Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-03-01
PROGRESS OF THE STRIKE.
POWDERLY'S LETTER DENOUNCED
 BY BROTHERHOOD MEN.

Moro Trains Running, Though Irregu-
 larly-A Conference Between Chief Ar
 thur and President Perkins-wn There
 be 8 Compromise ?-What Officials Say.
 CHICAGO, March 1.-Powderly's manifesto, Chief Arthur's expression of opinion concern ing arbitration and the headway made by the company result of the incursion of new hands are the chief features of the Bur- hngton imbroglio. AS for the first the recep- tion which it encountered was anything but complimentary to the invalid grand master workman of the Knights. Chief Arthur said that he didn't want to hear it mentioned, and wouldn't discuss it. Chief Sergeant confessed that, read in the proper light, the letter was all right, and that Powderly meant we'll But down at the strikers headquarters very different view is entertained.
 "It's a diplomatic letter" said one veteran engineer, diplomatic in the sense that it stabs us in the back and offers us the hand sof friendship at the same time. All the grievances which the Knights have against 'our organization are rehearsed in vigorous language, and then a demand is made for the exercise of Christian charity and for bearance. If that isn't tearing open the wounds and then commiserating with our condition, then I can't understand plain English. The pen that wrote that letter was dipped in gall, and the animosity is so transparent that he who runs may read" This is an indication of the general concen- sus of opinion expressed by the strikers. It is very certain that the antagonistic relations already in existence between the Brotherhood and the Knights are not likely to be modified as the result of the Scranton letter.
 A conference was held last evening at the ID kins, of the Burlington road, and Chief Ar thur and Grand Master Sergeant, of the brotherhoods The parties had a general talk about the strike, and the best of feelings prevailed. President Perkins and Chief Ar thur had never met before, and the opportu- n. " was taken to become better acquainted. The meeting was arranged by a prominent Kniob, | of Labor, of Chicago, in the hope that nut of if some amicable settlement of the strike m;,b come. It is stated that the de- mands of the Vtriking engineers and firemen were gone over ffons beginning to end, and fully discussed by beth sides, and that Chief Arthur intimated "dat the engineers were prepared to make con, ~sssaons on most or their demands. It is expectt enas announcer con ference will be held tod. ", as "nlcn the strike may be settled.
 More Reading men arrived '"se lhs "e anu to-day, and more trains are running !t looks as though the passenger u Nac "oula be completely equipped by the first ot next week.
 The small suburban towns on the Blu. ~ling- ton are getting into curious predicamen,: on account of the strike. There have been TO freight trains out of Chicago since Sunday. The grocery stores carry very small stocks, being in the habit of getting frequent sup plies from Chicago. Their stocks of staple groceries are now in many cases about ex- hausted. As there is no means of shipment, except by teaming twenty or thirty miles, the people are actually threatened with scar city of provisions. There are loud protests from the lumber dealers and shippers, be- cause they are completely shut off from the outside world.
 Notwithstanding the statements of railroad officials, it is fact that passengers who want to go distance of twenty five miles on the Burlington road are liable to "get left" Not more than half the trains are running, and those irregularly.
 Chief Arthur's statement that he would be willing to submit the case of the men to board of arbitration, composed of practical railroad men, provided proposition to that effect came from the company, was first con- municated to the railroad officials by The United Press. It furnished justification for prolonged conference between President Perkins, General Manager Stone, General Passenger Agent Morton and representative of the legal department, and it was several hours later when the following was issued as the reply of the company:
 ''Unfortunately there is nothing to arbi- trate because the demands made upon us are of such nature as to make it impossible. We must control our property, and cannot sub init to anybody questions which relate to the. best exercise of the skill and experience of the management in the conduct of the road" ;"
 His reply was generally accepted among the men as an ultimatum that the company was disposed to fight to the bitter end, that no hope for 8 compromise remained, and that nothing now remained for the Brotherhood but prolonged strike or unconditional sur- render.
 How the road fared during yesterday, from the officials standpoint, can best be told in the language of MT. Morton:
 t'We sent out eighteen suburban trains each way" he said tonight, "against four on Mon day and nine yesterday, while our 3 a. m., D:2O p. m. and 5:3O p. m. mail trains went through as though nothing unusual had oc- cured The early morning and late night through trains, both of which have but little passenger patronage, were abandoned. The incoming through trains arrived in good
 shape. FrOIn tno SupeTulCenuentS oI our va
 rious divisions we receive reports that are
 eminently satisfactory to us. We are not yet
 at liberty to assert that the backbone of the
 strike is broken, but do think that we
 have both feet on its spinal column, and that
 the column is slowly giving way"
 Summed up, the third day of the greates
 strike in the history of the twin brotherhood.
 of engineers and firemen closes with the com
 pany satisfied with the headway it has met
 and sangune as to the future; and with it!
 ex-employes, good natured and confident that
 in their game of waiting and watching, they
 hold the trump card.
 Look Out for the Comet.
 ALBANY, March From telegram re
 ceived at the Dudley Observatory, from Cape
 town, South Africa, it appears that the new
 comet, now visible in the southern hemisphere
 will within two or three weeks become visible
 s1ere It may be looked for near the south