Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-21
POWDERLY SPEAKS.
He Says the Strike on the Central Has
Ceased to Be Local Affair.
The Entire Organization OF the Knights Of
Labor Now Involved - An Interview
with Webb and Toueey.
NO CHANGE AT Albany,


ALBANY, N. Y. Aug. 20.-There Is
no change in the strike situation to-day.
GRAND MASTER sARGEANT INTERVIEWED.
NEW YORK, Aug. 20.-The conference
of labor leaders which was begun in the
st. Cloud hotel last evening was re-
sumed this morning. General Master
Sargeant of the Brotherhood of Firemen,
Grand Master Sweeny of the Switch
men g association, Chairman Howard of
the Brotherhood of Railroad Conductors,
Master Wilkerson of the Trainmeu's
association came together, and at $3.50
joined Messrs. Powderly, Hayes, Hol-
land, Wright of the executive board
and Kefiin in the rooms OF the st. Cloud
hotel. The conference began at 10
O'Clock. Grand Master Sergeant, chosen
to act as spokesman of the party, said
before the meeting convened: "There
is little apprehension on the part of the
public regarding the powers of this con-
ference. Myself aud three colleagues,
Messrs. Sweeney ,Wilkerson and Howard.
are members of the supreme council OF
Federation of railway council, but as
there are twelve members of the coun-
Gil, and as we are but four we have no
authority to order strike of our men.
All we can do is TO report the result OF
our elaboration to the executive board
Knights OF Labor to q full committee OF
the supreme council, of which l am
chairman, and the full committee can
then act on the report. The other eight
members of the council are in easy reach,
and can get them together very quick
". L might add we are once more re-
viewing the entire evidence admitted to
US for adiudiction, but how long the
conference will last cannot say now. ~
Mr.. Webb, when called upon, re-
peated the statement that everything
was running smoothly and said he did
not now anticipate any further trouble.
TRAINN1EN THREATEN TO GO OUT.
CHICAGO, ILL, Aug. 20.-There was a
report abroad to-day to the effect that a
committee representing trainmen OF the
Central Illinois system would Tomorrow
present a petition for an advance in
wages, and that they would strike II the
advance was refused. There are reasons
for believing the report to be true. At
the general office of the company the ru-
NOR was considered as relating to pos
sibility, but hardly to a probability.
''The men have no grievances that We
have heard of, - said an official in Gem
eral Manager Beck's office, "and If
there is any general complaint it has
been kept very quiet. Wages OF train
men were raised in 1888, and are now
the same as those paid by all other roads.
Way freightmen have complaint which
we are now considering, but it is from
men between Champaign and Csntralla
only
NEW TUR,: TO AFFAIRS.
NEW YORK, Aug. 20.--Mr. Powderly
states that the strike has ceased to be one
of the local assembly and has become
nna of tho whole nrpanizafinn and IL will
use every means in Its power to continue
the fight. He intimates that the Fedora
ton of railroad employees will support
the movement. The situation is serions.
A CALL ON WEBB.
Powderly and Devlin of the executive
committee of the Knights of Labor called
on President Webb at 8 O'Clock
this evening. Toucey was with
Webb, and the four gentlemen had an
interview which lasted twenty minutes.
At the conclusion PowderlY told re-
porter what had TRANSFERRED. Devlin
asked Webb if he would consent
to an investigation of the causes
surrounding the discharge of the fifteen
men. Webb answered that there was
nothing to investigates; that the railroad
company was managing the road, and he
did not see why their actions should be
questioned. Devlin then asked him If
he did not owe the public and
the. employees of the road any duty
regarding its management IN which all
were more or less interested. Webb did
not reply. Mr.. Devlin then said there
was no use In further discussing
the matter as the railroad COM
pany had declared themselves
In favor of an independent
course Touoey then said that Master
Workman Lee was principally RESPONSE
BILE for the strike. Devlin asked Toucey
il he would waive the question of Mr..
Lees action and consider the discharg,
of the other men. Toucev and Webb re-
fused. This ended the conference.