
coal of their own to prevent raising the
pricesf
The Central might. bat the Reading
is doubtful. BY the way" he added
significantly. "I have heard on good
authority that there are only seven men
employed on the New Jersey Central
who don't belong to the organization.
mean seven men competent to take out
trains. 1t IL the best organized road In
the country. / hear"
"Will there be n sympathetic strike on
the Centralp
.I understand 80, il the men are asked
to handle Lehigh Valley freight"
Dwsllers along the line OF the lie
high Valley road have not
regained confidence in the Off.
cials thereof, even though the IA
nous Reading combine was ap-
parently smashed months ago. They
will continue TO regard suspciouslv every
unexplained move made by the road while
Mr.. Wilbur lives and is con.
nee ed with its management. for
never can they forget the weeks end
weeks when the combination closed the
lines. excepting for few days. and shut
OF their bread and butter.
Therefore they regard with susplc-
ION the apparent indifference of Wilbur
and Voorhees, regarding the strike. Said
one man 10 me this morning down In
Hnzleton:--
'I tell you, sir, the railroad boys
themkelves do not want TO strike.
Never would they think OF going out
at this Il me were they not forced TO it
by those who control tho organic tions.
Have you found man OF them who could
give n good reason for the striker
Know No Reason Tor It.
or all the men spoken 20 yesterday
and last night ana TO-DAY not
sinale one could tell me the reason
for this trouble except that the organ
ization ordered IL. One thing may
reasonably be assumed. The men indi-
yiduslly would rather work than
lose their positions. Railroads all
over The country have been discharging
hands blythe hundred. in some instances
by the thousand. Those la Pennsylvania
form no exception 90 the rule.
Eyeryw here throughout the state are
trusty. skilled men begging for employ
ment liz the Lshigh Valley
officials really want to crush this
strike they can do 80 within twenty-four
hours. Persons hereabout know this.
and ~ report comes In tonight that
the New Jersey Central may strike their
suspicion grows that there Is an
Al. -. -