The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-08-24
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Labor Leaders In Close Conference On
The Central Situation.
Nothing Can Be Learned of the In
tention of the Federated Rail
way Employees Sargeants
Encouraging Message.

TERRE HArrE, Aug. 23.-Behind closed
doors the members of the supreme coun-
ell of The United Order of Railway en-
ployes has sat almost the entire day To-
reach conclusion as to whether or not
they will order strike on the Vanderbilt
lines. Promptly at 10 o'clock the council
got together At the Tcrre Haute house.
The gentlemen composing the council
were Frank p. Sargent, president and
chief of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen, Grand Master Hannahan, Of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fircmeu,
general secretary and treasury depart
ments of the Brotherhood Of Locomotive
Firemen, George W. Howard, yice-prcsi-
dent Of the council and grand chief
| of the Brotherhood of Conductors;
Assistant Grand Master Lovcioy, of the
same order; Grand Master Wilkinson, Of
| the Railway Trainmcn, with William
| Sheehan, his grand secretary and treas
urer, and p. +. Morrissey, vice grand mas.
ter Of the Trainmen.
The other me mbers of the council are
| Frank Sweeney, grand master; John
Downey, vice grand and John Hall. grand
organizer. all Of the Switchmen's Mutual
Aid association, and J. j. Nelson. Love
| joy and Nelson took the place of two
grand Officers Of the conductors associa.
ton, who, coming from Los Angeles, Cal,
were delayed.
After Chief Sargent had called the coun-
ell to order and the first routine Of busi-
ness had been attended TO, the council de-
cided that the matter Of giving news To
the press should be placed entirely ia the
hands of Sargent. II was also deemed
best not TO give out any deliberations un-
Ill the council came 10 a final adjourn
ment.
The morning session lasted until t.
o'clock when the council adjourned for
lunch. Toall inquiries Sargent had the
stereotypCd reply that it was as indicated
that no news would be given out until all
business was ended.
Sargent had not finished his report to
the council when dinner hour came. Of
course, the exact wording Of his report
cannot be given, but il related chiefly to
what he had learned in the east concern
ing the discharge of two switchmcn at
Buffalo. The president also reported
his interviews with Powdcrly and Hayes.
tie touched on his CSargentsl visit 10
Webb AT the request Of the latter and
told the uyasvc replies given 10y Webb TO
|
leading questions.
After Sargent was through Councillors
Howard, Wilkinson and Sweeney made
their reports. These took up the time
until 3 o'clock. Then free discussion
was indulged in, every member Of tho
council taking part. and il was not until
, near : o'clock that the councillors ad.
journcd for supper.
The Associated Press correspondent
had chats with Sargent, Dcbs aud Han.
: nahan at this point Dcbs said plainly
( that il would be after midnight bclor,
r the proceedings would he brought tn q
: close. Sargent cuincidcd in this and
q remarked that the correspondent
, might notify their families that the sun
day roast would have 10 he carved by
: somebody else than the head of their r.
! spectivc families. The members Of th,
i council took their time about getting Ia
2 gethcr in the evening. They fratcrnlZct
o with the newspaper men and UP Ia Ger
4 tain point were quite free to express them
a., selves. But when the pointed question
"Will there be "A strike or not"' was pu
; 10 them, il was the signal for cessation
! of conversation,
u As to the momcntous question of prac
. ar war between III" federation and tlr
c Vanderbilt lines there are conllictiu
opinions. Sargents p0siti M Is known
5 He thinks Powdcrly was not treated riRli
!; 10y Wrbh. He stands in the council an,
j before the public rs the champion of or
u ganized labor.
: Dcbs is fully in accord with Sargent
J. Wilkinson, who represents compnratiycl
the newly formed organized railway cot
ductors, is willing TO bring his hosts int
battle array III war is necessary. The Zee
ing Of all others is expressed in the rrpl
Z of Sargent Ia a question put To him. Sal
he: 81 never saw men in "A more harmon
n inus mood than the members Of the coui
= ell were to-day. This does not ncccssaril
involve "A strike IL IL clear that il ia
q councillors can gain their end-recopn
n ton of organized labor without s,rik
n they will do SO. But nevertheless the
e are bold aud brave and are are ready {
n face the music il il must be done.
, The public need expect nothing def
/, mite tonight The council has placed /
:, the hands of secretary Debs written r,
~ port 81 the members who went east
~ confer with Powdcrly. There are coI
n mmIcatIons presumably from Powtlcrl
and the other representatives of labc
interests which also were given 10 Dcb'
These lac is arranging III proDer form an
when tins is done an important statomcI
D, to be- given Ia the public must be fprml
II lated.
ii ia speaking. Sargent said tonight: -
>. is within the bounds Of possibility thH
We may reach "A conclusion to-nIgh
What that conclusion will bc no one q
p- the outside will know until the statcmct
" is written aud signed. We are unyln
'r carefully. We must have ourselves pr,
le scntcd iu fair light tn th" public. ]
10 gain this eud we want Our position state
ls clearly
'd The query here arises, naturally, wi
such care, unless the council are IN fave
uf dressing themselves in war paint an
feathers, taking up their tomahawks an
r. going after the scalp of Vanderbilt
n This j. tn question which one hears q
N cvrry side. But speculation Is usrlcs
-, aud not until Sargent aud hls cpufrrc,
~ got good and ready will anything def
\" itr hr known. Certain 1t i, that the plt
p, lic Will wait until Monday before l,s nit
ID j. relieved. At 10 O'Clock tonight u
supreme council adjourned as "a bod
The committee will probably be- IN 81
sion all night, and Sargent aunuIuc,
tn the following 10 the press. I'VE ba,
H. spul the following message 10 Pnwdrrl
cs iu Nov York; "Ihc supreme council III
-. tsf .aagf.p e. "A .lu,s l.tt