The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-23
FIVE RAILROADS TIED UP
Chicago& Western Indiana Switchmen's
Strike That Fosters Great Trouble.
Monop. Grand Trunk. Santa Fe. Erie and Chi
cage & Eastern Illinois Find Every Train
Out of Chicago Efectually Blocked.

CHICAGO, Fob. 12.-The swltchmen and
switch.tenders on the Chicago 81 Western
Indiana road surprlsed the officers of that
road by going on strike tonight As the
road is the belt road ovor which the Louis
ville New Albany & Chicago. Wabash,
Chicago g. Eastern Illinois; Chicago 81
Erie. Grand Trunk & Chicago Atchison &
Santa Fe. enter the city. not q train over
any one of those roads was able to leave
the city tonight. The switchmen and
an increase of wages to Pres
ident Thomas and Supt j. NJ
Warner. of the Western Indiana,
this morning. and a long conference re-
suited. The men demanded an increase of
% per cent. in wages. which the officials
were not ready to grant at once. A long
conference resulted in nothing, and it was
decided that the parties should meet and 60
over the ground again. As late as o'clock
this afternoon, President Thomas declared
there would be no strike, and the switch
men said the Same. Two hours later, with
out further talk on either side. business
was at q stand etill.
So little was tho strike anticipated that
the suburban train on the Chicago & East
ern Illinois road. which left the depot at
5:45 O'Clock, was halted at Sixteenth street
by an open switch. Signals were given
the engineer to come ahead. but as he
could plainly see the open switch ahead,
he declined to move. and the passsen gers
were compelled to alight and walk over to
The The number % off Of men " out 'is' is not sSsS over
three hundred. but there is q strong
probability that the strike may
spread to other roads. There has been, for
some time. rumors of strikes among the
switchmen at the time of the opening of
the fair, but that plan was abandoned be-.
cause the officers of the switchme ems as
sociatiOn thought it would appear like
blackmailing the railroads to 60 out at that
time. There Ia no doubt, however, that the
plan to 20 out unless their demands were
granted have been under serious consid-
GRAFTON by the switchmen for long
time. The employees of the Chicago q
tion and the cause of one branch of the
men Is also maded the cause of all.
The police were at once notified
ed of the trouble. and Inspector Koch at
once dispatched q heavy force of men to
the yards to Quell any disturbance. but
there was none, the men showing a most
peaceable disposition. At 10 o'clock the
police In the yards were reinforced by de-
tachment OF Plnk0rtOns and o force of
detectives in the employ of the road. The
detectives and watchmen began work on
the switches, and all the trains that should
have gone out early in the evening were
made up. and the last of them were sent
out by midnight. The strike occurred at
that time of day when suburban traffic is
heaviest and many of those living out of
town were unable to reach home tonight
The general managers of all railways en-
tering Chicago over the tracks of the West
ern Indiana or belt line held meeting to-
day to arrange plan of action in case the
swItchmen should 60 on strike. The ac-
tion of the Santa Fe switchmen at Topeka
Is regarded as an indication that il there
IL to be q big strike il will not be confined
to Chicago. The managers will meet again
tomorrow. end 1t is the Intention to make
all possible pre- parations to meet the trouble
The burlington people are not SO
apprehensive about their switcbmen as
they are about their engineers. A commit
toe of en- ngineers has arrived here from Iowa
to consult with other EN- ployes of the Bur-
lington. and also with the management of
the road. for the purpose OF demanding the
same rules governing time and pay pre-
vail with conductors aud brekemen. The
committee has not yet called on the officers
of the road. and until the claims of the en-
gineers have been presented General Man.
ager Merrill declines to express an opinion.