, 1890-08-24
LABOR LEADERS MEET.
Sargent and Confsrees Hold En
All Day Session
Adjourn at 10 O'clock Without
Making a Decision.
The Council Sends a Message
to Powderly.

TO reach a conclusion as to whether or not
they will order a strike on the Vanderbilt
lines. Promptly at 10 o'clock the council
got together at the Terre Haute house.
The gentlemen composing the council
we're Frank P. Sargent, president and
chief of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Trainmen; Geo. w. Howard, vice presi-
dent of the council and grand chief of the
Brotherhood of Conductors; Assistant
Grand Master Lovejoy OF the same order;
Grand Master Wilkinson, of the Railway
-Trainmen, with William Sheshan, his
grand secretary and treasurer, and Up. H.
Morrisey, vice grand master of the train
men. The other members OF the council
are Frank Sweeney. yardmaster; John
Douney, vice grand, and John Hall,
grand organizer. all OF the Switchmen's
Mutual Aid Association, and j. j. Nell
son. Loveioy and Nelson took the places
of the two grand officers of the couduc-
tors association. who are coming from
Los Angeles. Cal.
After Chief Sargent had called the
council to order and the first routine
business had been attended to the council
decided that the matter of giving news
to the press should be placed entirely in
the hands of Sargent. 1t was also deemed
best not to give out any of the delibcra-
tons until the council had come to inal
adjournment The morning session lasted
until IL o'clock, when the council ad-
iourned to aliow inquiries. Sargent had
a stereotyped reply. 1t was that no news
could be given out till the business was'
ended.
Sargent had not finished his report to
the council when the dinner hour came.
Of course the exact wording of bis report
cannot be given. but it related chiefly to
what he had learned in the East concern
ing the discharge OF switchmen at Buffalo.
The president also reported bis interview
with Powderly and Hayes. He touched
on his (Sargent's) visit to Webb at the
request of the latter and told of the
evasive replies given by Webb to leading
questions. After Sargent was through
Councillors Howard, Wilkinson and
Sweeney made their reports. These took
up the time until 5 O'Clock. Then = tree
discussion was INDUCED ir,every member
taking part, and it was not until alter
O'Clock that the councillors adjourned
for supper.
An Associated Press correspondent had
q chat with Sargent. Debs and Hannahan
at this point. Debs said plainly that it
would be after midnight before the pro-
~ceedings could be brought to a close. Ssr-
gent conceded in this and also remarked
that the correspondents might notify their
families that the Sunday roast wonld
have to be carved by some one else than
the head of their respective families.
The members of the council took their
tune about getting together in the even
ing. They fraternized with the newspa-
per men and up to a certain point were
quite Tree to express themselves, but
when the pointed question. Twill there
be a strike or not2" was put to them it
was the signal for a cessation of CONVEX
satioB. As to the momentous question
Of peace or war between the federation
and the Vanderbilt lines there are con.
ficting opinions.
Sargent's position is we'll known. He
thinks Powderly was not treated fairly by
Webb. He stands in the council and be-
lore the people SIS the champion of organ
iIed labor. Debs is fully 10 accord with
Sargent. Winson. who represents the
comparatively newly formed organization
OF railway conductors, is willing to bring his
hosts into battle array if it was neces-
sary. The feeling of all others is ex
pressed In the reply of Sargent to q aues-
ton put to him. Said he: Il never
saw men In a more harmonious mood
day."
This does not necessarily involve a
strike. It is clear that il the councillors
can gain their end-the recognition Of
organized labor-without "a strike, they
VIII do so; but, nevertheless, they are
bold and brave and ready to dance to the
music If 1t must bs done. The public
need expect nothing definite tonight.
The council has placed in the hands of
Secretary Debs the written report oil the
members who went East to confer With
Powderly, There are Communications
presumably from PowderIy and o,her rep
resentatives of labor interests which were
also given to Debs. These he is arrang-
ing in proper form and when this is done
an important statement will be given to
the public.
In speaking of this. Sargent said to-
night: 1T is within the bounds Of posi-
bility that we may reach a conclusion
tonight. What that conclusion will be
no one on the outside will know until a
statement is written out and sigued. We
are moving carefully. We must have
public"
The query here arises naturally, why
sucn a faroreVreseing themselves in
paint and feathers, taking nm their toma-
hawks and going after the scalps of the
Vanderbilts2 This is q oueation over
which speculation is useless. and not nm.
III Sargent and bis conferees GET ! good
ready. will anything definite be known.
certain 1t is that the public will Wait nm
til Monday before its mind is relieved.
AT 10 o'clock tonight the supreme u
cai adjourned as a body. A Committee
VII probably be in session ali niobt. and
sargent announces to the Representatives
oil the press the following. He saws:
ne have sent the following message tn
fowderly in New York: ssTbe supreme
eouncil has been in session all day. but no
decision has been reached. We are now
eeyslting important advices. The council
.aaly endorses our position and the posr.
uon OF your order. and you NAV be as
sureo your interests will reoeive due
~recosnit,on. You will DO promptly ad.
yised OF fnrther Development.
nefsse TO Handle Centrai Freight.
Taor. N. Y. Aug. 2s.-Ne.rly al,
.ne yard men employed by the Delaware