The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-17

About one hundred switchmen. en-
ployed in the Lackawanna railroad
yard in this city, quit work ut noon
yesterday because two of their number.
Michael Herrity and Patrick Toomey
were discharged. Their services were
unsatisfactory to the company. super
intendent Clarke says.
Yardmaster b. L. Knowles dismissed
the two men and placed two men from
Hoboken In their positions. and when
John Murray was asked to instruct the
new men in their duties. he refused to
do so and quit work. The others
learned of what had occurred and re-
fused to continue. in consequence
there was somewhat Of a tie-up in the
yard during the remainder Of the day.
Thomas Tilnin. of the Switchmens
Brotherhood grievance committee.
waited on General Superintendent
Clarke later in the day and asked for a
reason for Herrity and Toomey's dis
charge. He was informed that their
services were unsatisfactory to the
company and that their discharge did
not affect the others.
WENT TO THEIR HOMES.
The men loitered around the yard
until after 4 o'clock and then repaired
to their homes. What little switching
work was done was performed by
hrakemen. conductors and enginemen.
Yardmaster knowles would not discuss
the trouble, and Superintendent Clarke
stated that there was no necessity for
the switchmen quitting work as the
discharge of the two men had nothing
to do with them.
He further stated that the mon
would not be rainstated. and that the
question of their membership in the
Brotherhood did not enter into the
case at all.
An order was posted last night on
the bulletin boards directing additional
.trainmen to report for duty at o'clock
this morning. This Is taken by the
men to mean that they will be called
upon to perform the duties Of the strik-
ins switchmen.
it was learned late last night that
the action of the Scranton switchmen
had been communicated to all the
switchmen ON the different divisions of
the road, and that a general tie.up is
not an impossibilty.
The question has already been dis
cials of the switchmen's brotherhood
will sanction the strike. in view OF the
fact that the men. apparently, went out
without authority of the national Off
GERS.
MEN HELD 4 MEETING.
The switchmen met last night in
Carpenters hall, the meeting being
called to order shortly after 8 o'clock
by Frank Jones. the unions master,
and remaining in session until after
1870. 1t was decided to keep the
proceedings of the meeting entirely
secret, and therefore all the queries
of a Tribune man at the close of the
session were met with silent shakes
of the head and the remark that
nothing could be given out.
The committee which saw General
Superintendent Clarke during the at
ternoon is known, however. to have
made it's report, and the nature of
1t proving unsatisfactory, the men
decided to continue on strike until
further developments arise. This
much was intinated after the ses-
sion, but no more.
You can draw your own conclu-
sions, said one prominent member
significantly "as to what will be the
result of Mr.. Clarke's answer. 1t
is not hard to arrive at an opinion
regarding our course when you con-
slider all the facts in the case"
Last night IL notice was posted at
the station and about the yard, read
ing as follows:
Notice is hereby given to all persons hereto
fore engaged in the yard service Of this com.
pany on the Scranton division, and now out on
strike, that, unless they report for duty at or
before II o'clock loon, on April IL 1901, their
places will he permanently filed by the employ
ment OF Others.
Edward NJ. Rinc. Superintendent.
The night force failed to appear for
duty, and the company had to rely
upon its subordinate officials and clerks
to do the switching. AT various times
during the night small parties of strik-
ers We're about the yard, evidently look