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| New York Central R. R. freight yards at East Syracuse, N. Y. |
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| New York Central & Hudson River R. R. "Queen of Speed" Engine No. 999 |
THE STRIKE
ON.
KNIGHTS OF LABOR MEN QUIT WORK.
Passenger Trains Deserted by Their Crews in
New York—Vice-President Webb Declares the Company Will Fight the
Strikers— Other Vanderbilt Lines Tied up by Order of the Knights of Labor.
NEW YORK,
Aug. 8, 1890. — The trouble threatened among the thousands of employes [sic] of the New York Central and other Vanderbilt lines, owing to the discharge of Knights
of Labor and Brotherhood men, broke out suddenly shortly after seven o'clock
to-night. All the line of the Central was tied up and trains were left to their
crews where they struck when the order came. Two passenger trains were left at
Eighty-sixth street in the tunnel, one going in each direction.
The
latest report at 9 o'clock is that the West Shore railroad is tied up
throughout its length, as well as the New York & New Haven railroad.
Great
throngs of people are crowded into the Grand Central Depot trying to have tickets
changed and asking all manner of questions. No one seems to know who ordered
the strike. J. J. Holland, the labor leader, denied that he knew who ordered it
or even that it was ordered when seen by a reporter at 8 o'clock.
Everyone
is hunting for the railroad officials who are not to be found. There is tremendous
excitement and confusion about the Grand Central Depot.
Vice-President
Webb was finally found and interviewed. He said the strike extended only to
West Albany. About 850 men were out. All men who went out from the employ of
the road this evening would be promptly discharged in the morning. Those who
remained true to the company would be well taken care of and amply protected,
as well as all men who came to work for the road. The roads would take on all
the good men who applied for work in the morning, as far as they were needed.
With great emphasis Mr. Webb announced that he would fight the strikers to the
bitter end. He said the new set of demands, published to-day, he had never seen
and new nothing about.
In effect
these demands are for a minimum day's wages of $1.50, station agents to receive
an increase of $5 a month. Men in yards at Troy and Green Island shall receive the
same compensation as at Schenectady and East Albany. All firemen on six-wheel
connected engines shall receive 2 1/4 cents
per mile, all engineers of same 4 cents; four-wheeled engine engineers, 3 cents
per mile, firemen, 2 cents
per mile—for all men overtime, double pay.
Mr. Webb
announced that the fast mail had pulled out of the depot at 9 o'clock with four
mail cars, but no passenger cars were attached to the train. He stated no attempt
would be made to run trains tonight. Everything would be left at a standstill
just where the men left off. There were no means to get to Albany or New
England to-night. But the opening up of the great avenues of trade would begin
to-morrow.
It is
announced the Vice-President will give out an official statement of the road's
position in the controversy.
The
railroad company called upon Acting Superintendent of Police Byrnes for protection.
The police are now guarding the company's tracks and property all along the
line in this city. The inspector will remain at headquarters all night. There has
been no violence thus far.
At 11
o'clock the Grand Central Depot was closed. A notice was posted announcing that
the sale of tickets had been temporarily discontinued. The crowd soon
dispersed.
The
general opinion among the men was that the trouble would not have arisen if Mr. Depew had been in this country. Their
grievance seems to be personally directed against Vice-President Webb and General
Manager Toucey.
At a late
hour Mr. Webb said the men on strike were switchmen. There was no trouble with
the engineers and firemen. He intended to put on new men to-night and would
surely have trains running in the morning.
J. J.
Holland of the Executive Board of the Knights of Labor was seen later. He asserted
that trains would not move for several mornings.
It is
said a telegram was received at Mr. Webb's office to-night from Utica asking
that men be sent there to get passenger cars out of the yard. A message from Palmyra
said the freight yards there were blocked and all freight at a standstill.
At 11:30
o'clock J. J. Holland stated that he had not ordered the strike, but thought
the head of the Local Division, Knights of Labor, might have done it. Several strikers said to-night this would prove to
be the biggest strike the people in the East had seen for some time.
