Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-08-28
THE FEDERATION.
The sapreme Council Refuses to Extend
Amy Thing hut sympathy 20 the Knights
of Labor.

/
Any Thing but sympathy 90 the Knights
Of Labor.
TERRg HAUTE, Ind, Aug. 20 The
Knights OF Labor asked for bread and
their brt thren OF tho United Order OF
Railroad Employees, better known as
the Federation, has responded with a
stone. II is true that the morsel Is con-
cealed in jar Of honey but IL will be
none tho moro digestible TO the knights
on that account 1t was 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 ylce-president OF tho New York
Central and his associates manipulated
the wires that controlled the twelve
men who composed the supreme body.
The unfortunate Knights are J 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 tho 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 IL is q vindication of the con-
servatism and prudence Of the Fedora
ton. 1t was formed to prevent strikes
instead Of TO promote them and in the
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 a warm struggle that the con-
seryatiyes prevailed as against the sup
porters Of war to the knife.
When the members of tho 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
tho Switchmen's Union distinguished
himself by two hours speech in which
he brought sledge hammer arguments
to boar 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 1t resulted
numerically is known only to the dole
gates and will appear only in the secret
records of the order, while the former
are as tight-mouthed as clans. tits be-
lieved, however, that the three dele
gates from the Switchmen's Union, two
from the conductors, two from the
tranmen and one from the fire.
men voted il The negative WHICH
NtH.s ,,lH fls frrlsf
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 10 also re-
quired a unanimous vote OF all four or
ders before u 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 1t
was the friends Of peace had enough
votes and to spare.
The delegates brcathed sigh of re-
lief after the crucial test had been APP
piled and then proceeded with alacrity
TO prepare a 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 tho introduction Of a resolution SO
changing the constitution OF the body
as TO require a two-thirds vote of the
organizations embraced under the
to declare strike
instead of unanimous vote, as
at present In support OF the
strong arguments were
made. II was declared that it was al
most an utter impossibility to order
strike as the constitution now stood,
and { was urged that tho amendment
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.