Huntsville gazette., 1890-08-30
MUST STAND ALONE.
The Knights Must Fight Their
Battle Single-Handed.
All the United Order OF Railway EN-.
Pioyes Can Give Them is Moral
Slpport-ResuIt of the Terre
Haute Conference.

reueratlon, mas responded with stone.
1t is true that the morsel is concealed
in jar Of honey, but it will be none the
more digestible to the Knights on that
account
! 1t Is common remark here that the
final decision Of the conference could
not have been more to Mr.. Webb's
taste had the third vice-president of
the New York Central and his associ-
ates manipulated the wires that con-
troled the twelve men who compose the
supreme body. The unfortunate
| Knights are left to their own resources.
| They are not even offered the balm of
| pecuniary support and their general
master workman is referred by the
| chief of the Federation to the press dis
patches for the official report on his ap-
peal. The outcome may prove death
blow to the Knights. At the same
time it is vindication Of the conserv-
| attsm and prudence of the Federation.
1t was formed to prevent strikes in
stead fito promote them, and in the very
| first case upon which its supreme tri-
| bunal has been called to sit in judg-
ment it has demonstrated its intention
of living within its laws. And yet it was
only after warm struggle that the
conservatives prevailed as against the
supporters Of war to the knife.
| When the members Of the council
came together yesterday morning every
man was determinded that the issue
must be faced without further delay.
| The report of the committee was taken
| up and debated in detail. Downey, of
Chicago, one Of the representatives
Of the Switchmen's Union dis
| tinguished himself by two
hours speech, in which he brought
sledge-hammer arguments to bear
against the proposition to embroil the
united orders in strike. There was
| no lack Of speakers on the other side,
| and the debate, waxing at times ex'
| ceedingly warm, went on for nearly
| five hours. Finally vote was reached.
Just how it resulted numerically is
known only to the delegates, and will
appear only in the secret records of the
| order.
| The friends Of peace had enough
votes, and to spare. The delegates
breathed a sigh of relief after the cru
cial test had been applied, and then
proceeded with alacrity to prepare a
| general statement for the public re-
garding the strike and the position OF
| the Federation.
The following resolution was unan-
imously adopted:
Resolred, That the action of President T.
Il n W nd
| and Brothers S L. Wilkinson and Frank
/ Sweeny Of the supreme council, in respond
ing to the request of General Master w ork-
| man 7. v. Powderly, to confer with him and
/ the general executive board of the Knights
| of Labor in the matter of the strike now In
progress on the New York Central u Hud-
son River railroad, meets with our hearty
/ approval, and having perfect faith In their
| integrity as we'll as their ability to compre
| bend the situation, we commend their la
| bors as eminently worthy, not only of our
| appreciation, but of the great orders they
| 30 ably represented.
| With this disposed of the business
for which the supreme council had
been called together was completed,
and it only remained to adopt votes OF
thanks to the hotel proprietor and
other citizens whose hospitalities had
been extended.
At six o'clock, after session of
nearly ten hours the twelve men, look
ing decidedly weary, but yet cheerful
over the final conclusion of their labors,
emerged from the club rooms.
Chief Sargent hurried to the tele-
graph Office with dispatch addressed
to IL Powderly. 1t contained cold
comfort for the general master work
man. This is what it read:
The supreme council adjourned this aft
| ernoon after carefully considering the
| strike in all it's details. You will notice the
| result OF our deliberations in to- nights dis
| patches, which it is hoped will meet with
| your approval The committee was unani-
| nous in indorslng your position and the
| position of the executive board, and
most earnestly hope that the right, OF
which you are the champion in the great
| conflict on the New York Central, may nm
ally and powerfully prevail
[Signedl +. P. SARGENT president.
w. A. SHEAHAN secretary.
The dispatches referred to were those
of the press association.
Shortly before nine o'clock Chief
Sargent furnished to the United Press
the full report and resolution above
The document in extenso, is as follows
TERRE HAUTE, Ind, Aug rs, $780,
| To all Labor OrgIniza tiOns:
| MEN AND BROTHERS On the night OF Au
gust s. strike began on the New York Cen
trail Hudson River railroad involving
| about eight thousand men in the employ OF
the said road who were members OF great
| labor organization known as the Knights ol
Labor. The reason set forth by I. V. Pow
| derry, chief executive OF the order, may be
| summarized as follows: The peremptory
| discharge of between fifty and sixty men,
| employees of the road and members of the
knights of Labor, because they were
Knights OF Labor, without giving them any
| reason whatever for the discharge.
| Prior to the strike the men in
voIved sought through the representatives
OF the order to have their grievances ad'
justed, but their appeal being disregarded a
strike was inaugurated. At this jun ncture L.
| V. Powderly general master workmen OF the
| knights of Labor, entered upon the task OF
| adjusting the differences and of~makIng
such arrangements as would result in an