The morning call., 1890-08-26
WILL NOT STRIKE.
Result Of the Labor Conference
at Terre Haute.
Report Of the Supreme Council Of United
Railway Employees.
Course Of PCTderly Approved and the
Action Of Webb Condemned No
Power 10 Order a General Strike.
Special Dispatches TO THE MORNING CALL.

ter Workman i. V. Powderly and four
members Of the General Executive Board
arrived this morning. Powderly and the
General Executive Board met in Joint secret
session with District Assembly 246 this
afternoon. District Assembly 246 comprises
three delegates from tlirty-nine local as
semblies, who represent membership of
$4,000. At the afternoon conference
twenty of the discharged men were
closely questioned by Powderly relative to
the causes which they thought led to their
dismissal. 1t is claimed that many facts
were brought out which tended to show the
discharges were the results of a precon-
certed plan to drop all prominent leaders
in The circle Of Knights A preamble and
resolution was adopted, calling on the State
Board Of Arbitration to order prompt in-
vestigation Of the existing difficulties, say
ing that the strikers were ready and anX-
ous for one. Before the meeting adjourned
Powderly and Deylin addressed the dele
gates, outlining the course which would be
pursued in case the federation did not or
der general strike. The conference then
adjourned sine die.
ENTHUSIASTIC MAss-IEETING.
A monster mass-meetin by the strik-
ers was held in the rink tonight,
which drew larger crowd to that place
than ever before entered the building at
one time. a. w. Wright, member of the
General Executive Board, Mcclure and
Powderly, were among the speakers. Pow
derly was received with a perfect tumult
of applause. He said the strike was
already won and proclaimed it Victory.
No man could say the cause was wrong.
He said the loss on dressed beef alone on
the road was S1,0O0,G0O by actual count,
while other accounts would foot up 2,O00,-
O0O, and SO it was time for Webb to call off
the strike. Powderly then asked if any
member of the Brotherhood Of Locomotive
Engineers was present. If there was one
he spoke to him, and lie called upon the
order to array themselves on the side of
labor, despite their unworthy Chief. 1t
was not until Arthur took charge that such
nefarious d0ings were made public. The
order must soon show its hand despite its
bribed chief. The Central road was refus-
ing freight. although it was 4 law of the
State that they should take all the freight
offered. The law should descend, and in
stead of calling out the militia seize
the road for refusing to do its duty.
At the conclusion OF his remarks
Powderly offered resolution, which was
adopted by storm OF unanimous approval: |
That it is the sense of this meeting that |
the introduction Of an armed force in the |
State in the time of peace is an outrage |
against the laws of our State, is in viola |
tion of every law of humanity, and should |
be forever stopped at the next session of
the Legislature"
MESSAGE TO PowDERLY.
TERRE HAUTE, Aug. 25.-At 6 o'clock
this evening The following message was sent
out by the council of railroad employees,
signed by President Sargent and Secretary
Sheehan, to Powderly, at Albany: "The
Supreme Council adjourned this afternoon
after carefully considering the strike in all
its details. You will note the result of our
deliberations in to-nights dispatches,
which, it is hoped, will meet with your aD-
proval. The council was unanimous In
considering your position, and the Grand |
Executive Board most earnestly hopes that |
the right, which you are championing in |
the great conflict on the New York Central, |
may finally and powerfully prevail"
RESULT OF THE CONFERENCE.
The official statement OF the council, as
given to the Associated Press representa- |
tive, is as follows:
HEADQUARTERS SUPREME COUNCIL
OF THE UNITED ORDER
RAILWAY EMPLOY Es.
To AL LdborinS Orgu{zdtions-MEN AND |
BRoTHERS 81; oH Tue 1Ylglt Ygi o. august alh stfiRe
River Railroad, involving about 500 men In the |
employ OF that same road, who were members OF |
The great labor organization known as tho |
knights of Labor. The reasons set forth by |
rowderly, Chief Executive OF the order, may be
summarized as follows: The peremptory dis
charge OF between fifty and sixty employees OF the
road, and members OF the knights of Labor, |
without giving them any reason whatever for
their discharge Prior to the strike the men In |
voyed sought, through Representatives OF the |
order, to have their grievances adjusted but |
their appeals being disregarded, strike was |
lnaugurateu.
