Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-14
LITTLE CHANGE
In the Maine Central Railroad
TraCkmen's Strike.
Road Claims That New Men Are Daily
Filling Vacant Places.
The Strikers Claim That Their Position Is Daily
Growing Stronger.


very little change today in the strike
situation on the Maine Central Rail
road where the trackmen and fuel men
are out in support Of demands for in
creased wages and the recognition Of
the union. The strike leaders stated
today. that they considered their po-
sitiOn even stronger than yesterday
and that the men were as firm and
united in their demands as they had
been any time since the strike was be-
gun. The road officials also express
themselves as satisfied. and state that
the work of securing the strikers
places is going steadily on.
Already several car loads of men
have arrived in the State from Massa-
chusetts and been sent to various
points along the line. The last lot,
about so men. arrived, this afternoon.
AS yet no trouble has occurred.
General Manager Evans of the Maine
go of the 500 track and fuel men in the
| employ of the road arc now out on
strike. He added that already 10 new,
uItl idu koIlt W WI n III
the strikers place and that 25 or 80
more would report for duty. tomorrow.
One section crew returned to work at
Danville Junction. this morning, and a
striking section foreman returned to
work at another place.
Chief Engineer Dunn issued notices
to the strikers. this afternoon. TO the
effect that all who returned to work
before tomorrow night would be al
lowed to resume work under the old
| conditions.
Portland. Me-. June 13.-Thc only
change in the strike of the Maine Cen
trail trackmen. today. is that this after
noon. section No. of the Portland
yard, with the day and night coalers.
IL men, went out. This evening. fore
| mar and 10 Italians arrived from Bos-
| ton to fill these vacancies. Eighty Ital-
ians were sent to Bangor, today.
The following statement was issued,
| this evening. by A. Il. Lowe. one Of
! the strike managers:
Since yesterday. the situation is
| steadily improving. The men as l ex-
pected are steadying down to the
work ahead Of them. The introduction
of Italians is putting vim into the men
and is taken by the men as a first
! class Acknowledgement on the part of
| the management that they simply
can't replace us by competent men.
The sympathy of the public is being
shown now actively. in the refusal to
board the Italians. and by the pound
ing of some unfortunate who took the
place of one of our men at Waterville,
! by police. however. needless it may
| have been; also by the prompt quit
| ting of work by few decent men
! hired by road master who did not
| let them know they were being hired
| to take the places of men on strike.
AS soon as these men knew the facts
they quit at once.
The uneasiness of the men in the
engine and train service is not made
any less. but rather increased by the
introduction of the Italians. The nat
uraI sympathy of one good citizen for
| another. the sympathy OF one union
| man for another. and the possibility
of derailing a train by some foolish
sympathizer is very greatly increased
by the feelings reused
The fact of the number Of men in
| the coal and track service who have
| quit the work. today, right in Port
| land at headquarters is a fairly good
| indication of the way the introduction
| of the Italians is exciting the feelings
Of these good citizens and good broth
ers. and we hope sincerely the good 10
comotive foremcn and the house fore
mon who are handling the scoops, to-
night. through the absence of their
hardy men. will now join the ranks of
the striking coal men. We feel sure
these forcmcn will now back us. not
only in asking $50 for this work. but
| must heartily assure the management
that s. day or night would not be
too much.
''One of the pleasing facts is the ex
celent conduct of our men and this,
notwithstanding the fact that they are
| constantly being annoyed by false
statements. threats and promises
which. however, they now seem to dis
regard
The following statement was issued
by the Maine Central management
this evening:
"Our reports from all over the line
show that the men have realized their
mistake in the matter and are tender
ing their services for unemployment
very rapidly, which is an indication be-
yond question that they were ill ad-
vsed and that the actual conditions
were grossly misrcpresented. The
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