The New
York Central train which got out after the strike began was the 9 P. M. fast
mail for Chicago, After 11 P. M., only one Eastern train left, and that was the
11:40 P. M. mail for New Haven.
The Tribune
says that after the unsatisfactory interview with the New York Central officials
to-day the Executive Board of District Assembly 240 Knights of Labor issued a
proclamation declaring the officers of the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad
were engaged in an effort to exterminate labor organizations among railroad employes
and asking the co-operation of those concerned in setting aside the company's unjust
action. A cipher dispatch was also sent to every Local Assembly along the
Central and West Shore roads ordering the men to stop work at 7 P. M. The
members of the Executive Board then started for their homes to attend to the strike
in their districts. Holland will remain in the city to watch the strike.
ALBANY, Aug.
8.—As a positive indication as to how the Central-Hudson management stands in
regard to the trouble, Vice-President Webb states that the company proposes to
fight the strike and will protect all men who remain in the service, those who
do not go to work to-morrow will be considered as having left the service and
the company will endeavor to fill their places as rapidly as possible.
The
strike in this section extends to the watchmen, yardmen and some brakemen. The
North Shore express carrying the United States mail arrived here at 1 o'clock from
New York. An attempt was made to run it out of here at 10 o'clock, but it was
stalled by strikers who put on the air brakes! The train got away, however, soon
after midnight. No attempt will be made to run another train from here tonight.
ROCHESTER, Aug, 8.—The Local Assembly just got through with its meeting. Orders were received from New York at 8 P. M. ordering a complete strike
of the Knights of Labor on the Central-Hudson system. Train No. 3 was the first
train affected in this city. The train reached this city on the regular time at
9:45 P. M. and was abandoned by its crew of trainmen. One trainman was put on
the train here and it proceeded on its way West on time.
The
Auburn road train due out at 11:30 is still in the station. Charlotte branch trains
are running as usual, but it is thought the men will strike to-morrow.
Assistant
Superintendent Gould came to the station at midnight and assumed charge of
affairs. He said to a reporter:
"How
serious this strike may be we cannot say. I have several men in reserve to take
the places of any men on the through trains who should abandon their position. There
is no report of trouble among the baggagemen on this division."
NEW YORK,
Aug. 10.—The indications are now that the strike on the Vanderbilt lines will
not be a success. To-day the regular schedule passenger service of the Hudson
River and New York Central and the Harlem roads was resumed, the only change
being the consolidation of certain out-going Western trains. The southwestern limited
and the Chicago limited were consolidated and left on the North Shore vestibule
limited which was to have left at4:50 P. M., [later] was consolidated with the fast
western express and left at 6 P. M. The tie up on the West Shore road
inaugurated last night did not affect passenger traffic, although the freight
business was brought to a standstill. The through Boston trains on the New
Haven road left as usual.
The Grand
Central depot was thronged with people going out of town. They were detained
but a few moments.
During
the afternoon General Manager Toucey, Assistant Manager Voorhees, John Fife, B. A. Loomis, J. J. Loftus, Henry
Douglass and John S. Green, the latter five of whom are prominent freight officials
of the road, held a conference in the office of Third Vice-President Webb. At
its conclusion it was announced that it had been decided to dispatch to-morrow all
freight trains to their various destinations. A notice posted in the vicinity
of the depot directing persons seeking employment in the New York Central and Hudson
River road to apply at the office of the Wagner Palace Car Co., caused
applications to be made by the score. By one of the officials it was said 150
men had been taken on, all of whom were experienced railroad men.
Mr.
Voorhees said he had received a number of applications from railroad men living
around New York, among whom were some employed on the elevated roads, others
from Pittsburg and some from men employed in the Erie yards. Some even came
from as far west as Chicago. The company found they could obtain all the men
required in this city.
Late this
afternoon the following circular was issued by Vice-President Webb, and was the
result of the long conference held by the road officials:
"The
position of the company is this: We shall select our own men, and we do not
propose that they be designated by the Knights of Labor or its committees. When
men are dismissed we shall get rid of the inefficient, the most vicious, and
those least in accord with our interests. When promotions are to be made we
will not be bound by the seniority rules promulgated by the Knights of Labor.
