Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-21
A GENERAL STRIKE.
The Chiefs Of the Brotherhoods VIII
Support the Knights.


| Support the Knights.
The chiefs of the four brotherhoods forming
the United Orders Of Railway Employees de-
cided unanimously last night TO support the
Knights Of Labor in the New York Central
struggle. Chief Sargent Of the Firemen's
Brotherhood, who is president of the federated
organization, summoned a special meeting Of
the supreme council, which will be held at
Terre Haute on Saturday. At that meeting
Chief Sargent and the chiefs Of the other d.
| visions will recommend that a general strike
be ordered In acting upon the recommends-
ton each of the four organizations will have
one vote, and according to the constitution all
four votes must be in the affirmative or no
strike can be ordered If each of the four
chiefs who have declared in favor Of a
| strike has the support of one of his two asso-
ciate delegates that will settle il. and general
strike will begin some time between Saturday
night and Monday morning. The supreme
| council in consultation with the big knights
would decide how widespread such a strike
should be. The labor leaders last night gave
the impression that the first blow would be at
every road in the Vanderbilt system. A strike
! under the auspices of the United Orders of
Railway Employees would be far more serious
and would involve a vastly greater number of
men than any which the knights of Labor
could order. The membership of the United
Orders, it is said, includes large majority of
the railway employees of the north and east
| except the engineers
The grand jury summoned both District At
torney Fellows and Recorder Smyth in con-
sultation yesterday The nature of the business
| before them could not be positively learned
because both refused to talk after they came
| out OF the jury room. District Attorney Fell
lows said that he could say nothing until the
grand jury had taken some action in the aues-
ton under consideration, which might not be
| for some days.
! 1t was generally understood. however that
the whole question Of the strike had been pre-
sented to the grand jury. and it was in its con-
s,deration OF that that the recorder and dis
trict attorney had been called in consultation
1t was rumored that the position of the leaders
| OF the strike was being discussed il connection
with the provisions of the law defining and
Furnishing conspiracy. Report also said that
the matter had been brought before the grand
| jury by the Vanderbilt interests
| Vice President Webb was asked last night if
| the strike was being discussed by the grand Jury
and if the Central road was instrumental IN
bringing up the question. All he said was:
| Whatever happens In the grand jury room
to say about the matter. could say nothing
if would"
When the conference adjourned at 9 o'clock
last night Mr.. Sargent announced to the rep
resentatlves OF the press the course he would
pursue. He said:
Mr.. Powderly has been to see Mr.. Webb
vice president, and Mr.. Toucey general man
ager OF the New York Central railroad, with a
view OF settling this controversy. They have
| shown no disposition whatever to treat with
| him or to present the facts az they understand
| them, so that he could base just decision upon
| the merits of the case. We have decided
therefore, to lay the matter before the entire
| membership OF the supreme council, and have
summoned the members of that body to meet
| at Terre Haute on Saturday. Mr. Powderly
| mas acted honorably and has gone just
as far in his position he can. The
| company has refused to consider the
| discharge OF these men, and has not treated
Mr.. Powderly as ne ought to be treated as the
head OF labor organization. / had hoped
that when Mr. Webb and Mr.. Powderly came
together conclusion would be arrivedat which
would settle the whole controversy. / was
| very DESTROYS that that should be brought
about, as | realize what the result of a spread
OF this strike would be. But 1t is evident from
the attitude of the company. that il has no de-
| Powderly or his representatives or to submit il
to arbitration; therefore, as the situation is
| crltlcal decisive steps must be taken.
when corporation takes the attitude that
1t Is right, and will not allow its position to be
| reviewed by fair and dislnterested parties, 1t
cannot maintain it successfully before the pub
lie. Mr.. Powderly claims there is something
to arbitrate. Mr. Webb says there is not. Mr.
Powderly ID willing to leave it to third party;
fair and equitable offer, which if accepted
|
ton. Mr.. Webb refuses to recede from the
stand he has taken.
The knights of Labor have appealed to the
| supreme council for help in this matter and
my associates and myself have come here to in
vestigate. What we have found have lust
told you. MIR. Sweeny and saw Mr. Webb and
MIR. Toucey at their request not oufs,eb the
fact OF our meeting them will not change our
attitude toward thu knights of Labor. When
saw MIR. Toucey in Albany 1 urged HIM to
| settle the strike as quickly as possible. told
him that If it was not settled soon the strike
would spread and complications might ensue
which the company would find it exceedingly
| difficult to grapple with. The action of the
supreme council will show conclusively the at
| ttude OF the grand officers and the federation
| in this struggle"
When Mr.. Sargent was asked how his state
ment in the morning could be harmouized with
| his last remarks. he said that he had learned
| much since Mr.. Webb refused in the afternoon
to discuss the discharge of the men with Mr.
Powderly. More than this he would not saw on
the subject. The four chief officers will leave
| for Terre Haute early this morning The
other members of the supreme council
are Eugene V. Debs. grand secretary and
treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen Terre Haute; ]. j. Hanahan, vice
| grand master of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Firemen, Chicago; William Sheehan,
| grand secretary and treasurer of the Brother
| hood OF Railroad Trainmen, Gaylesburg ILL.,
| b. II. Morrissey, vice grand master of the
brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Peoria,
| ILL.,; James Downey, vice grand master OF the
| Switchmen's Mutual Aid Association Chicago;
John Hall. grand organizer of the Switchmen's
| Mutual Aid Association, Chicago; Geo. Love-
! joy, assistant grand chief conductor of the
brotherhood of Railroad Conductors, Terre
| Haute and James Carr assistant chief con-
ductor, Kansas City.
The Merry, Merry SOngstress and the Tar
| From the Boston Record.
The funniest thing of the week was when
Admiral Gherardi, struck with the charms of
Lillian Norton-Nordica-G Cover. sat by her side
all day Tuesday, and then was SO annoyed by
| the way he was pestered about it that he sailed
away yesterday.