The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-20
LABOR CONFERENCE.
The New York Central Railroad Strike
Under Consideration.

NEW YORK, Aug. 19.-Webb Of the New
York Central this morning said: "Fcr the
past few days | have been making arrange
mentS to get new force of firemen in case
those on the road 60 out, and have sue
eeeded so far that any delay from
that cause will only be temporary. If
necessary l will stop every particle of
freight traffic, close up every yard and keep
them closed until L have-ebtained q suffi-
cent number of new firemen to resume
freight traffic. This L think l can accom-
plish within forty-eight hours, as l have
long lists OF men who will come at the
wages we will pay. My road will expend
S2.ooo,000 to win, and in my action L am
backed up by the stockholders"
An air of uneaSineSS was about the Grand
Central Depot this evening, and for the
first time in several days preparations were
made for Webb and Voorhees, to spend the
night i'll the depot. An emergency had APP
parently arisen to induce the New York
Central officials TO anticipate developments
that might require their attention at any
moment. The cause of the anxiety Of the
Central managers an anxiety which
appeared clearly in the unusual
aversion in making comment on the sit
uation-was nearly explainable by an event
of the forenoon. This event was an inter-
view between Vice President Webb and
Chief Sargent Of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Flremen. In this conference Webb
was placed in situation of doing most Of
the talking. In Il cordial manner he CONF
plimented Sargent and the organization
of which the latter was at the
head for the manner in which it
had remained true to the Central.
webb gave Sargent every opportunity TO
say the hremen appreciated the complI-
ment and would continue in the future as
In the past true to the interests OF the
railway and not join the ranks of
the strikers; but the willy chief en-
glneer did not say anything of
the kind. There was an appearance
of unwillingness to talk at any length on
the uneasiness. Neither Webbno Voorhees,
had; much to say, this evening. Nothing
further has been heard from Powderly or
the leaders of the Knights OF Labor.
The much-talked-of conference between
the labor leaders occurred this evening at
the st. Cloud Hotel and lasted for two
hours. The whole situation was fully
discussed, but no conclusion reached.
The discussion will be resumed
in the morning. AT midnight indications
are that strike far-reaching in its lines,
will be inaugurated Tomorrow upon
bilt system. The four labor lead
ers in conference with the Executive
committee of the Knights of Labor are
members of the Supreme Council OF the
ftuetdtl0n OIL halfway Employees. Inc
general demeauor of the members of the
conference was that the men were engaged
in heavy task. They positively refused
to say in what way their deliberations had
resnlkal, beyond making the statement that
no conclusion was reac ell.
BUFFALO, Aug. 19.--The lapse of twenty
four hours makes it more than ever ap-
parent that the council at the Continental
Hotel Monday was significant conference.
1t meant, in short. that the two great organ
iZations would make common fight OF their
two grievances and win or lose together.
As Puwderly expressed 1t, I've got men in
the switchmen's battle and you Sweeney
have got men in the knights battle" What
the leaders now in New York may decide
upon will be final so far as the United Order
of Railroad Engineers is concerned. When
the Executive COmmitteei send word to the
switchmen in Buffalo that they may 90 to
work for the Central road, they will go, and
not until then.
John DevliE left tonight for New York.
His presence there will complete the quo
rum of the Executive Board of the Knights
of Labor. Tomorrow there will be
gathered in New York two handsful of
men who control the destinies of
the greatest bodies Of organized
railroad labor in the country.
Their simultaneous presence denotes
harmony, and a pooling of issues. In view
of the plain facts cited above, tho conclu-
sion is not speculative that the Knights of
Labor and U. U. r. Z. have federated.