Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-20
STRIKE LEADERS .
THEY ASSEMBLE IN CONCLAVE IN NEW YORK
CITY.
The Strike In Suspense-Talk Of General
Strike Of the Railway Employes-Ths
Central Will Spend Millions 70 Win.
Conflicting Reports.

Labor, arrived here at o'clock this
morning and registered at the st. Cloud
Hotel. Grand Chief Sargent, of the
Federation Of Railway Employees; S. L.
Wilkinson, Of the Trainmen'S ASsocia
tiou; Chairman George Howard, of the
Railway Conductors, and Grand Master
Sweeney, Of the Switchmen's Mutual
Aid Association, are at the Grand Union
Hotel.
Mr.. Webb was on hand at the Grand
Central depot at an early hour this morn
ing. He said: "For the past few days
have been making arrangements to get
a new force of liremen, in case those on
the road should go out and have sue
succeeded so far that any delay from
that cause will only be temporary. |
have enough assurances from the fire
men on my road to convince me that in
case they are ordered ont Il number OF
them will not 60. Then, if necessary, |
will stop every particle OF freight traffic,
close up every yard and keep them
closed until have obtained 4 sufficient
number of new firemen TO resume the
freight traffic. This, think, can ac
complish within IS hours, as | have
long lists of men who will come at the
wages we will pay. Ny road will eX-
pend s., 600, 900 to win, and in my action
am backed up by the stockholders"
TALK OF A GENERAL STRIKE.
1t is said that Mr.. Sargent will call
upon Mr.. Webb and get his version as
to how the liremen have been treated.
Mr. Hayes was spoken to by a re-
porter this morning, but refused to say
anything beyond the fact that con-
ference would be held at the inStigation
of Mr.. Sargent. Mr.. Sargent, Mr., Hays
said. would be authorized to speak for
the leaders, and great deal depended
upon Mr.. Sargcnt's views.
1t seems to be the general opinion of
the men that Mr.. WebbS action i'm re-
fuSng to arbitratc will result in the
train conductors, iiremcn and switch
men being called out and a prodigiouS
strike declared. The conference, it is
trne, will have no jurisdiction over the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers,
but at the same time IL is one OF the laws
of the Brotherhood that they will notand
cannot work with nOn-uniOn men. and if
the iircmen should 90 on a strike there
would be- nothing left for the engineers
but to quit work also.
Mr.. Powderly. when questioned by a
reporter. said: MATTERS connected
with the New York Central trouble
have reached a most serious and criti-
cal point, and one that will interest the
people Of this country more than they
imagine at the present time. / do not
mean TO say that there will be general
strike, and ! do not deny il. There
will be a meeting to-day Of the General
Executive Board of the Knights of
Labor. which will be attended by the
representatives of the trainmen, fire
men, switchmen and conductors, and at
that meeting final action will be taken"
WAITING FOR SARGENT.
Although the name of Chief Sargent |
appears on the register of the Grand /
Union Hotel, Mr.. Sargent had not ar /
rived up to noon, and his advent was /
eagerly looked for. When he gets here /
a meeting Of the Supreme Council Of the |
Federation Of Railway Employees will be
held at once.
Messrs. Howard and Wilkinson were
seen at their room in the Grand Union |
Hotel.
"What programme have you for to-
day, Mr. Wilkinson?" was asked.
Il have no authority to say anything.
Mr.. Howard and myself were summoned
here by Mr.. Sargent and as he is not
here we must wait and learn what he
has to say. 1t is not probable that Mr..
Sargent will call upon Mr.. Webb the
moment he arrives
An air Of uncaSineSS was about the
Grand Central depot early this evening
for the first time in several days Pre-
were made for Mr.. Webb and
Mr. Voorhees, to spend the night at the
depot An emergency had APP
parcntly arisen to induce the
New York Central officials to
developments that might
require their attention at any
The conference Of the X. Of
L. leaders at o o'clock was at the ST.
Cloud Hotel. Chief Sergeant, of the Lo-
comotiyc Firemen, being present, and
what is being done is watched by score
or more of newspaper men.
The cause Of the anxiety OF the Cen
tral managers-an anxiety which APP
Deared clearly I'm the unusual aversion
to making comments on the SITUATION
was partly at least eXplainaOle by an
event Of the afternoon. This episode
was the interview between Vice PreSi-
dent Webb and Chief Sergeant, Of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen. In this conference
MIR. Webb was placed in the
situation of doing most Of the talking \
In a cordial manner he complimented ,
Mr. Sargent and the organization OF
which the latter was the head Tor the
manner i'm which IL had remained true
to the Central in its present strike. Mr..
Webb gave Mr.. Sargent every OPP ]
nortrnity 10 say that the fire
mon annreciated the compliment ana
would continue in the future as IN the
mast true to the interests OF the railroad
men and not join the ranks oil lhe
strikers. but the willy Chief OF the llre-
mon aid not say anything Of the Kind.
Tbcre was an appearance OF unwilling ,
ness IN talk AT any length on the part 4.
NJ. Sorpeant. This interview s
caused uneasiness. Neither MI
VII or Mr. Voorhees, had much TO say
earIy i'm the evening. Nothing further {
had been heard from Powderly or the ]
leaders Of the knights OF Labor. Inc
New York Central officials said that the
freight blockade had already Deeh
pretty well raised. 4
so TRUTH II IT. 4
Vice President Webb sent the following :
80 Associated Press this afternoon: {
~ Wv YoRK. August IA statement mas d
,oer sent 10 Albany aud along the line oi J
~ S.' road that expressed indifference this I
-.,,,ir -.-,@ as 10 whether the firemen in our
lDnlov or Low, went out on u strike or not as we !
lad @ J plenty Of men to I'LL their places l,efs
Tbere is not a word Of truth in the state t
nent. and l would thank you TO insert 'n'S
Stoned Sc II. WAITER WEBB,