Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-22
Iowa Central Enginemen Are
Not Without Their Troubles
as Result Of Strike
POWER IS IN BAD SHAPE
So Claim Engineers, Who Met at os-
kaooss Monday Night to Formulate
Plan of Acknowledged to Being
Held Up at Other Than Division
Points - Engines Called Home.

Iowa Central engineers are not with
strike in the shops, according to in
formation received today from Oska-
loosa where on Monday night, meet
ing OF the grievance committee of the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers
was held, and the situation discussed
The principal objection the engineers
have at the present time is the fact
that they are held up at small points
along the line, some times as high as
forty eight hours. 1t Is claimed. Par
ticularly is this true along the eastern
division. SO long are the crews tied
up because OF a lack of power, that
the engineers claim they can make
nothing out of a run. Furthermore they
have to put up with poor accommoda-
tions. and some times an utter lack of
accommodations. AS a result OF this
practice, which the men claim has
come to be no longer endurable, the
engineers are going to join in a re-
quest ia Superintendent Hayden tina.
hereafter no crews be tied up. between
division points.
Power in Bad Shape.
The engineers claim that, as a re-
suit Of the prolonged strike in the
shops, the company's motive power Is
In such poor shape that 1t is next to
an impossibilIty co get over the road
and make any kind of time. Further
more they state that the condition Of
the engines Is in many instances dan
gerous. 1t IS stated that at times en-
gineers have been censured for not get
ting more power out Of their engines,
and making better time. when, the en-
gineers say. such thing would be ut
terly impossible.
Willing to Do What They Can.
The engineers have taken no part 10
the present strike difficulties In which
the company Is involved, and they
state they are willing to get along as
well as they can with .he power as
they receive It. They 90 object. how
not doing what they claim is impossi-
BILE. gaf
Think Engines Are "Juggled."
Some OF the engineers are OF athe
opinion that the engines are being
"juggled' within the shops. and by
men whom the railroad company be-
lieves are working for their interests.
In other words 1t Is surrnised. and by
others as we'll as engineers. that the
international Association of Maehinists
has men in the company's shops who
were employed az strike breakers. and
who are seeing that the motive power
Is kept in Just as bad shape as is pos
sible. Instances are cited in support
OF this theory, to the effect that en-
gines have beer in the shops and re-
paired, and brok,n on the first trip
out. Returned for more repairs. and
they break again before they are fair
ly out of the shops. This practice has
been successfully worked in other
strikes, it is claimed.
"a" Engines Ordered Home.
Many rumors are rife concerning ac-,
tions in other shops where Iowa Cen
trail engines have been sent for repairs.
While these lack absolute verification.
they are sufficiently persistent to war;
rant the belief that there may be some
foundation in fact. Several engines
rented by the G., B. & O., were sud-
denly returned, and it is stated that.
when 1t was known that the engines
had been secured by the Central, word
by the machinists' union was sent to
the co. management, to the effect that
if the engines were not called home
within twenty-four hours, every union
man on the 60 system would be called
out. AT any rate the %" engines were
here only q short time and disappeared
as suddenly as they came.
AT the Baldwin Locomotive works.
where some of the Centraps engines
were sent for repairs, work Is being
done, for the Baldwin shops are open.
At Hammond, Ind, however, it is
stated that the locomotives sent there
are still standing on jacks, where they
were left when the machinists discoy-
cred that they were engines from a
road where a strike was on. The Santa
Fe which employees non-union men,
has rented q few engines to the Cen
trail, and they are in service.