The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-26
NO GENERAL STRIKE.
SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE FED
GRAFTON DEFEAT IT.
Address to all Labor Organizations fN-
pressing sympathy with New York
Central Strikers-How MIR. rowderly
and Others Received the News.

supreme touncll ol tue iuit'N 'iNNi Va
Railway Employees, which has been consid.
ering the question of ordering a general
strike on all the Vanderbilt lines, adjourned
this evening without ordering n strike.
They issued an address of over three thou
sand words to all labor organizations setting
forth the grievances Of the men on the New
York Central railroad and the Efforts made 20
adjust the difficulties. Each step IN the
great labor trouble is set forth. the cause ol
the strike. the futile efforts of Mr. Powderly,
the refusal of Mr.. Webb 10 arhiirate. the
rights of the men affected. and the evident
disposition of the great railway corpora
tiOn to ignore and crush the knights OF
Labor.
I'm view OF the facts. the supreme
Council puts upon It's record its unani-
nous and unqualified approval Of the strike
on the New York Central and Hudson River
railroad for the cause set forth 10y
L. V. POwderly, G.. NJ. w; also the efforts
made by Mr. Powderly to bring the strike g.
an honorable termination. I'm this general
expression of approval Of the action 0t the
Knights of Labor, the course of Nice-Presi
dent Webb is as unequiyocally condemned.
The address of the Council concludes as
supreme Council to say that owing 90 the
fact that the Order of the knights of Labor
il not a member of the Federation Of Rail
way Employees. the laws Of the supreme
Council do not permit it, doing more than
il has done to aid the knights OF Labor. and
its inability to participate otherwise in the
strike is now known and appreciated by
Mr.. Powderly."
LAWS REGARDING sTRIKFs.
Referring to the laws Of Supreme Council
relating to strikes. the matter is c0nclscly
presented as follows: In the first place, il
the members Of the organizations on any
railroad have a grievance. il is submitted
to the proper officers Of the road by the
local grievance committee. In the
event of failure TO obtain salts
faction, the chief executive officer Of the
order having the grievance is called upon,
and in connection with the committee, seeks
to amicably adjust the differences. If fail
ure still attends the efforts 10 adjust tine
trouble, then the supreme Council IS con
vened at the headquarters OF the railroad
officials, with whom a conference Is re-
quested and its influence is eNertcd 10 OBJ
tain settlement alike yust 10 all parties.
III failure still follow. efforts 10 remove the
cause of complaint and the council
by an unanimous vote decides the grievance
to be Of sufficient gravity to Justify a strike.
it il promptly ordered in which event the
members OF the organization employed on
the road where the grievance exists, VIZ:
tiremen, conductors. tlainmeu, and switch
men, abandon their work.
In conclusion. the Supreme Council places
upon record its high appreciation OF the
manlincss Of the knights OF Labor employ
ed on the New York Central ana Hudson
River railroad in struggling 10 maintain %
principle sacred TO every workman on the
continent and to all men who love Justice
and hope for the triumph of right over
wrong rs llagrant as ever stained tine paccs
Of history. Frank +. Sargent, president;
". \. Shehan, secretary.
THE SUPREME COUNCIL ADJoURNs.
TERRE HAUrE, IND. Aug. 2j.-Ihc
Council adjourned sine die at j:3o, after de-
Gliding that the official statement Of the con-
ference should not be given to the press
until T.. VI.
The following dispatch has just been sent
@ p. NJ to I. Y. P0wderly at Albany. y.
y: The Supreme Council adjourned this
afternoon alter carefully cOnsidering the
strike i'm all its details. You will notice tine
result Of our deliberations in to-nights dis
patches. which il is hoped. will meet VIII
your approval. The committee Was unani
nous i'm IndOrsng your proposition and
the proposition Of the Grand Executive
Board. and most earnestly hope that The
right of which you are champion IN the
great conflict on the New York Central may
finally and powerfully prevail. Signed, l..
u. Sargent, president; W. y. Shehan, Sec
retary."
THE KNIGHTS DISC OUTRAGED.
TERRE IIAUTE, lND. Aug. 2j.-Iho
knights Of Labor asked for bread and then
brethren of the Federation have responded
with "A stone. II il true that the mOr-el j.
concealed in jar Of honey; but II viii be
none the more visible to the knights on
that account. 1t is common remarh
here tonight that the Duai de-
cision Of the conference could no'
have been more to Mr.. Wobb's taste had
the third yice-president Of the New lorh
Central and Hudson roads manipulated the
wires that controlled the twelve men who
compose the Supreme body. The unioriu-
nate knights are LEFT TO their own resources
They are not even offered the balm OF pecu-
MARY support. and their general master
workman is referred by the chief Of the Fed
Grafton TO the press dispatches for the OH
cial reply to his appeal.
The outcome may prove death blow 2,
the Knights. At the same time IT Is viz
dicatiOn Of the conservatism and prudence
Of the Federation. 1t was formed 10 prevent
strikes instead Of 10 promote them, and ~
the very first case upon which lis supreme
tribunal has been called to sit in judgment
it has demonstrated lis intention OF living
within its laws. And yet it was only after
a warm struggle that the conservatives
prevailed rs against the support Of war L
the knife.
HOW THE VOTE STOOD.
When the members Of the Council came
together this morning every man was de
termined that the issue must be laced Win
out further delay. The report Of the com
mittee was taken up and debated IN detail
D0wney. of Chicago, one ot th'
representatives OF the SWilchinen
Union, distinguished himself by a twt
hours speech, in which he brought
sledge hammer arguments to bear against
the proposition to enbroil the united order,
i'm a strike, and rs there was no lack o
sDeaners Oh the other side, and the debate
waxed at times exceedingly warm ant
went on for nearly fiye hours. Finally q
yote was reached. Just how 1t result
cd. numerically, is known only 20 tb'
delegates and will aprear only IN tht
secret records OF the order. IL II DelleN' q
however. that the three delegates from th'
switchmen's union, two from the cOnduc
tors. two from the tralnmen's, ana one
from the hremen's voted IA the negative
This would make the vote eight to four. art
IL required the vote Of two OF the thr'
members representing each order to decide
which way that organization should vote
but il also required unanimous vote o
all four orders before strike could ~ or
dered. Hence, even had two representa-
tiyes of the three orders been in favor @
backing the knights by IA general tle-up, th'
solid opposition Of three switchmen woul'
have defeated the purpose. As 1t was, th'
friends of peace had enough votes and L
spare. The delegates brcathed sigi
OF relief after the crucial test hal
been applied and then proceeded will
alacri,y ~ l.repa.e a general statement iol
the public regarding the strike and the 20
sition of the Federation in the affair.
Nearly all the members Of the Counci
left for their respective headquarters on III
midnight train. BY their gentemanly dc
meanor, substantial presence. genera
courtesy, and conservative bearing, the.
created decidedly favorable impression.
HOW PowDERLY RECEIVED -HE NEWS
ALBANY, y. V, Aug. PA tnite'
Press reporter showed Grand Master work
man Powderly the dispatch from ferr
Uaute. saying that the s.rike wouli not b
ordered by the federation. Mr.. Powderl
said that il was the .irst intiInatlon he ma
received OF such action, hut declined To talk
4 ..l. 10 fattlI ts..f 4.