The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-08-30
bGENERAL STRIKE
bpreme Council of Railway
Federation Concludes Its
DeiibeHations.
Prevails and the
Members win Not BE Calf
ed ont on Strike.
Statement'O of the Council
IOnclusi0fr, in Which MIR.
Webb Is Censured.

fnd., dated TIC Goth inst, brings the
X information that there will he no gen
|<ffal strike on account Of the troubles
\ Nhetween the New York Central and it's
'Bmployes. 1t was a common remark
1sfi 2erre Haute, after the decision OF
'sfhe council was announced, that it
Il EWould be Just to Mr.. Webb's liking,
>tnd that he could not have framed
&lecision himself that would suit the
Rtinteresrs OF the New York Central
1Mompany better, 1t would seem that
the Knights OF Labor who are partic-
Ailariy in the strike are ieit pretty
much to their own resources, and n
NV co sofar AS to assert that the de
trion Of the council OF Fedora ion
may result IN n serious blow to
3he Knights Of Labor organization.
UAt the same time il is a VindiCatiDn Of
F4he conservatism and prudence OF the
Moderation. 1t was formed to prevent
#trlkes, instead Oi to promote them,
><snd an the very first case upon which
,Nts supreme tribunal has been called
4 10 Sit in judgment it has asdemonstrated
&{B inteHtion of living within its laws,
md yet It was only aft er n warm strug
RIe that
THE CONSERVATIVES PREVAILED
Efae against the supporters Of war TO
fsthe knife When the members OF the
'<Houncil came together every man was
H<}et termined that the issue must be
}Hced without further delay. The re
4'port OF the committee was taken up
4na debated in detail. Downey OF
l,lcago, one OF the representatives of
<he switchmep'S union, distinguished
hinnseif by a two hours speech, in
nzfhich he brought sledgehammer
rgumentS to bear against
Nhe proposition to "mbrOiI the
united orders in a strike, and there
x.es no lack OF speakers on either side,
mod the debate, waxing at times eX-
ceedirsgty warm, went on for nearly
ltire hours. Finally vote was reach
edx Just how it resulted numerically
AZ known only to the delegates and
wln appear only in the secret orders,
Nhile former are as tight mounted as
.nIams. 1t is believed, however, that
the three delegates from the swiCh-
mems union, two from theCOnductors,
TWO from the trainmen and one from
\ the firemen voted in the negative.
This would make the vote eight to
Tour, and it required the vote of two
N of three members representing each
4 nrder to decide which way that or
&anixation should vote, but it also
fequired unanimous vote Of all
fDur orders before a strike could be
brdered. Hence, even had two repre-
Bentatives ofthese orders been in favor
pf backing the knights by
A GENERAL TIE-UP,
the solid opposition OF the three
switchmen would have defeated the
y purpose. As it was the friends OF peace
had enough votes and to spare. The
delegates breathed sigh of relief after
the crucial test had been applied, and
tlsen proceeded with alaCrity TO pre-
lJ1fe general statement for the pub
n slinlregarding the strike and the posi-
tiDn of the federation in the affair.
This occupied considerable time, and
III then another debate was preCiptated
81 hy the introduction OF resolution so
N changing the constitution of the body
"a as to require a two-thlrds vote of the
organizations embraced under the con.
~ #stitution to declare u strike instead OF
NH Nrntn - nt tNrnSnnf In
\, support Of the proposition strong al
IS guments were made. 1t was declared
that it was almost an utter inn
N Possibility to order ~ strike
& &ls the constitution now stood
Ind it was urged that the amend
eaent proposed would not in any way
ixhange the case calculating disposition
of the membership or make strikes
Y my more frequent than they are un
Her the existing code. But the tau
Mas of no avail, for the proposition
on being put toIa vote, was defeated
hnother victory for the conservatives
After a session of nearly ten hut1fa
the twelve men, looking deCldafi;
"A weary, but vet cheerful over the t1na
conclusion Of their iabors, emerges
rom the club room. .....
Nearly all the members of the coun
fil left for their respective headquartcr
pn the midnight train.
! After adjournment Chief Sargen
furnished to the press the otticia
tatement of the conclusion arrive,
at by the council, which is signed b,
Frank p. Sargent, president, and W
ia A. Shebar, secretary. The doCumen
# in extenso follows:
~ OUTCOME OF THE MEETING.
# To All Labor OrganizatiQns-Mel
n and Brothers; On the night of Aug
N a strike began OH the New York Cen
~ tral K Hudson River railroad involv
ing about eight thousand men in tn
employ of said road, who were mem
s& bers of great labor organization
kPpwn as the Knights OF Labor. Tn
reasons set forth by y. " Powderly
~ chief executive of the order, may b
summarized as follows:
A& Jhe peremptory discharge of be
tween fifty and sixty men, employees G
the road and members of the Knight
of Labor, because they were Knight
Npf Labor, without giving them an
.rpason whatever for their dischargt
Prior to the strike the men involve
Fought, through the representatives c
he order, to have their grievances &C
nsted, but their appeals being disre
garded a strike was inaugurated. A
\ this juncture T. V. Powderly, genera
master workman OF the Knights {
II Labor, entered upon the task of aC
~ jnsting the difficulty and of maxim
such arrangements as would result /
an h onorable peace between the EN-
ploy - and officials OF the road, bu
his efforts were unavailing,
Mr.. Powderly, comprehend ing th
purpose OF III. Waiter Webb, third vic
president OF the company, TO max
Ear upon the Knights OF Labor an