"A
due consideration will always be given to length of service, but the first and most
important rule will be the qualification of the men for the place. If our men have
grievances, the proper officers will be willing to grant hearings and see that
consideration is given, but we will not allow outsiders to interfere or to
interfere between the employer and employe. For this reason I refused to allow
Mr. Holland to discuss any differences alleged to exist between the company and
its men, and not for the reason, as stated, that we object to our employes
being members of labor organizations. These are my views, and I am satisfied
that they are concurred in and approved by every official of the company, by
the board of directors and by the gentlemen who are most interested in its
securities. The strike is ill advised, cannot succeed, and we will put it down and
maintain the position we have taken."
A RIOT STARTED WHEN A TRAIN WAS MOVED IN
THE YARD.
SYRACUSE,
Aug. 10.—About 500 determined men held the New York Central tracks at East
Syracuse to-day against all outsiders. The soldiers that arrived there from
Syracuse on Saturday night paced slowly and wearily up and down the tracks guarding
the trains, and serving as the butt of jeers and jokes of the strikers, who whittled
out swords of wood and marched likewise up and down the tracks, keeping a mock
guard over the soldiers. Very early in the day a riot was imminent when the militia
attempted to force a train from the west end of the yard through to the eastern
extreme. The strikers were not aware of the intentions of those in charge of
the train, but supposed
that their purpose was to force the
train to the east. Several of the strikers attempted to board the train, but
were prevented from doing so by the glittering bayonets of the soldiers.
Then an attempt was made to disarm some of
the soldiers by a few of the foolhardy ones, but they were restrained by their friends
who had not lost sight of the fact that they were not playing at war. When one
measure failed another was resorted to, and an attempt was made to blockade the
track. It was only when the strikers were appeased by assurances that the train
would not leave the yard that they withdrew from it and allowed it to proceed.
A coal train attempted to run through the yard
but was stopped by strikers, who boarded her and set the brakes.
In the afternoon the firemen who usually run
out of East Syracuse, and in the evening about seventy-five locomotive engineers,
held a meeting and decided to hold out.
The North Shore limited train struck East
Syracuse at about 8:30A. M., and was held up by the strikers, who set
the danger signal. The train remained in the yards until about 4 o'clock in the
afternoon when it was allowed to back up to the Syracuse station and unload its
passengers. It did not unload, but went back to the Oswego junction, where the
West Shore crosses the Central, and switched on to the West Shore and then went
east.
READY
FOR A BATTLE.
The 26th Separate Company of Elmira, and the
29th and 88th companies of Oswego, arrived here to-day and are held in command
at the armory. Sixty Pinkerton men arrived here from Chicago at 5 o'clock this
afternoon, and were sworn in as deputy sheriffs to-night. The artillery has
been gotten out and everything is in readiness for a battle. It is said upon
good authority that an effort will be made to open the road at East Syracuse in
the morning early, and that the militia will be on hand to open fire should
there be any interference on the part of the strikers. The Central trains are
running on the West Shore tracks from the Kirkville cross-over to the Oswego junction.
THE
STRIKE ENDED.
Central
Hudson Passenger Trains all Running—Freight Business Resumed With the Aid of Pinkerton
Detectives.
NEW YORK, Aug. 11.—The conductor of train 22
which arrived from Buffalo at 10 A. M., reports that four switches were left open
in the East Albany yards and the train, had it not been for the presence of
mind of the engineer, would have run into the river. Just above Hudson five
switches were left opened.
Florence Donovan, of the State Board of
Arbitration, called upon Mr. Webb this morning and said the strikers had requested
him to meet Mr. Webb and try to arrange the difficulty by arbitration. Mr. Webb
received him courteously, but told him distinctly there was nothing to arbitrate.
Mr. Donovan did not argue the matter but withdrew.
