Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-07-06
THE GREATEST STRIKE YET.
Railway Union Ties
Up Many Great Lines.

The American Railway Unions war
against the Pullman Car company and all
railroads using Pullman cars has assumed
vast proportions during the last week or
ten days. The grievance of the union is
briefly this. The Pullman company some
six weeks ago found that, on account of
over production to accommodate the
Worlds Fair business last year, and on ac-
count of depressed business conditions it
must close part of its works or reduce
wages. 1t chose the latter course. The
workmen refused to work at the lowered
rates and the Pullman shops were closed.
At this point, the American Rail way
strength in and about Chicago, took part
in the trouble and ordered "tie-up' of all
roads running Pullman cars.
The boycott against the Pullman COM
pany was begun by the executive board of
the union at noon June 26. The order is
in effect that no Pullman cars shall be
handled by union switchmen or trainmen
on any railroad il. the United States. 1t
was stated on Wednesday of last week that
the boycott would be made effective only
two other roads out of Chicago. BY last
Saturday, however, the strike had reached
an extent unprecedented in the history of
railroading. At that time the Pan Handle,
Santa Fe, Baltimore and Ohio, Chicago
and Erie, Chicago and Eastern Illinois,
Grand Trunk, Chicago, Milwaukee and st.
Paul, Chicago and Great Western, North
ern Pacific, Illinois Central, Rock Island,
Monon, Fort Wayne, Wabash and Michi-
gan Central were all more or less crippled
by the strike. The boycott had at that
time resolved itself into a fight against the
General Managers association at Chicago,
which is said to have been organized 'for
the sole purpose of crushing the American
railway union out of existence" The
union officers decided to concentrate their
fight against the railroads represented in
that organization, and ordered strikes on
roads which do not use Pullman cars at
all.
"a GRtling Gun on Paper"
Monday the striking employees within
the jurisdiction of the United States court
of the seventh circuit, which includes Illi-
nois and the greater portions of Indiana
and Wisconsin, were confronted by the
strong arm of the law in the shape of the
ulOSI IudJ ever lSSutu
from Federal court under similar condi-
tions. The order is so drawn as to prove
a veritable drag net, completely covering
any demonstration of violence or interfer-
ence whatever with trains, on the ground
that such interference would be hindrance
of United States mails, and violation of
privileges granted railroads under the inter
state commerce laws. Every road entering
Chicago and affected by the strike, to a
total of %, was specifically named, and the
employees thereof specifically enjoined. 1t
is upon the operation of this injunction
that the managers depend for the ending
of the difficulty.
The strikers, however, are equally sure
of success depending upon the offers made
by men in other lines of work to go on
strike and thus bring sufficient pressure to
bear to form a settlement.
Disastrous Effects of the Strike.
The effect in Chicago has been to inter-
fere seriously with all lines of business,
especially with the provision and grain
trade, the scarcity of necessary supplies
| threatening the city with a famine. The
results of the strike have not only been
/ felt in Chicago, but the supply of provis-
/ ions in many eastern cities is being rapidly
| exhausted with no prospect of receiving
anything from the West until the block
ade is broken. The strike has effectually
tied up traffic on the great lakes. At Chi
! cago the grain trade is completely para
! lyzed, as the railroads are unable to get
any corn or oats to the elevators. Cars
containing flour and other freight bound
! for the seaboard and foreign ports are lying
on the side tracks, the companies being
/ IN frat tn ha ct mi 0t
docks. Meantime steamers are unable to
deliver their freight to the railroads, and
all the river warehouses are filled to over.
| flowing.
The receipts of live stock have been prac.
tically cut OFF, and the great packing houses
are at a standstill. Monday the Burling-
ton road had nearly 800 cars of live stock
on the road between Chicago and Gales
burg. The Rock Island turned 20,00C
head of live stock into pasturage at Gene
SEQ, Ill. The Northwestern have 5000
head in pasture at Clinton, Ill.
The Situation More Cheerful.
Now that the power of the United
States attorney generals office, backed III
by the Federal troops, has been eXerted tC
remove the obstructions to commerce con
trived by the strikers, the situation be
! comes more CuetIlul. COl. OIOlJOu AIT
$50 regulars from Fort Sheriden arrived il
Chicago early on Wednesday and were sta
toned at the points most liable to attack
Under the protection of the troopers tn,
embargo at Blue Island has been lifted
and the way cleared for trains containing
mail and Pullman cars. Soldiers are 10
Gated also at the stockyards and at Crane
Crossing, within the limits of Chicago.
The Attorney General in Earnest.
AttOmey-General Oney Wednesda,
morning telegraphed to District AttOrne,
Milchrist at Chicago to have the grand iur,
convene as soon as possible in order tina
indictments may be found against Pres
dent Debs and other officials of the Amer
lean railway union in conformity with tn,
omnibus injunction issued by the United
States district court at Chicago, Com
menting on this action the attorney-gen
eral said: "We have been brought to TIN
ragged edge of anarchy and it is time t.
see whether the law is sufficiently strOns
to prevent this condition of affairs.
not, the sooner we know it the better, tina
it may be changed The attorney-gen
eral has also instructed the district attor
neys of the various western districts to ap
ply to the courts for omnibus injunction
against the strikers in their vicinities simi
lar to the Chicago injunction granted b.
! ,Judpe GrOsscup.