Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-22
IN COMMON CAUSE.
A GIGANTIC STRIKE on THE VANDERBILT
SYSTEM.
Grand Master Sargent is Prepared to Call Out tie
Eremen on All The Roads - His
Opinion Of the Situation.
Webb Talks.

THAT the address that Mr.. HOWOerly pro-
posed to issue would not be ready until
tonight. The members Of the General
Executive Board OF the Knights Of
Labor We're late In making their appear
ancc al the 81. Cloud Hotel this morn
ing. Chief Sargent, with his compan-
ions, McSSrS. Howard. WilkcsOn aud
Sweeney, were aStir long before, and at
1880 o'clock left the hotel TO take the
train for Terre lIaute.
Mr.. Sargent said a meeting OF the
Federation would be held NJ Terre
llaute. with the uUdoubted result that "a
strike On the Vanderbilt system would
be ordered. As he and his three asSoci-
ateS had endorsed the action OF the Gen
eral Executive Board OF the knights of
Labor, he thoroughly believed that the
supreme Council would sustain it. He
also said that the action OF Mr.. Webb
last night. iu adhering SO firmly to the
stand me had taken, rendered the action
they had taken necessary. Mr.. Webb's
arbitrary methods and utter refusal 10
arbitrate the situation made il useless
% deal with him any longer.
SAYS THE KNIGHTS ACTED HoNoRABLY.
''I ann now firmly convinced said
Chief Sargent, "that Mr.. Powderly and
the Knights of Labor have acted in an
upright and honorable manner, and
that they have done everything posi-
ble To bring about a settlement OF this
dispute by trying their utmost to have
the matter settled by arbitration, and
they have failed through Mr., Nebb'S re-
g.. ..ff Lon Q -. IN nfhi ft4HI
Supreme Council OF the Federation will
meet in Terre llautc Ind, our head
quarters. nj 10 o'clock in the morning,
next Saturday, and l shall submit the
whole matter 10 them for consideration
and and action. The additional MEM
bcrs of the Council. with whom | have
lust communicated by telegraph, are
Eugene Y. Dcbbs, of Terre Haute, Grand
Secretary and Assistant Treasurer Of
the Brotherhood Of Locomotive Fire
men: j.. j. lIaunahau, of Chicago, Vice
Grand Master of the brotherhood of
Locomoti,c Firemcu; William Sheehan.
OF Galcsburg, Ill.,, Grand Secretary of
the Brotherhood oi Railroad Traiumen:
r. H. MorriSey. of Peoria, ILL.,. Vice
Grand Master of the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen; James Downey, of
Chicago. Vice Grand Master of the
Switchmen'S Mutual Aid Association:
John Hall. of Chicago, Grand Organizer
of the Switchmcn'S Mutual Aid ASSOcia-
tion: George Laviguy, of Tcrre Haute.
Assistant Grand Chief Conductor of the
brotherhood of Railroad Conductors.
and James Carr. of Kansas City, AsSiS-
taut Grand Conductor Of the Brother
hood of Railroad Conductors.
81 shall lay before the Council all that
| / have observed aud heard concerning
| the origin of the strike while l have
been in the city and elsewhere. The
position taken by the Executive Board
I OF the Knights OF Labor has my entire
sympathy. 1 take the position that the
Knights have exhausted all means to
bring ab0u, a peaceful settlement of the
affair and that Mr.. PowdcrlY has only
/ been able to hear one Sidc-th0t OF the
mcn-the railroad having refused % ar
/ Ibitrate the matter prevents him from
| hearing the other side. The railroad
lalso refuses all other means OF settle
mcut."
WHAT roUCEY AND WEBB SAY.
General Manager Touccy left his pri-
lvate office early this morning, with a
portmauteau in his hand, and took q
Inorthbound train. He refused TO say
where hc was going, and when asked if
/ be would visit Albany replied: Il may
/ fetch up there" Mr.. TOuccy said he
Idid not know anything about the inn
pending strike except what he had read
| in the morning papers.
Vice President Webb had peruSed his
morning mail and had dictated his let
tcrs To- the stenographer when report
en- called upon him.
"What is new regarding the strike,
/ Mr.. Webb?' hc asked.
"Nou know Us much about IL as do.
.Have you taken any steps so far to
meet q strike if it takes place.
81 ann not at liberty To- say what the
company is doing. butt presume that if
la crisis occurs We will be prepared TO
meet it / ann speaking now only for
the New York Central road.
Mr. Webb added that he did not think
the frcmcn would 90 out I'm such great
numbers has has been stated, and he be-
lieyed the other employees of the road
who are not already out would for the
greater part remain at their poStS-in
other words. the strike would not be
nearly So gigantic as the Federation and
the knights of Labor would have peo-
ple believe. Mr.. Webb did not doubt
that the Supreme Council of the FEEDER
alton would call ont the men, but he
was of opinion that the number who
would respond would not be so great
after an. lie said of Mr.. Powderly that
he considered him a very sensible man,
but that the hotheads In the Federation
and the Executive Board were too much
for him. and the reSul. was that matters
have taken the course they have.
"Thc Lake shore road has had four
or five strikes within the last couple OF
years" said Mr.. Webb. land don't
think they have many men left who be
long 20 any labor organization. lie
then announced that the railroad was
being run with customary SmoothneSS,
and so far there was no indication OF
trouble
Mr.. Voorhees, said that everything
along the road was quiet, and that all
passenger trains were running on time;
also, that the number OF freight trains
diSuntchod oorh dav was increasing.