Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-08
MONSTER STRIKE IMPENDS
Chicago switohmon and Trainmsn Voting
on Proposition Of Companies,
INDICATIONS FAVOR ITS REJECTION
To DO otherwise would he 10 Turn
Down Their COmmittee-ToIIOws
PIan outlined in Bee
In July.

CHICAGO. Nov. 7.-(Special Telegram)-
Chicago is facing a tremendous crisis in
railroad affairs, a crisis that may be felt
by the entire country II not speedily
averted. Compared with the great railroad
strike Of several years ago the present
trouble 70 It. reaches the breaking point,
will be Of much greater proportions and
more widespread in its ramihcatioDs.
4 week ago the yard men OF the Chicago
switching district presented a demand to
the eighteen railroads doing business i'm
Chicago for an increase in wages of 5 per
cent an hour. The managers Of the roads
met Thursday and today and made a reply
to the demands. in which they offered an
increase Of 2h cents an hour to helpers
and 3a cents an hour TO the men OF the
train crews. This proposition was re-
iected by the committee Of the men and
It was ordered that a vote Of the $4,000
men involved be taken. As fast rs the
ballots could be printed. the chairman Of
each road took them to the men who
worked yesterday afternoon and tonight
committee men took others out 10 the
men. The instructions they received from
William G.. Lee, first vice grand master
Of the Brotherhood OF Railroad Trainmen,
were that the result of the vote must be
returned to him at the Sherman house to-
morrow night. While the result Of the
ballot is not known, it is hoped that It
will be against a strike and efforts are
being made tonight to effect a settlement.
This movement has been on foot among
the trainmen Of the United States for
several months. As early as July The
Bee printed the original story on the au-
thority Of leading trainmen that a gen
eral demand for higher wages and revised
schedules would be made by the trunk lines
OF the United States, failure Of the compa
MES to grant which would provoke a gen.
eral strike. The movement was to be con-
certed in every detail and the trainmen on
all roads were to hold out for their de-
mands until the last road came 20 time.
As was stated In the original story, the
trainmen counted upon a strike only as a
last resort and as. a, matter OF fact they
expressed the belief that a strike would
not become necessary. for they thought the
companies would recognize the Justice OF
their demands.
The demands for increased wages for the
trainmen throughout the country were
based upon the general increase in the
cost of living. That the trainmen we're
determined in their plans was proven
when E. f. Clark OF Cedar Rapids, Mo.
head of the conductors brotherhood, con-
irmed the report OF their plans as de-
scribed and outlined in The Bee.
Asked II the Burlington had received any
such proposition from its trainmen. Gen
eral Manager Holdrege late last night said
mo. as l have said before, the trainmer
on our road have not presented this de.
mand to US. We have heard nothing of Il
through them. Therefore we are. OF course
not involved in the present difficulty o.
which you speak"
No Union Pacific oHicial was communi,
Gated Will last right, but up to a very fey
days ago 1t was said at general %headquar
tiers that the trainmen on that road haC
not presented any demands. The Elkhorr
gave similar reports.