Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-24

ness had been attended to, the Council de-
cided 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 deliberation until The
Council came to final adjournment.
The morning session lasted until IL
o'clock, when the Council adjourned for
lunch. To all inquiries Sargent had a
stereotyped reply. 1t was, as indicated.
that no news would be given out until all
business was ended.
Council when the dinuer hour came. OF
course, the exact wording of his report
cannot be given, but ii related chiefly to
what he had learned in the East concern
ing the discharge of two switchmen at Buff
falo. The President also reported his in
terviews with Powderly and Hayes. He
touched on his (Sargent's) visit to Webb at
the request of the latter, and told of the
evasive reply given by Webb to leading
questions.
After Sargent was through, Councillors
Howard, Wilkinson and Sweeney made
their reports. These took up the time
until o'clock. Then free discussion was
INDUCED in, every member of the Council
taking part, and it was not until after
o'clock that the Councillors adjourned for
supper.
The Associated Press correspondent had
chats with Sargent, Debs and Hannahan
at this point. Debbs said plainly that it
would be after midnight before the pro-
ceedings would be brought to close. Sar-
gent conceded in this, and also remarked
that the correspondent might notify their
families that tie 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 fraternized with newspaper men, and
up to certain point were quite free to ex-
press themselves, but when the pointed
question, "Will there be strike or not?"
was put to them, it was signal for ces-
sation of the conversation.
As to the momentous question of peace
or war between the Federation and the
Vanderbilt lines, there are conflicting
opinions. Sargents proposition is known.
He thinks Powderly was not treated justly
BY Webb. He stands in the Council and
before the public as the champion OF or
ganized labor.
Debs is fully in accord with Sargent.
Wilkinson, who represents comparatively
a newly formed railroad organization of
conductors, is willing to bring his hosts
into battle array if war is necessary.
The feelings of the others is expressed in
the reply of Sargent to a question put to
him. Said he: 81 never saw the men in
more harmonious mood than the members
of the Council were to-day. This does not
precisely involve strike. 1t is clear that
if the Councillors can gain their end
the recognition of organized labor-without
a strike, they will doso. But, nevertheless,
they are bold and brave, and are ready to
face the music if it must be done"
The public need expect nothing definite
tonight The Council has placed in the
hands of Secretary Debs written report of
the members who went East to confer with
Powderly. There are communications
presumably from Powderly and other rep
resentatives of labor interests, which also
were given Debs. These he is arranging
in proper form. and when this is done the
important statement to be given to the
public must be formulated.
In speaking of this, Sargent said to-
night: at is within the bounds of posi-
bility that we may reach conclusion to-
night. What that conclusion is no one on
the outside will know until the statement
is written out and signed. We are moving
carefully. We must have ourselves pre-
sented in fair light to the public. To
gain this end we want our position stated
clearly"
The query here arises naturally, Why
such care, unlees the Council is in favor of
dressing themselves in war paint and
feathers and taking up their tomahawks
and going after the scalp of Vanderbilt?
This is question which one hears on every
side, but speculation is useless, and not
until Sargent and his conferees get good
and ready" will anything definite be
known. Certain it is, that the public will
wait until Monday before its mind is re-
lieved.
At 10 o'clock tonight the Supreme Coun.
Gil adjourned as body. The committee
will probably be in session all night, and
Sargent announced TO the representatives
of the press the following:
He says: 1--WE have sent the following
message to Powderly in New York: The
Supreme Council has been in session all
day, but no decision has been reached yet.
We are now aw-iting important advices.
The Council fully realizes your position
and your order, and you may be assured
that your interests will be given due con-
sideration. You will be promptly advised
of further Developments :"
PowDERBY AND ARTHUR.
New YORK, August 23d-Powderly this
morning when asked about Chief Arthur's
statement that the latter could not answer
the letter which had not been addressed to
him personally, but which had been given
TO the newspapers, sand: Arthur never
answers any communications l send him.
When / went to Cleveland ] wired him
that was going to meet him. Although |
secured the town for him | could not find
him. He has never shown disposition to
meet me. All l want Arthur to do is to
declare which side he is on. Is he for the
workinemen or for the corporations
LETTER TO. SUPERINTENDENT WEBB.
New York, August 23d.-Powderly to-
night wrote reply to the statement of
Vice President Webb as follows:
81 see You have at last ventured to break
the silence that sealed your lips in relation
to the causes which led % the discharge of
ifty or sixty employees Your alleged ex-
PLANTATION is even less credilable to you
than the silence il has broken. and does not
in any way excuse the stand you have
taken. Your statement is eminently
worthy of man who can show no cause
for investigation in the cases of drunken
ness. incapaciiy. breach of duty and insub-
ordination All these men have right to
know whether they were DISCHARGED for
cause. You cannot assert with any degree
of accuracy that any one of these men were
dismissed for that cause. You set forth
YOU must depend on the statements made
to you by your subordinates- your super
intendents and toremen.
LET me do you the favor to show you
what manner of men you have 10 rely on
for your supply of truth. John Briggs is
foreman in the employ OF your company.
He has the hiring and discharging OF
L ..,-1 Ii ID Ia