Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-08-30
NO GENERAL STRIKE.


Refuse To Aid the knights OF Labor ID
Ordering General Strike.
TEIRE HAUTE, Ind, Aug. 26-Th
Knights OF Labor asked for bread ant
their brethren OF the United Order o
Railroad Employees, better known a
the Federation, has responded with
stone. 1t is true that the morsel is con
cealed in jar of honey but 1t will b
mono the more digestible to the knight
on that account 1t was common re
mark here last night that the final dc
cision 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 associates manipulated
the wires that controlled the twelve
mon who composed the supreme body
The unfortunate Knights are left to theil
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
dispatches for the official reply to his
appeal The outcome may prove q
death blow to the Knights At the
same time 1t is vindication Of the con-
servatism and prudence OF the Fedora
ton. 1t was formed to prevent strikes
instead OF to promote them and in the
very first case upon which its supreme
tribunal has been called to sit in judg.
mont has demonstrated Its intention OF
living within its laws, and yet 1t was
only after warm struggle that the con-
servatives prevailed as against the sup
porters of war to the knife.
When the members of the council
came together yesterday morning every
man was determined 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 distinguished
himself by two hours speech in which
he brought sledge hammer arguments
to bear against the proposition to en-
broil the united orders in q strike, and
there was no lack Of speakers on the
other side, and the debate, waxing at
times exceedingly warm, went on
for nearly five hours. Finally q vote
was reached. just how it resulted
numerically is known only to the dele
gates and will appear only in the secret
records of the order. while the former
are as tight-mouthed as clans. tits be-
lieved, however, that the three dele
gates from the Switchmen's Union, two
from the conductors, two from the
trainmen and one from the fire.
men voted in the negative, which
would make the vote eight to
four, and it required the vote Of
two of the three members representing
each order to decide which way that or
ganization should vote, but 1t also re-
quired unanimous vote Of all four Or
ders before strike could be ordered.
Hence, even had two representatives OF
three orders been in favor of backing
the Knights by q general tie-up, the
solid opposition of the three switchmen
would have defeated the purpose, as it
was the friends Of peace had enough
votes and to spare.
The delegates breathed sigh Of re-
lief after the crucial test had been ap-
piled and then proceeded with alacrity
70 prepare general statement for the
public regarding the strike and the po-
,ition Of the Federation in the affair.
This consumed considerable time and
hen another debate was precipitated
1y the introduction Of resolution so |
changing the constitution of the body
Is to require two-thirds vote OF the
embraced under the
constitution to declare strike
instead of a unanimous vote, as
It present In support Of the
strong arguments were
made. 1t was declared that 1t was al.
most an utter impossibility to order Q
trike as the constitution now stood,
nd it was urged that the amendment
proposed would not in any way change
he case, calculating tho disposition Of
he membership or make strikes any
nore frequent than they are under the
xisting code. But the talk was Of no
vail, for the proposition, on being put
o vote was defeated, another victory
or the conservatives