Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-24
Both Night and Day Switch
Crewsin Iowa Central Yards
Quit This Morning
ELEVEN MEN WALK OUT
Traffic in Yards Is Tied Up--Men
Claim They Struck Because Of Fail
ure of General Superintendent Swee-
ney to Reply to Their Demands Made
Several Weeks Ago.

The Iowa Central Railway Company
result of labor agitation, as another
strike was declared this morning at 8
o'clock, when eleven switchmen, form
+ ing both day and night crews, walked
out quietly, without giving any intima-
ton whatever of their intentions. AS
result there is not wheel moving in
the yards, as far as switch traffic is
concerned, and business on the net
work of tracks is practically at "a stand
still.
The cause for the strike. according to
the men, Is the failure of General SUI
rerintsndent Sweeney to make reply to
the wage schedule presented to him,
about three weeks ago.
The men are organized into local
union No. 1885, of the Switchmen's
Union of North America, and when
Superintendent Sweeney was in the
city about three weeks ago committee
OF the men waited upon him with a
scale of wages which it claims is the
standard scale for the work performed.
The men say that at the time they Wis
tied Mr.. Sweeney with their demand
he stated he would give them a reply
by Christmas, and would further give
them two days notice of what action, If
any, he would take. Failing to hear
from him, this morning at o'clock the
men left the yards, allowing the en-
gines to stand where they were.
When seen regarding their demands
the men said the day switchmen We're
receiving 81 cents per hour, while the
fcremen got %. The nightmen were paid
% cents per hour and the foremen 20.
They have asked for scale for day
men Of % cents and day foremen ~
cents. The scale asked for the night
crew is, switchmen, q cents; and fore
men, 20 cents.
1t is not known what action, If any,
the officials of the road will take to
supply the strikers places. Everything
is quiet, and the men left their work
without any evidence of disorder 1t
can not be learned whether, in case
settlement is not effected soon, the
strike is likely to spread to other
branches of the service or not.
No Trains Moving.
q UP to a late hour this afternoon the
yards were still practically at stand
still, but one freight train having left
the city since early this morning. This
was thru freight No. SO, that came
from the north and had but two cars
to set out here This work the train
crew did and the train then left for
the south.
Make Effort to Replace Strikers.
A rumor was circulated this morning
that had an effort had been made to
secure enough brakemen to man one of
the engines. 1t is reported the men
refused to take the places Of the strik
ers. 1t has been impossible to verify
this, however.
Officials Are Here.
Trainmaster B. G.. Falls arrived in
the city about noon and spent the en-
tire afternoon at the yards. When
seen he had nothing to say for pub
lication. Superintendent J. A. Davis,
Of Oskaloosa, arrived on No. 95 this
afternoon, about o'clock. 1t is not
known whether Mr.. Davis will be able.
or will attempt to effect a settlement, |
either temporary or permanent, with
the men. This afternoon everything
was quiet, the strikers remaining
around the yard office and the idle
switch engines standing in the yards
Steam is being kept up in the latter.