Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-26
Difficulty Over Wages With Switchmen As
sunes Serious Aspect
MAY SPREAD TO THE ROADS TERMINALS
Local Yards Completely Tied Up and Almost BlockedMail
Trains Not Interfered WithMen Brought Here From O
kaloosa Refuse to Work After Learning the Situation
May Precipate Partial Coal Famine.

/ The Iowa Central strike of switch
men today assumes serious aspect
The yards are almost completely
blocked with cars, and 1t is with the
greatest difficulty that incoming and
outgoing trains are able to reach and
leave the city. Not single freight
train left MarshallHown either yester-
day or today, up to 2 o'clock. What
| little switching is being carried on is
| done by Superintendent j. A. Davis,
Trainmaster B. G. Falls and Yard
master MINUS Swan, and even at that
the superintendent had hurled at him
epithets of .'Scab." because he threw
switch after all employees had re-
fused. 1t was feared for time this
morning that violence might be re-
sorted to, and Sheriff Shoemaker was
on the ground all forenoon to prevent
any trouble, should it occur.
The trouble with the switchmen.
from the indications now, is likely to
spread to other points, and more seri-
ously to the railroad company, at it's
terminals, Albert Lea and Peoria. AL
bert Lea switchmen in the joint Cen
tral-M. & ST. L. yards, have already
notified the local S. u. committee that
they will handle no Iowa Central cars
of any sort. Peoria men, employees
of the Peoria & Pekin Union Terminal
Company, who do all the switching In
the yards at Iowa Junction, telegraphed
the committee Thursday that they were
ready to go out upon word from here,
making request. Oskaloosa switch
men have done the same thing. There
is also reason to believe that in case
the present prolonged notice may be
posted for joint meeting of the
switchmen and engineers for the latter
to consider what action, If any, they
wished to take in the matter. 1t is
not known whether this step will be
taken. but there was considerable talk
OF such a measure among the men
around the yards this morning.
Locally the greatest trouble likely to
result from the strike is the shortage
of the coal supply. While perhaps a
famine would not result, the supply
would be cut down materially. Already
several cars are in the yards, and will
not be moved until the trouble with the
switchmen is settled. The Soldiers
Home is worrying most over this phase
in the situation. The Home has only
about one and one-half days supply
on hand, and as it burns fifteen tons
a day the situation verges upon the
critical. While 1t will be possible to
n a nj iY, -,
is slow work owing to the network
of tracks, and it would be almost inn
possible to make the long journey with
every available team the institution
possesses. and furnish the bituminous
product as rapidly as 1t would be
needed. The industry business OF the
city is likewise suffering.
Mail Trains Not Interfered With.
The switchmen, in their fight against
the railroad company. are not taking
any risk with Uncle Sam. The union
is furnishing a man day and night to
handle engines and make the necessary
couplings for mail trains. which, in
other words, cares for all passenger
trains. AS far as any other business
is concerned. however, there is no pros
pect Of its being done until the strike
is settled. To show what narrow
line is drawn the Story City branch
train, Christmas and also this morning.
consisted only OF one car, the combin-
ation mail and baggage. This, of course
seriously interfered with the heavy
christmas morning passenger traffic.
Traffic Tied Up.
While up to this morning there was
ant tn
Iowa Central yards, it is an admitted
TACT that the striking switchmen have
by far the best of the situation AS
result of their walking out traffic, ex-
cepting passenger trains, is at this
Point almost completely at standstill
and has been so since Thursday morn
ing. While several freight trains came
into the yards on Christmas day not
one freight left the city, so completely
have the men control of the situation,
Efforts have been made not only to Sc
cure men from out of town to take the
strikers places, but this morning
brakt1nen We're requested to assist in
the yards to allow engine No. "a to get
to It's train. The request was refused,
the men saying they would not inter-
fere with work that was out of their
department
Officials Throw Switches.
The situation reached a climax this
when an attempt was made by
Superintendent Davis to get extra
freight No. 81 out OF the yards. The
train arrived in the city from the north
morning, at 1890 o'clock, as
No. SO and had been standing ready to
leave ever since that time. The engine
and crew were ready and waiting, the
difficulty being in securing men to
throw switches SO that the engine could
leave the coal chutes and come thru
the yard to the train. superintendent
Davis applied to the train crew and re-
quested the orakemen to come into the
yard and do the work required. They
as thsy considered the work
outside of and not for the purpose for
which they are employed, and they
would be infringing on the labor of the
strikers if they did the latters work in
this insance. Failing in this attempt
Mr.. Davis threw the switches himself |
and while he was in the act the situa- |
ton became strained. Quite crowd of
trainmen and other employees |
and spectators, had gathered on the |
scene and as Mr.. Davis stepped to the |
switch he was accused, in no mild |
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