Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-07-18
DISPUTE CONPANY'S CLAIMS
Strikers Insist that Railroads Operating
Department is Impaired.
REPORT OF cURTAlLtD FREIGHT SERVICE
Rumor is that Union Pacific Finds II
Necessary to Take Freight
Engines to Keep Up Pas
senRer Runs.

Not to be outdone by the Union Pacific
officials who assert that the motive power
and traflc affairs Of their road are unim-
paired by the shopmen's strike, the strik-
ers claim greater progress every day and
more power today than they have possessed
at any time since the fight began. The con-
fict over the introduction of piecework
seems to have been subordinated to a dis
pute between the contending factions as to
which is ahead in the race. Representa-
tives Of each faction profess to be serenely
confident Of success and invariably meet
every report Of weakness with an emphatic
denial.
Ofncials Of the company yesterday ex-
pressed greatest surprise when told OF re-
ports that their engine failures were in
cressing daily and that their tranic in
freight had materially declined. When in
formed Of reports that the present shop
forces were inadequate and incompetent to
do the work necessary to maintain the nor
NAL conditions on the road they laughed.
One oficial even said that the company
had so many men that within a week 1t
probably would stop engaging new men.
Yet these reports come not only from the
strikers, but from other sources as we'll.
The car accounting department Of the
Union Pacific is said to be feeling the eff
feet OF the strike IL no other department
OF the company is. The statement is made
that owing to the necessity for using freight
engines on passenger trains, the work in
this department, which comprises the en-
gine department, has become extremely COM
plicated. and that there is great difficulty
in keeping track Of the engines.
Freight Trains Reduced.
II is said that the company has at pres-
ent very much smaller number Of freight
trains in active use than at this time last
year; an estimate places the reduction at
one-third.
Strikers are claiming all there is in sight
no doubt, but they have not authorized all
these reports which have come from other
| sources. A train which left North Platte
yesterday was reported to have been COM
PEELED to return to that town after getting
but three miles out when It's boiler failed"
Reports similar to .this have been made
by the strikers frequently and they have
as frequently been denied by the officials
at headquarters. To offset the argument
OF the officials that they have enough men
TO meet the demands Of their shops and
that their affairs are running along as
smoothly as II there had been no strike,
the men who are fighting against the in
PRODUCTION of the piecework system con-
| tend 1t would be impossible to run a rail-
road SO extensive with a diminished force
of new men In most instances. and insist
that as a matter of fact the strike has had
and is having telling effect.
The Union Pacific continues to reinforce
its present shop forces in Omaha and other
places, having brought nonunion men into
Omaha every day this week and sent them
into other places as well. Twenty-one men
were introduced into the Omaha shops yes
terday and twenty into the North Platte
shops The of1cials say that among these
are some very excellent mechanics. They
assert also that not nearly as many of the
nonunion men imported have left the COM
pany's service as reported. One oflcial
places the subtraction at about per cent
which he considers practically nothing.
SUPERINTENDENT McKeen Returns.
Superintendent McKeen Of the motive
power department of the Union Pacific re-
turned yesterday from Cheyenne, where he
had been for several days He expressed
satisfaction with the progress Of AFFAIRS
and says that out west the company is gain
ing strength every day.
"I was informed while at Cheyenne that
so per cent of the former shopmen there
elsewhere" said Mr.. McKeen. 'The shops
are running in good order and we are suf.
fering none from the strike"
At Cheyenne last week there were 34-
men employed in the shops. The officials
say this number has been exceeded by 9
great many since that count was made
The officials claim to have the sentiment
and sympathy of the people in Cheyenne
and Evanston and In fact in most every
town where they have a shop. For thii
reason they profess to look upon the strike
now as merely perfunctory. President Burt
1t was said yesterday, received letter
from business man at Evanston assuring
him that the company had the sympath,
Of that element there and that they woulC
not support or uphold the strikers. Thh
information came not only from railroad
sources, but was confirmed through strikers
who claimed to have been advised OF sucl
a communication from Evanston.
Vice President Wilson Of the machinists
organization writes from Cheyenne that the
strikers have no cause for alarm, but MAJ
well feel hopeful. Mr.. Wilson does MOI
look for a prolonged fight, although he II
preparing for one should II be necessary.
TERRIFIC STORM AT CHICAGO