Connecticut western news., 1892-08-25
THE STRIKE FAILING.
NONuNION MEN RAISING THE BUF-
 FALO FREIGHT BLOCKADE.

ERlO fHEt1F1t 0IOSNNDC. The Carr That Are Sent Out Are Guard ed by the Troops-The switchmep Cam not Win Unless the Bremen Come to Their Rescue by Stopping Work. BUFFALO, Aug 28.-This is the eleventh day of the switchmen's strike, and although the refusal of the Western New York and Pennsylvania men to handle freight received from the Central was emphasized by sixty five men quitting work, it Is not believed much increased vitality is shown by this action True enough, the official ending may be delayed yet another forty eight hours, for no one expects Grand Master Sweeney to make an official declaration of failure until after the conference of the chiefs of the leading orders, which will be held as soon as they can get together. The switchmens effort has been a failure for 1 several days and is so regarded in the con servative judgment of impartial observers. Grand Master Sargent, of the locomotive | fremen, did not attend any meeting last | night, although regular meeting of fire men was held. It is understood on good | authority that Mir Sargent does not appear | inclined to call out his men, and declares that if they should go out telegraphers, en- | gineers, trainmen and others will go out. There is an interesting report in circula- | tion to the effect that the firemen at their meeting drew up set of grievances which they will present to the railroads, and that if they do not get their demands they will strike. Mir Sargent will neither admit nor deny the truth of the report.
 | "To be or not to be" a general strike of all the allied organizations of railroad em- | ployees is, therefore, the one and only con undrum yet to be solved, and if & negative decision is reached the strike of 1899 will vanish from view as a factor of interest to the general public of the country. ssl Beyond the daily instances of malicious annoyance to which the men now busy | moving trains have been subjected since | operations were resumed under protection, | the railroads are doing a fairly normal | amount of traffic At least they are doing as much as they can probably accomplish with the many men green to the yards and not of the greatest experience, even when judged by the class usually employed.
 The Military Situation. .t
 In the military situation there is not like ly to be any material change before Wednes- day, for in spite of the talk of sending troops away there still seems to be plenty Of picket duty to be performed in protect ing the supposed exposed points on the more than 600 miles of tracks within the city limits, to say nothing of the coal trestle of the Lehigh and Leckawanna in Cheekto- waga, two or three miles beyond the eastern | limits.
 The aggregate strength of the commands as shown by the usual morning reports to- day is 6, 882 men, divided among eight regi ments, the Albany battalion, thirty-one sep arate companies cavalry troops, the Fifth battery and the First brigade signal corps The gathering of so large part of the state's forces at this point has called forth suggestions that review of the men as 6 whole would be of value before they are sent home.
 While this would probably be as pleasing to Adjutant General Porter as to any one the exigencies of the case will hardly per init. He says frankly he would like to ar range such a parade for it's moral effect fol while the figures convey certain idea of the force, the distribution of the organization is such that they are actually lost in tho vast expanse of territory gridironed witt tracks. Desirable as it may be, perhaps, ii is safe to say no general parade will be or dered.
 Unless sooner ordered by Governor Flower, 1t is certain that as soon as ht thinks they can be spared General Porter will send the men home in attachments for he knows the inconvenience and los that each member of the guard is sus taining in being absent from home anC business under conditions like the presen call
 A General Strike Not Probable.
 The homeward move may be ex pected as soon as the conference now oI the tapis is concluded, unless it should hap pen that general strike is ordered. Sucl conclusion seems illogical, however, iron the very character of the leaders who ar expected to consider the interests of tn men.
 Grand Master Sweeney, of the switch men, will not think it pleasant thing l. order switchmen out at other points with out he is sure of the support of the othe organizations.
 Grand Master Sargent, who has been in terviewed to death since his arrival iron Terre Haute, has nothing to say in an, shape that will foreshadow the probable ac tion of the fremen. He says there are 1, 70 members of his order in this vicinity, an disclaims anything like secrecy when a con clusion is reached. Hence, beyond a com plimentary expression of confidence i Grand Master Sweeney, he seems to giv the latter little encouragement of ultimat help.
 Even should Sargent and Sweeney act tc gether, it IS safe to assume that Gran Chief Arthur, of the engineers, and Gran Master Clark, of the conductors, will bot be against action that will involve their Tt spective bodies in any position other tha that of conservatives, for which their recor is proven.
 Hence, if the conference consists of fiv members and majority vote is to rule, Is possible the attitude of Grand Master S E. Wilkinson, of the trainmen, may be th deciding factor. It is thought, however that his natural position will be on the sid of the engineers and conductors. A
 neither of the latter bodies have any specis
 grievances, arguments not now visible wi | most certainly have to be used before tn battle royal between the roads and the me
 will be on, though the roads would be gla | to have it out, now there has been a begir