The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-13
While Railway ORcial Assert that but
10 Per Cent. Have Obeyed
the Order to Strike.
STATEMENT OF GRIEVANCES
OFFICIALS OF THE ROADS CONFI-
DENT OF SECURING NEW MEN.
Passenger Trains Running on Sched-
ule Time, but Freight mt a Stand
stilI-Other Labor News.

ing trouble of the telegraphers and other
station employees of the Southern Railway
and the Alabama Great Southern Railway,
which has been pending for several
months, came to a head here to-day when
President Powell, of the Order of Railway
Telegraphers, called on the telegraphers to
quit work. The trouble commenced early
last fall, when the telegraphers OF each
division appointed committee TO go De-
fore the division superintendent and ask
a settlement of certain grievances. Hear
ings, they say, were refused them and an
appeal was made to General Superintend-
ent Barrett, at Washington, and later TO
Vice President and General Manager Gan
non. The officers of the order state that no
satisfaction was received from these OIL
GERS and the grievances were finally taken
to President Spencer, whose secretary
said the president was too i'll to consider
the matter at this time.
President Powell says the committeeman
selected to represent the men have been
dismissed to the number of more than
twenty and that dozens of members of the
Order of Railway Telegraphers have been
discharged because of their membership.
He says the last communication to the Of
ficials of the company contained an offer
to arbitrate the differences. The Southern
has about 100 telegraphers and station
employees.
In a statement which President Powell
has issued he says: "In accordance with
the constitution of the Order of Railway
TelegrapEers. hereby approve a strika>ons
the lines of the Southern and the Alabama-
Great Southern railways, effective IL "a M,
April II, all efforts to effect an amicable
settlement of the difficulties having failed.
Six hundred and eight-five telegraphers
and other station employees voted in favor
and 131 against a strike. Many nonunion
members will stand by the order. The
strike was inaugurated for the following
purposes: To secure reinstatement of its
members who were discharged by the
Southern Railway; for the right to be
heard through committees in the adjust
ment of individual grievances; for set of
rules and rates of pay to govern train
dispatchers. telegraphers. agents and other
station employees in their employment,
discipline. ETC.; twelve consecutive hours
work per day where one or two telegra-
piers are employed including one consecu-
tive hour for dinner; ten consecutive
hours, including meal hour, in all relay
than two telegraphers are employed; eight
consecutive hours for train dispatchers;
pay for overtime; to abolish the practice of
compelling agents to load cotton and the
performance of other menial labor. A mini
mum wage scale of a5 and $50 per month
for operators and sl2O for dispatchers; fair
and equitable rules regarding promotion"
In the Atlanta offices of the Southern
seven of the nine telegraphers employed
there have quit work. Reports received at
strike headquarters are said to be very sat
isfactory. Railroad officials. however, say
the strike has caused them no inconveni-
ence and has not interfered with traffic.
CLAIMS OF BOTH SIDES.
The Southern Railway officials claim to-
night that but 10 per cent. of the men quit
work, while President Powell, of the o. r.
T., says 80 per cent of them are out. There
has been considerable delay to both pas
senger and freight traffic, but the effect of
the walkout is not yet known TO the extent
which would warrant an assertion as to
the situation.
In Atlanta ten men quit. but their places
were filled. General Superintendent Thomp-
son, of the Southern. said the dispatchers
on all divisions centering here are at work
No serious delay, he said, has been caused
excepting in the cases of the Washington
limited, due here at 4 p. m, and local
passenger which left this morning for
Richmond. The Washington limited ar
| rived four hours and half late and the
Richmond local was taken up near Cor
nelia. Ga. by the vestibule, which left here
for Washington at noon.
4,
statement late tonight: Reports from
every division of the Southern Railway
show that the entire system with the ex-
ception of the Louisville branch is tied
up completely so far as freight trains are
concerned and all passenger trains are
from three to seven hours late and are
making very slow time. Our members on
the Birmingham. Knoxville, Charlotte,
Danvile Chattanooga. Asheville. Wash
| ington, Columbia, Raleigh and Lynchburg
| divisions wire that the condition OF affairs
| is very encouraging to the men and that
| fully 90 per cent. of the telegraphers and
| dispatchers are on strike. On the Alabama
| Great Southern every man struck except
| one north OF Birmingham. The road from
| Birmingham to Meridian is completely tied
| up. One freight train has been standing
| ten miles from Birmingham since 10
| O'Clock this morning am in a position to
state positively that more than 90 per cent.
| OF the telegraphers quit work. the claims
of the company to the contrary notwith-
standing. The officials have picked up a
| few boy operators and students and mex
| perienced men and are sending them out
| on the line. but they are incapable OF hand
| ling trains"
! 1t was escertained at midnight that the
officials Of the Southern, anticipating the