The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-01
The First Steps Toward Peace Credited
to Prominent Knight of Labor.
Details as to What Was Accomplished Yester-
day by the Company in the Way of Moving
Their Trains and Securing New Men.
NEGOTIATING FOR PEACE.
President Perkins aud Chfefs Arthur and
Sargent in Conference.


President Perkins aud Chiefs Arthur and
sargent in Conference.
CHICAGO, Feb 29.-Within twenty-fo hours
probably the great strike the Chicago, Bur
lington g Quincy will be ended. C. E. Perkins,
president Of the road. tonight personally met
P NJ. Arthur. chief of the Engineers Brother
hood. and reached q partial understanding.
When they separated it was with the agreement
that they should come together again tomorrow
in friendly spirit, resume the consideration of
the difficulty between the company and its men.
and bring the strike, if possible, to quick and
mutually satisfactory conclusion. The conference
was held in parlor at the Grand Pacific Hotel,
not far from the strikers headquarters The
details of the meeting were not made public, bat
the impression was sought to be created that the
strike was largely the result of misunder-
standing on both sides. The only persons pres
ent at the meeting. besides Mr.. Perkins aud Mr..
Arthur. were Chief Sargent. of the fremen; Mr..
Perkins's private secretary, and q prominent
knight of Labor. 1t is understood that the lat
ter person, whose name is withheld. was to
large degree instrumental in bringing the meet
ing about
It is stated that the demands Of the striking
engineers and fremen were gone over from be-
ginning to end and very fully discussed by both
sides, and that Chief Arthur intimated that the
engineers were prepared to make material con-
cessions on most of their demands. Whether
the strike is settled tomorrow or not the affair
is rapidly approaching crisis. At the union
depot, tonight, ITO skilled engineers arrived
from the East over the Ft Wayne, under con-
tract with the Burlington road. They are
Knights of Labor from the Reading.
What degree of probability there is that the
strike may be settled SO soon appears from in
vestigation to rest almost wholly on inrerences
from the circumstances as stated, both sides
refusing to give the facts in the matter. Late
tonight Mr.. Perkins admitted that he had been
in conference two hours during the evening with
Arthur called on him at his room, and they
had a talk about the strike. Mr.. Perkins
declined to say whether any result was
reached, what was the nature of
the conference. or who had inaugurated
the proceedings that resulted in the chiefs on
both sides coming together. Chief Arthur and
Mr.. Sargent were still more reticeut Neither
would say word about the matter in hand
One rumored explanation of the renewed
negotiations is that other companies. fearing q
spread OF the strike, asked Mr.. Perkins to make
so me concessions
G. E. Detweiler is the knight OF Labor who
arranged the conference between Messrs Ar
thur and Sargent and the company It is un-
derstood that the misunderstanding which was
removed lay IN the fact that Mr.. Perkins had de-
clined to meet the strikers grievance committee
and had placed the matter in the hands of Gen
planned why he cound not possibly have come
to Chicago at the time, Mr.. Arthur
and Mr. Sargent agreed that under the
circumstances it could not have been
expected that he should meet the committee.
Then the engineers demands were gone over in
detail and Chief Arthur showed where vital con-
cessions could be made, provided the mileage
The ground having been fully cleared an ad-
journment taken, Mr.. Perkins's purpose
being, it Is understood, to consult with General
Manager Stone and Chiefs Arthur and Sargent
to confer with Chairman Hoge, of. the strikers
permanent committee grievances.