Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-28
TAKING FRESH HOLD.
Railroad Troubles Pass Into The Hands
Of the Supreme Council,
WHO WILL BE IN THE CITY TODAY
Mr.. Wilkinson Addresses a Meeting of the
Federated Order.
HE TALKS FOR CLOSER COMMUNION.

The intensity Of the lull in the railroad
difficulty during the greater part of yester-
day seemed to indicate that the agitation
was about to die out without any benefit to
the men resulting from the two-weeks' hard
work. Matters livened up somewhat last
night. however. A general meeting of the
| Federated order was held at 101 Fifth avenue
| which continued in session until nearly
midnight.
Grand Master Wilkinson had returned
from Philadelphia in the morning, and he
was present. He announced to the work
men that the Supreme Council will arrive
in the city at 7:2O this morning over the
Fort Wayne road. They will meet imme-
| diately, and receive committees from the
various roads. These comm ittees will lay
before the Supreme Council the exact ma
ture Of the grievances on each road, together
with the demands made by the men and the
replies received from the ompanies.
The Supreme Council will then discuss
| and determine upon the merits of the case.
| Should they decide that the propositions
made by the companies are sufficient, they
| will declare all further negotiations off, and
the matter will be settled at once.
STILL FEARS OF A STRIKE.
However, if it is the opinion of the coun-
Gil that the men should get more money or
shorter hours, they will call in person upon
the several superintendents and make
final effort to secure more generous con-
cessions. Should they fail. strike will be
| ordered without further delay. The whole
business will be settled to-day
The Supreme Council is composed of the
following grand officers: F. P. Sergeant,
| Grand Master of the Federated Order; E. V.
Debs, Vice Grand Master; William A.
Sheehan, Chief OF the Brotherhood of
Railway Trainmen; w. G. Howard,
Grand Master of the Brotherhood
of Railway, Conductors; A. B;
Locomotive Firemen; John Sweeney, Grand
Master of the Switchmen's Association;
John Downey, Vice Grand Master; S. E.
Wilkinson, Grand Master OF the Brother
hood of Railway Trainmen; William Sims
rOtt, Vice Grand Master; John A. Hall. of
the Brotherhood of Railway Conductors and
Trustee John Glenn.
The chances of a strike would seem to be
somewhat lessened by the fact that it re-
quires a unanimous vote of the Supreme
Council to order tie-up, and two members
of the body are said to be greatly against
striking. One of the yardmen said last
night, however: "You don't know those
people. They will not stand any foolish
ness. If they are not successful in getting
for US what we ask you can depend on it
there will be a strike
Mr.. Wilkinson delivered an address at
the meeting last night which created con-
siderable enthusiasm among the yardmen
present. He discussed the situation from
the beginning, and said he was glad the
railroad men in Pittsburg had determine
ton enough about them to stand up for
their rights.
WARNED TO BE CAREFUL.
"When the Supreme Council comes to-
morrow" said he, 81 want you to go before
them and tell all you know. Tell the truth,
and nothing but tie truth, as you are true
members of the order. There is enough to
say without any exaggeration, so I caution
you to be careful that you do not misrepre-
sent your grievances. You will be bound
to be satisfied with whatever decision
the council arrives at, and you will
probably have to accept what the COM
panies have offered you. But don't
grumble. 1t is an advance over your former
pay of 90 per cent. 1t would be easy for
you to get another advance later. 1 am
sorry that, although the Supreme CouIcil
has been in existence year they have not
done much to be proud of.
ST want to say word to the fremen and
engineers.
''Don't think that, because you have
nothing to gain in this fight that you should
take no interest in it. Stand together as
though we were in one organization, for I
believe it will not be many years until all
OF the railway organizations will be
consolidated. I look forward with
oh MI fn 10
expect to see all men in the
service, members of one grand brotherhood. |
1t will then be a grand and noble organiza-
tion. 1t is necessary that we should come |
together in order to meet the greedy cor
porations that try to grind US down below |
living wages. Selfshness is the cause of |
all our troubles, but stick together men,
and victory is ours.
SOME YARDS CROWDED.
There was nothing new in the yards yes
terday. Freight was being removed as
usual, although most Of the yards are some
what crowded. The non-un1on men are get
ting very anxious to have the trouble set
tied. One of them said yesterday: "Our
people are ready to strike any time. We
have no organization and no rules to keep
us from going out. We have nothing to
lose and everything to win. I wish it was
settled one way or the other"
Shippers are still anxious about the trou-
BILE and are fearful that strike may occur.
1t is stated on reliable authority that should
a tie-up be ordered the railroads will be
caught short, and among the first people to
suffer will be the blast furnace owners. In
the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys there
is very little stock coke, on account of the
price being so high, and il the railroads
are crippled the furnaces will prob
ably have to shut down. At pres
ent the pig iron manufacturers have
been running their furnaces with coke
received from day to day, and are dependent
on the railroad companies to furnish their
quota OF loaded cars each "a hours. If the
blast furnaces close down, the finished iron
of this city will be affected,
and, in addition to being unable to ship
cars, it will be impossible for them to get
pig iron. If this turns out to be the case
the strike will be serious matter to this