The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-16
STORY OF THE STRIKE.
officials at st. Paul Throw All the
Blame on the Men.

Blame on the Men.
ST. PAUL. Mimi, April 15-The strike
on the Great Northern railway is gradually
working east, having taken effect In Grand
Forks, n. D., last night at midnight, end
if not settled soon will probably reach this
end Of the line in about two or three days.
1t is developing a peculiar state of affairs.
The strike was ordered by the American
Railway Union, and is being more actively
antagonized by the brotherhoods Of rail-
road employees than by the railroad COM
pany itself. There can be no doubt that
the individuals Of the various brotherhoods
are privately somewhat dissatisfied, but
they recently accepted the revised schedule
and are standing by their agreement with
the company. a meeting this afternoon .
Of the local organization Of the engineers
took no official notice of the strike. but at
the close of the meeting the secretary told
a reporter that they were opposed to the
strike and any engineer who countenanced
it or in any way assisted the strikers Will
do so at his peril The following has been
received here, addressed to the president
Of the Great Northern railway:
IF firemen in your employ who are men,
bers OF the brotherhood have quit work in
the present strike they have violated the
laws Of the organization and will be eX-
PEELED. They will have no support from
the organization or be sustained by the
federated committee. We propose TO stand
by all agreements that have been made
and signed by authorized committees. You
'F. p. SARGENT"
The following is a copy Of a message
sent by E. L. Clark, grand chief 0f The
railway conductors. to the Local secretary
at Spokane Falls, with directions to make
such use of it as he chose: Strike on the
Great Northern will receive no recognition
or support from me or from federated or
ganizations. Our members duty is to
comply strictly with our laws and to per-
form their proper and regular duties. IL
any participate in a strike they must
abide by the consequences, which are well
known"
NUMBER OF MEN IDLE.
AS far as can be learned, the road is
nearly tied up over about 1900 miles OF
it's extent the number Of men idle being
much greater than the number of actual
strikers. AS long as the strikers can pre-
vent the making up Of trains the train
crews are helpless. At a number of points
along the line the citizens have openly es-
poused the cause of the strikers. but it is
not thought any lawlessness will be per-
mitted at any point The company this
afternoon gave out the following copy OF
a message to the Mayor OF Helena, who
had sent message asking for a state
strike:
AFTER full consideration. the rules and
schedules OF wages and hours or work or
englnemen were approved ana adopted by
the grand officers of the Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, by
the fully authorized committee OF the men
themselves, and reduced to writing. These
took effect March l, last. Since then no
changes in these schedules have been made
or thought Of. Proposed changes in SINH
lar schedules for conductors and trainmen
making slight reduction In special cases.
but leaving large proportion or wages un-
changed were formulated by the officers
of the company and the principal officers
of the respective orders and OF the en-
ployes affected, and have been submitted
70 the men themselves for approval by
vote No change in any previously agreed
schedule has been made. No reduction or
rates of pay or increase in hours or switch
men or yardmen at Helena or elsewhere
was under consideration, and the propose1
changes in the schedule OF conductors ana
trainmen were subject 10 the vote OF the
men soon 10 be taken and reported 10 the
company Under these conditions the com
pany had no thought or notice or trouble
until the following telegram was received
by it's general manager In 81 Faui from
Butte Mont:
~ am instructed by your employees 10
saw that unless the schedule OF wages ana
| the rules OF all classes Of employees that
were in effect prior TO the trst cut maze
| in August 1895 are restored, and switch
men al Great Falls and Helena receive the
| cnme nav and schedules as at Butte. and
that the management agFess 70 y, ,.eSf N1,ndt e
not later than ten days hence ana iOrnn,
late schedules accordingly, all classes VIII
emit work at Il o'clock noon. this 18th day
of April. JANIS lOH@A-N'
WITHOUT WARNING.
''This message was received about 8
| o'clock of the morning OF the day for which
! the strike was ordered. Within an hour
| after the receipt of the above message a
| copy Of the strike order was received di-
rected To conductors. engineers and fire.
! men brakemen. switchmen. operators.
agents. clerks, shopmen. section men. and
| all employees stating that IL had been as
| Certalned that the management OF the Great
| Northern system Is arranging 20 run In a
! lot OF men from the East 20 MI places In
/ GeDartments on account or einplOyeS De
/ longing 10 the 4. II. T., and that II had been
] decided 10 quit work tomorrow, Friday,
| April lS and after that no more work
| should be done until the company had re-
! stored old rates of wages as paid prior 10
| Aug l. Thus the strike was precipitated
4 without notice 10 the company from any %