The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-06-08
Every One on the Illinois Gen.
trail System Quit Today.
Orders From Headquarters We're Re-
ceived Last Night-The Cause a
Matter of Conjecture.
WILL BADLY CRIPPLE THE ROAD

In pursuance of an order from head
quarters in Chicago every boiler
maker In the employe Of the ]. O.
road walked out of the shops this
morning ct O'Clock on strike, bad
ly crippling the mechanical forces and
affecting the running Of the road in
many other ways.
The strike resulted, it 10 thought,
from the refusal Of the railroad Off.
cials to meet the demands Of the
boilermakers for an increase in pay.
Twenty.eight men are affected in Pa
ducah and the boilershops are idle
this morning. The men here received
orders last night shortly after 6
O'Clock, but made no announcement
until this morning at 2 o'clock when
they notified Master Mechanic Turn.
bull.
The strike came o. surprise even
to the boilermakers here and no ill
feeling exists, the men simply having
to quit because of the orders received
from the executive committee which
is now in conference with Superin-
tendent Vim. Renshaw and other high
officials in Chicago. A delegation of
boilermakers was sent to Chicago
Monday q week ago to present formal
demands for an increase in pay from
"a cents to 42H cents per hour, and
1t IL presumed that these demands
were refused, although the men here
know nothing definite of the cause for
ordering the walk out. Mr. J. e.
Hughes was the local delegate and left
PAducah Monday o week ego.
Master Mechanic r. j. Turnbull,
of the local I. O., was seen BY .
Sun reporter this morning but could
make no statement relative to the
cause of the disagreement. He stated:
az knew nothing Of the impending
strike and was surprised this morning
on arrival ut my office to find 1t
crowded with boilermakers. They did
not know anything about the cause of
the walkout but presumed, as l do,
that 1t was the result of the company's
refusal TO grant an increase, this be-
ing all the boilermakers have asked
for as far 90 is known. The force we
employe here NUMBERS 2s and all
are idle today. can not say how
long the strike will last because
nothing has been officially received
here pertaining to the matter but I
will get orders or some notification
from the higher officisls in Chicago
soon and will then be in position
to detail the trouble"
There are about ten engines In Pa
duoah shops for repairs and the boiler
makers are absolutely necessary to get
the work ont. The road, even IL the
strike continues and the railroad CON-
psny is unable to replace the men,
will not be so badly crippled because
several new engines now being made
are ready for delivery.
The strike is bound to affect the
running Of the trains because many
engines go dead" on the road and
unless boilermakers are sent out to
repair them. they remain out of SER
vice and sometimes block the road
until they can be side tracked. There
are many possibilities of tie ups from
this source. but the company will pre- |
pare for every emergency and ward OF |
such dangers % much ~ possible.
The boilermakers have been getting |
small increase in pay every year and
this is the first year they have failed |
in their efforts to secure an increase.
The increase asked for, however, is
very steep to quote an official, and
inasmuoh as the road is cutting down
forces to economize, IN official stated
he did not soc how the road could
grant the advance.
The boilermakers this morning
held Q meeting at their lodge room
and freely discussed the matter. They
are waiting for some announcement
from theI executive committee more