EFFORTS TO ADJUST THE DIFFICULTY.
AT this juncture Powderly, General Master |
Workman of the knights of Labor. entered upon |
the task Ol adjusting the oilhculiy, and making |
such arrangements as would result In honorable |
peace between the employees and tie officials OF |
tile road, but his efforts were uDdvailng. Pow. |
derry, comprehendlng the purpose OF II. Walter |
Webb, Third Vice PRESIDENT of the company, TO |
make war upon the Knights OF Labor and ull- |
matey upon all labor organizations represented |
Oh his road, sought conference with the Su- |
preme Council, United Order of Railway En- |
plOyes. The request OF Powderly was granted |
10 the extent that four members OF the council, |
the chief executives OF federated orders, met |
him in the city OF Busfao, viz: f. T. Sargent. |
Grand Master Of The Brotherhood OF Locomotive
Fremen and President OF the supreme Council;
George ". Howard Grand Chief OF the BROTH |
eIho0d OF Railway Conductors and Vice-Presi- |
dent OF The Supreme Council; S. L. Wilkinson,
Conductors and VicePresident OF the Supreme
Council aud Grand Master OF the Brotherhood OF
Railway Trainmtn, and Frank Sweeney, Grand |
Master OF The Switchmen's Mutual Aid Associa-
ton.
THE BUFFALO CONFERENCE.
At the con ference with Powdery at Buffalo,
the members OF Tie Supreme Council became
satisfied that Tie Ollclals OF the road, by every
consideration OF fair and honorable treatment Of
labor organizations, should meet Powderly and
adopt some just plan for The adjustment OF the
grievances OF Ihe striking employees. This con-
clusion having been reached, the members Of the
Supreme Council, In response TO the request OF
Powdefly, extended their journey to New York
10 afford such aid as was Ia their power TO bring
about a settlement between Vice President
Webb. the official having iull authority all
matters pertaining 10 the strike, and Powderly
having authority TO negotiate such arrangements
for n Il mi IN = -
PROPOSITIONS REFUSED.
An interview having been secured, Powderly
sought 10 have tie men discharged heard in their
own defense in the presence OF Webb and him.
self. This fair and honorable proposition was
refused. Powderly proposed arbitration. which
was also refused. There were other propositions
honorable settlement OF tbe existing trouble, all
OF which were refused on the part of Webb. The
members OF the supreme Council, while In
TO thoroughly inform themselves upon all matters
concerning the strike. They saw and heard both
SIDES. They appreciate the gravity Of the situa-
llop, and c0mpfehending the impending conse-
QueDces 10 labor organizations, deemed IL ad-
visable TO convene the Supreme Council for de-
should warrant.
THE SUPREME COUNCIL.
In response 10 an order OF Sargent, President
OF tbe supreme Council, that body convened in
1erre Haule last Saturday aud remained in ses-
Sion until noon to-day. In making their report
to the council the members who went TO New
York to confer with Powdery found all the
statements maze by him fully eorroborated by
facts. In an interview with Webb, he refused
10 entertain any proposition looking to a settle
ment OF the difficulty. He would not arbitrate
any question nor make any explanation or con-
cesslOn whatever with regard 10 the discharged
employees. He claimed The right 10 discharge
employees AZ will without making an expana-
ton or giving to tile victims In his power any
reasons ior his despotc action. He would man
age lis road 10 suit himself without reference TO
any rights claimed by Its employees or any rights
Claimed by labor organizations TO interfere in
the malter TO protect their members. The coun-
Gil having heard the statement Of its members
who had visited New York for The purpose OF
asceranDg the true condition Of affairs, ex-
hausiively discussed every important proposi.
tion and arrived at conclusions as follows;
FINDINGS OF THE COUNCIL.
Flrst-Thatthe position OF the Knights OF La
Dor, as set forth by Powderly, General Master