The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1890-08-29
NO GENERAL srRIkE

The supreme Council OF Railroad Employees
Refuse tn Aid the Knights of Labor BJ
Ordering a Gensr L strik--
TERRE HAUTE, Ind, Aug. 90 Tho
Knights of Labor asked for bread and
their brethren of the United Order of
Railroad Employees. better known as
the Federation, has responded with a
stone 1t is true that the morsel is con-
cealed in 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 v;ce-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 a
death blow to the Knights. AT the
same time it is vindication of the con-
servatism and prudence of the Fedora
ton. 1t was formed to prevent strikes
AAoeo10 VI w PIOu1OlC anu III bnO
very first case upon which it's 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-
servatives prevailed as against the sup
porters OF war to the knife.
When the members of the council
came together yesterday morning every
dofo cd haf ha
must be faced without further delay.
The report of the committee was taken
up and debated in detail Downey, of
Chicago, one of the representative of
the Switchmen's Union distinguished
himself by two hours speech in which
he brought sledge hammer arguments
to bear against the proposition to en-
broil the united orders in 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 1t is be-
! lieved, however, that the three dele
|
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
| no 6a O-la
Hence, even had two representatives OF
three orders been in favor of backing
the Knights by 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 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 n resolution sc
changing the constitution of the bod
as to require a two-thirds vote of the
organizations embraced under the
constitution to declare strike
instead of a 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 q
strike as the constitution now stood
and il was urged that the amendment
proposed would not in any way change
the case, calculating the disposition O.
the membership. or make strikes any
more frequent than they are under the
existing code. But the talk was of NJ
avail, for the proposition, on being pu
to a vote was defeated, another victory
for the conservatives.