Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-20
A CASE OF NOW OR NEVER.
The Supreme Moment in the
SWitchmen's Strike.
Today's Events to Decide the
Status of the Conflict.
The Companies VIM Attempt to Re-
sume Operations.
They Have Enough Men, if Amply Pro-
tected-The Firemen Resolve to
Go Out-The Situation
Looks Gloemy.
By the Associated P1ess.l

By the Associated Press.l
BUFFALO, Aug. 49, Unless new COM
/ plications develop before morning in the
switchmen's strike, by the result of the
efforts of the railroads tomorrow, shall
be judged the status of the strike. The
companies claim that they have sufi-
cient men to operate the roads; if proper
protection is given them. Two thou
sand troops were ordered out, but they
were elaine. not to be sufficient, and
5000 more wei J. ordered, and are here.
Their assignm ent to duty at all points
where the companies feel there might
Le danger, has been going forward today,
and tonight every command has been
assigned to duty.
ENOUGH MEN TO MAN THE ROADS.
A careful inquiry demonstrates be-
4 yond doubt that the companies have
sufficient men to man the roads. To be
sure. the strikers say the men being
held in readiness are restrained from
liberty; alao that the men were hired
to work on western roads, and did not
know they were expected to work on
the tied-up roads in Buffalo. If these
allegations are true, the men may de-
sert upon the first opportunity. 1t is
not deemed probable, however, that
such defections would constitute more
than a small minority of those now
| waiting for work.
The Lake Shore road has enough men
in the yards tonight to man the usual
number of switching engines. The Erie
today moved five trains, and have in
quarters more than the number of men
usually employed.
wEAT WILL TAE NEXT MOVE BE?
The second feature of the strike is,
what can and will be the next stroke OF
the leaders against the railway inter-
ests? The conviction is that efforts are
being strongly pushed toward the with
! drawal from work OF the fremen or
trainmen, or both. The fremen are
holding, meeting, the outcome of which
may be determination to quit work.
Master Workman Sweeney this even
ing made an attempt to secure, arbitra-
tion of the differences. He addressed
letters to the affected roads, reciting the
history Of the case, and offering to sub
NIT the cause of the strikers to arbitra-
ton. The Erie responded that the
matter would be referred to headquar-
ters the Lake Shore disputed the alle-
cations in Sweeney's letter, and the
Central sharply declined arbitration, as
had done the Reading before.
TaR SITUATION SUMMED UP.
Briefly, the situation is az follows
The only trunk line uninterruptedly
carrying freight eastward is the Della
ware, Iaackawanna and Western. One
of the western trunk lines from this city
the Lake Shore-is clogged, and the
Grand Trunk of Chicago is threatened
with strike. The Michigan Central,
another trunk feeder westward, is in
volved, like the Lake Shore, in the for
! tunes of the Central. and only the sue
cess of tomorrow's efforts of the roads to
move freights freely is now to be relied
upon for the eastward carrying of traffic.
:. At exactly this point the tactical posi-
ton of the Lackawanna is brought
!. strongly to light. This position of the
Lackawanna is just as thoroughly appre-
ciated by the strike leaders as by any
others, and the Importance of what the
men upon that line will conclude to do,
as to a sympathetic strike, iH beyond
, cavil.
Master Workman Sweeney this even
ing received deputation from the
Grand Lodge OF Switchmen, Pennsyl-
: vania. The audience lasted nearly an
hour and it is impossible to learn what
J tranepired.
Third Vice-President Webb, of the
Central, said tonight, so far as bis road
was concerned, the strike is entirely
ever.
NoN-UNIoN MEN ASSAULTED.
The only troubles reported during the
day were when Yardmaster Barrett tried
to bring string of freights to East Buf-
falo under the protection Of troops. He
was stoned, but not seriously injured
| No arrests were made and the soldiers
{ did not open fire.
/ Tonight Switchman Bowen, of the
! | Lake Shore, was on top of car when
, | striking switchmen climbed up and at
tackled him. Bowen drove the strikers
I off, however, after receiving a severe
cut on the head. Later when Bower
had occasion to quit the train, he was
attacked again, and received several cutl
, around the head. He was taken to Q
) dining car and an ambulance sent for
i When Bowen started for the ambulance
. he was struck in the face by striker
VINO was subsequently arrested.
THE FIREMEN WILL GO OUT.
A secret meeting of the five loca
lodges of iremen was held tonight
/ About $50 men were in attendance, rep
resenting all the lodges in the city, a
we'll as the different roads. The train
men and conductors brotherhoods wer'
t represented by delegates. As the re
a suit OF the meeting, it can now be salt
9 almost certainly, that the locomotive
9 firemen on the Lehigh, Erie, LAX
Shore, West Shore and Central road
i viii &c ont between 8 o'clocl
II tomorrow evening and Sunda,
l. morning. This was the unanimou
l. decision, as the men were found to be il
|, favor OF declaring strike on the road
named. Many urged that strike b
ordered at once. They were held bacl
by the more conservative, and the mai
e ter was referred by telegraph to Gran
q Master Sargent. of Terre Haute. 1t
Il expected that Sargent will leave Terr
i Haute early tomorrow, arriving here .
night. The strike will be sympathetic