Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-08-28
AID REFUSED.
Supreme Council Of Railroad Em.
ployes In Session.
GREAT SYMPATHY MANIFESTED.
ANY Thing Further, Howsver Feg the
Knights Of Labor Ont Of the 4resaaa
Attempts to Change the Ped
Grafton Constitution.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind, Aug. 2&-Th4
Knights of Labor asked for bread ana
their brethren of the United Order of
Railroad Employees better known az
the Federation, has responded with
stone. It Is true that the morsel Is con-
eesled In a Jar of honey, but it Will be
none the more digestible to the Knights
on that account It was a common re-
mark here last night that the final de-
cision Of the conference could not have
been more to Mr.. Webb's taste had the
third vice-president of the New York
Central and his associates manipulated
the wires that controlled the twelve
men who composed the supreme body.
The unfortunate Knights are left to their
own resources They are not even offered
the balm of pecuniary support, and their
general master workman is referred by
the chief of the Federation to the press
dispatches for the official reply to his
appeal The outcome may prove
death blow to the Knights. At the
same time 1t is vindication Of the con-
servatism and prudence of the Fedora
ton. 1t was formed to prevent strikes
1uSUSdu VI W 1hO Al SAS
very first case upon which its supreme
tribunal has been called to sit in judg-
ment has demonstrated its intention OF
living within its laws and yet it was
only after warm struggle that the con-
servadves prevailed as against the sup
porters of war to the knife.
When the members of the council
came together yesterday morning every
man was determined that the issues
must be faced without further delay.
The report of the committee was taken
up and debated in detail Downey, of
Chicago, one of the representatives OF
the Switchmen's Union distinguished
himself by a two hours speech in which
he brought sledge hammer arguments
to bear against the proposition to en-
broil the united orders in a strike, and
there was no lack of speakers on the
other side, and the debate, waxing at
times exceedingly warm, went on
for nearly five hours Finally vote
was reached. Just how it resulted
numerically is known only to the dele
gates and will appear only in the secret
records of the order, while the former
are as tight-mouthed as clans. It's be-
lieved, however, that the three dele
| gates from the Swltchmen's Union, two
from the conductors, two from the
trainmen and one from the fire.
men voted in the negative, which
would make the vote eight to
four, and it required the vote of
two of the three members representing
each order to decide which way that or
ganization should vote. but it also re-
| quired unanimous vote of all four Or
| ders before strike could be ordered.
| Hence, even had two representatives of
three orders been in favor of backing
the knights by a general tie-up, the
solid opposition of the three switchmen
| would have defeated the purpose, as it
was the friends of peace had enough
votes and to spare.
The delegates breathed a sigh of re-
lief after the crucial test had been ap-
| piled and then proceeded with alacrity
to prepare general statement for the
public regarding the strike and the po-
/ sition of the Federation in the affair.
| This consumed considerable time and
| then another debate was precipitated
| by the Introduction OF resolution so
changing the constitution of the body
as to require a two-thirds vote of the
| organizations embraced under the
| constitution to declare a strike
| instead of unanimous vote, as
| at present In support of the
proposition strong arguments were
| made. 1t was declared that it was al
most an utter impossibility to order a
strike as the constitution now stood,
and it was urged that the amendment
proposed would not in any way change
the case, calculating the disposition of
the membership or make strikes any
more frequent than they are under the
existing code. But the talk was of no
avail, for the proposition, on being put
to vote was defeated, another victory
for the conservatives.