District Workman E. T. Lee said this morning
that between here and Buffalo there were about 8,000 men on strike. Reports
received by him showed everything to be in good condition.
In reply to the dispatch sent by Vice-President
Webb to Governor Hill to-day asking that State troops be sent to Syracuse, he
this afternoon received the following reply from Col. Judson, Military Secretary
to the Governor:
"Your dispatch to Governor Hill at hand.
He directs me to say that he has sent General Farnsworth to investigate the
situation and report on it. It is desirable that official and authentic
information should be obtained before overt action is taken. You may
rest assured that the State authorities will act promptly and vigorously in
protecting property and preventing violence. The functions of the military
forces, should not, however be misunderstood. It is not their business to operate
the railroad nor to interfere on be half of either party to a labor controversy.
When invoked they are to aid the local civil authorities in suppressing
violence and protecting property. They are not expected to do mere police duty,
nor to discharge those functions which more properly belong to a sheriff's posse
comitatus. The powers of the civil authorities should be fully applied
before recourse should be had to military forces. The Governor desires that you
keep him fully advised as to any future occurrences."
A conductor of an incoming train said he had
conversed with half a dozen of the most influential engineers on the road and they
told him there was no possibility of the engineers going out unless they were ordered
out by the Brotherhood, and they thought it very improbable that such an order
would be given. They did not think it unlikely, however, that the firemen would
join the strikers.
DIRECTED TO CHARGE THE STRIKERS.
After receiving the communication from Col. Judson,
Vice-President Webb called a conference of Central-Hudson officials. As a result
a dispatch was wired to Syracuse and Dewitt directing Pinkerton detectives
employed there to charge the strikers upon any show of any violence, and if
necessary to give the Governor a casus belli for the ordering out of the
troops.
HERE'S A NEW FEATURE.
To-night Bowen Staley, of Albany, addressed
a secret meeting of the Switchmen's Assembly and after the meeting, which did
not adjourn till midnight, he said that the switchmen were favorably impressed
with the strikers' side of the situation as he explained it, and he ventured the
prophecy that the Vanderbilts would have the biggest war on their hands they
ever saw before they got through.
BUSINESS IN FULL SWING.
During this afternoon and evening the Grand
Central depot was as quiet as though no strike had occurred. Trains were continually
arriving and leaving in the usual manner and the entire business of the depot
had resumed its normal condition.
Vice-President Webb said at 9 P. M., that
the strike, so far as the New York Central was concerned, was at an end. The entire
passenger and freight service will be resumed to-morrow morning and all trains
will leave on schedule time. All freight yards will be open for reception of
western freight.
At 1 P. M. a special fast freight train composed
of 20 cars left the Hudson street depot with a squad of police on the engine.
Train 21, known as the fast mail, which left
the Grand Central depot at 4:25 this morning was the first train to get
to Buffalo over the New York Central track.
On to-day’s schedule at the Grand Central depot
there were 138 Central railroad trains. Of these 190 left the depot almost on
schedule time.
STATE OFFICIALS INTERVIEWED.
ALBANY, Aug. 11.—Adjutant General Porter,
when asked regarding the movement of the State troops in connection with the
strike on the New York Central road, said: "The result to-day is
full of encouragement and indicates a peaceful solution of the contest. It looks
at present as though there will be an entire avoidance of disturbance of the
peace. Up to this hour there has not been a dollar's worth of property
destroyed, or a single act of violence committed so far as I can learn. As a
whole the strikers are behaving admirably and are in good temper.
THE
TROUBLE AT SYRACUSE ENDED.
"Governor Hill had a consultation with some
of the leaders this forenoon and after listening to the grievances he called their
attention to the situation at Dewitt, and asked that all hostile demonstrations
there be stopped, and they promised that his request would be complied with
this afternoon. Immediately after the interview some of them started for
Syracuse and the result is that they have brought about what they promised. The
company has now peacefully resumed the possession of its property at that place
and its trains are running through there without molestation. It simply shows
what good results can be obtained from a policy of conciliation.
