St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-22
MUST ACT AS A UNIT.
One Negative Vote Will Prevent
General Strike.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. Aug. 21.-Grand
Secretary Debs, of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Firemen, talked freely to-
day to press representative regarding
the impending strike Ou the New York
Cent raj road. He said that when the
local members of the Supreme council,
Grand Master Sargent, Grand
Chief Howard and himself dis
cussed the situation fully and
decided to take no part in the strike.
These members of the supreme council
at once communicated with other men,
berS of the council all of whom, except
Grand Master Sweeney, of the Switch
mems Mutual Aid association, ac-
quiesced in their decision. Mr.. Debs
Sweeney in the East at the time
these communications were sent
out is the probable canse of
his failure to respond. Soon after this
Grand Master Sargent received re-
quest from Grand Master Workman
Powderly to go TO New York and con-
slider the grievances of the striking
knights, many of whom are also men,
bers. one or another, of the railroad
mems federation. sit is true" said
Mr.. Debs, ''that while the fed
GRAFTON does not favor dual
membership i'll a brotherhood
organization and the x. of l.. holding
that member Of the federation should
owe allegiance alone to it, it neyerthe-
less is fact that many railroad men are
also Knights of Labor. 'As matter of
courtesy merely" added Mr.. Debs,
York to consult with the leaders Of the
strike. There is nothing III the mere
fact that Mr. Sargent has consulted with
Mr.. Powderly to warrant the belief that
the supreme council will
Order a General Strike.
say this without full knowledge of
the condition of affairs Oh the Central
and aside from the principle involved
i'm the wholesale discharge of men
whose grievances the company refuse
to arDitrate. 1t has been given out that
Grand Master Sweeney ordered the
strike of the switchmen, but this is not
true, as such action would be direct
violation of the laws of the Federation.
The Federation was formed to pre-
vent strikes, not to breed them. Every
step toward ordering strike
must be taken in accordance with these
rules Too much significance should
not be attached to the meeting of the
supreme council, to be held here Satur-
day. Our rules provide that such meet
ings shall, when practicable, be held at
or near the seat of trouble. Being on
the eve of our annual meeting to be
held in San Francisco Sept. 8,
and the members of the SUI
preme council being widely separ-
ated, it was considered more
convenient to hold the meeting at Terre
Haute. If the representatives of the
Brotherhood of Railway Conductors
who live in California cannot reach
here in time they will have to delegate
others to act in their stead. No meet
ing of the supreme council can be held
unless there is full representation of its
members. Each organization represent
ed in the supreme council must act for
itself. For instance, when the supreme
council meets, the three representatives
of the Switchmen's association will vote
in private on the question of ordering
strike. The result OF these several
votes is then laid before full council.
Continued on Eighth Page.