The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-24
NO DECISION
YET REACHED.
The Railroad Strike Considered
in Secret Session.
The Supreme Council Of United Employees
Awaiting Important AdYiCeS.
POWderly'S Statement 10 Webb-DelaWare
and Hudson Yardmen Quit Work.
Interview With DepeW.
Special Dispatches to THE MORNING CALL


conclusion as to whether or not they will
order a strike on the Vanderbilt lines.
Promptly at 10 o'clock the council got to-
gether at the Terre Haute House. The gentle
men composing the council were: Frank P.
Sargent, President and Chief of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen; Grand Master
Hannahan of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive ffremerf; General Secretary and
treasurer Debs' of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Firemen; George W. Howard,
Vice-President of the Council and Chief Of
the Brotherhood Conductors; Assistant
Grand Master Loveioy of the same
order; Grand Master Wilkinson of
the Railway Trainmen, with William
S. BeehaD, his Grand Secretary and
Treasurer. and P. II. Morrssey, Vice
Grand Master of the Trainmen. The
other members of the council are Frank
Sweeney, Grand Master; John Downey,
Vice-Grand, aud John Hall. Grand Organ
izer, all of the Switchmen's Mutual Aid
Association, and j. j. Nelson. Lovejoy
and Nelson took the place of two grand
officers of the Conductors Association,
who, coming from Los Angeles, were de-
layed. After Chief Sargent had called the
council to order, and routine bust ness had
been attended to, the council decided that
the matter of giving the news to the press
should be placed entirely in the hands Of
Sargent. 1t was deemed best not to give
out any of the deliberations until the coun
ell came to fin al adjournment. The morn
ing session lasted until Il o'clock, when the
council adjourned for lunch. To all iuquir-
les Sargent had the stereotyped reply. 1t
was as indicated-that no news would be
given cut until all the business was ended.
READING OF REPORTS.
Sargent had not finished his report 10
the council when dinner hour came. or
course the exact wording of his report can
not be given, but it related chiefly to what
he had learned in the East concerning the
discharge of two switchmen at Buffalo.
The President also reported his interviews
with POwderly and Hayes. He touched on
bis lSargent'Sl visit to Webb at the request
Of the latter, and said that an eyaSlve reply
was given by Webb to leading questions.
After Sargent was through councillors
Howard, Wilkinson ard Sweeney made
Their IL r%eR2rss % IAsse Tie te9 pe sbss tlMe M M
INDUCED in, every member of the council
taking part. and it was not until o'clock
that the councillors adjourned for supper:
An Associated Press correspondent had
chats with Sargent, Debs and Hannallan at
this point. Debs said plainly thau it
would be after midnight before the proceed
ing would be brought to close. Sargent
coincded in this and also remalke that
the correspondents might notify their
families that the Sunday roast would have
to be carved by somebody else than the
head Of their respective families. The
members of the council took their time
about getting together in the evening.
They frateInized with the newspaper men
a i'm lint war "a n
express themselves. But when the pointed
question "Will there be a strike or not?"
was put 70 them, it was the signal for ces-
sation OF conversation.
PEACE OR WAR;
As to the moment0us question, peace or
war, between the Federation and the van
derbilt lines, there are conflicting opinions.
Sargent's position is known. He thinks
Powderly was not treated justly by Webb.
He stands before the public as the cham
Dion of organized labor. Debs is fully In
accord with Sargent and Wilkinson, who
represents the comparatively neWly-1ormed
organized railway conductors, and Is
willing to bring his hosts into battle array
if war is necessary. The feeling Of all the
others is expressed in the reply OF sargent
to a question put TO him. Said he: i
never saw men ln amore harmonious mOOd
than the members OF the council were TO-
day. THIS does not necessarily involve
can gain their end-the recognition OF
organized labor-without a strike they Will
do so. But nevertheless. they are bold and
brave and are ready to face the music II ~
must be done. The public need expect
nothing definite tonight
MOVING CAREF ULLY.
The council has placed in the hands Of
Secretary Debs written report for the
members who went East to confer with
Powderly. There are communications,
presumably from Powderly and other
representatives of labor interests. which
are also given to Debs. These he is ar
ranging in proper form, and when this Is
done an important statement, to be given
to the public, must be formulated. In
speaking of this, Sargent said tonight
"lt is within the bounds of possibility that
we may reach conclusion tonight. What
that conclusion is no one on the outside
will know until statement is written out
and signed. We are moving carefully; we
must have ourselves presented In a falr
light to the public. To gain this end we
want our position stated clearly"
AWAITING ADVICES.
The query here arises naturally, WHY such
care, unless the council are i'll favor OF
dressing themselves in war-paint and feath-
ers and taking up their tOnahawks and
going after the scalp of Vanderbilt. This
is the question one hears on every side, but
speculation is useless, and not until Sar-
gent and his cOnfreres get good and ready
will anything definite be known. Certain
| it is that the public will wait until Monday
before its mind is relieved. At 10 o'clock
| tonight the Supreme Council adjourned as
| body. A committee will probably be in
session all night, and Sargent announces
| to the representatives of the press the fol
| lowing. He says: I'VE have sent the fol-
| lowing message to Powderly in New York
| The Supreme Council has been in session
| all day, but no decision is yet reached. We
are now awaiting important advlces. The
| council fully realizes your position and thai
Of your order, and you may be assured youl
interests will be given due consideration
You will be promptly advised Of further
| developments.
PowDERLY's STATEMENT TO WEBB.
NEW YORK, Aug. 23.-Powderly tonight
wrote reply to the statement of Vice
| President Webb, as follows:
see you have at last venrured TO break the
silence that sealed your lips in relation to tn
| causes which led to the discharge OF fifty O.
| Sky employees. Your alleged explanation /
| even less creditable TO you than tile silence I
| stand you have taken. Your statement Il
emneniy worthy OF man who can Sc
| no cause for investigation In cases o
drunkenness, incapacity, breach of duty an,
| insubordination. All these men have u right L
| know whether they weIe discharged for cause
You cannot assert with any degree of accurac
| that any one of these men was dismissed for tn
| cause you set forth. You must depend ON stale
| menIs made to you by your sub0rdlnates-you
| superinlendents ana forrmen.
THE DISMISSED employees.
Let me do you the favor to show you wha
| manner OF men you have TO rely on for your sup
| ply OF truth. John Briggs Is n foreman in th
| employ of your company. lie has the hiring an,
| discharge of workIneu. Upon his word you de
J eide the fate OF The poor fellows who appeal L
| you against tile decision OF said John Briggs
| Appended to this communication you vii
| a emDlOTe
| of the New York Central which ma
cause unbiased people TO think that drunkenness
, Is excusable II the drunkard Will only share hi
| whisky with the man who inspires your STATE
ments. You will furthermore learn that In orde
TO retain employees In the best corporation