"It is doubtful whether any troops will
now be needed unless an unexpected change in the situation shall occur. The State
authorities are prepared for any emergency, and will act vigorously and promptly
without fear or hesitation, whenever such action is really necessary; but they
will only use force as a last extremity, and then only in aid of the civil
authorities for the protection of property and the prevention of violence. The
National Guard was never in better trim than at present, and the discipline is
excellent, but it is hoped that its services will not be required. It will only
be used in case all peaceful means shall fail to prevent disturbance, and then
with judgment and discrimination. It would be easy to precipitate a conflict by
hasty and unwise action. The strikers profess a desire to avoid violence and we
shall believe them to be sincere until we see some good evidence to the contrary.
"We are in constant communication with
both sides to the controversy, and shall do all that is possible to preserve
the peace and protect the rights of the public and all concerned. It is not the
business of the military to assume the running of trains or to perform mere
police duty, but to remain neutral between the company and the strikers, so
long as no property is imperiled or no violence occurs. It is impossible to
tell how long the few military companies now gathered at Syracuse may remain
there—it will depend on circumstances—but I hope their services will not be
required at all."
CLEARING THE SYRACUSE YARD.
SYRACUSE, Aug. 11.—If Syracuse is the key to
the situation it was lost to the strikers this evening when they were driven
from the yards at East Syracuse by the Pinkerton men sent here Sunday. This detective
force, reinforced by others who arrived this afternoon, had gone to East Syracuse
about 4 o'clock this afternoon with Under Sheriff Austin and several deputy
sheriffs, and an outside force of railway employes. At the yard they formed in
a line and advanced through the freight yard there, the strikers all retiring before
them without resistance, and the Pinkerton men and railroad men began the work
of making up and forwarding the freight cars containing perishable property,
which were tied up there. About twenty freight trains were held in the yard,
and two trains were made up and started by the Pinkerton force without violence
being offered.
At 6:30 A. M., the first freight from East Syracuse
pulled into the city. It was a very long line of loaded refrigerator cars. In
the caboose were two Pinkerton detectives. The caboose was stopped at one of the
street crossings in the city, where George Doheny, counsel for the New York Central
railroad, and the Sheriff, had a consultation with one of the detectives
who reported that the trouble was all over and that the yards would be all
cleared of freight in a few hours.
Mr. Holland is reported to be at East Syracuse.
THE NEWS FROM CHICAGO.
CHICAGO, Aug. 11.—Representatives of the New
York Central railroad are here hiring men to take the place of striking switchmen
and brakemen. Fifty recruits were forwarded to Buffalo Saturday night, and
another lot were sent this morning. They are promised $70 per month for
switchmen and $65 for brakemen, an advance of $15 and $10 over the wages ruling
for those classes of men on that road.
The Pinkerton agency here has also received
an order for a large number of men to act as guards along the road.
Grand Master Sweeney of the Switchmen's Brotherhood,
says he will not call out the switchmen on the Michigan Central and Lake Shore
roads to assist the strikers on the New York Central. He says it is purely a
Knights of Labor strike. The same feeling seems to prevail among the brakemen.
Richard Griffiths, head of the Senior District
Assembly K. of L. in Chicago, and who stands very high in the order, states
that the Knights of the Michigan Central and Lake Shore roads will not be called
out to aid the New York Central strikers. He says: "District Assembly 246
started the strike and it is for District Assembly 246, and not the general
order or the Chicago Assemblies to settle it."
Cracksmen
at Work Again.
Sometime Saturday night after the closing of
the East Cortland House, 110 Elm street, [Cortland,] a shutter was cut from the blind on a
rear window, the sash pried open and an entrance affected. Nothing was missed, but
the disarrangement of articles on the sideboard leads to the conclusion that
some wet sampling took plate. The key of a rear door was found in the key hole,
but on the outside. It is quite safe to venture the statement that something
will be missed in the future if these depredations continue.
Recommended:
Recommended:
The Pullman Strike and the Crisis of the 1890’s (page 24):
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