Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-25
THE STRIKE DECLARED OFF.
Grand Master Sweeney Of the Switchmen's
Order Throws Up the Sponge.


Grand Master Sweeney Of the switchmcn',
Order Throws Up the Sponge.
| The strike Of switchmen at Buffalo was de-
clared off at midnight last night by Grand
Master Sweeney, head Of the switchmen' s order
| The strike Was inaugurated twelve days ago.
The beginning Of the end of what was until
last Sunday an almost general strike Of switch
| men in the Buffalo railroad yards marked
( by Mr.. sweeney's appeal to the heads of other
orders of railway workers to meet him in con-
| ference. The evident fact that the companies
had resumed the natural conduct of their bust
ness without tie men who had left their employ
with MIR. Sweeneys sanction pressed home to
the grand master the conviction that his local
followers had become no longer striking switch
men. but only idle men. Their leader was
brought to see by daily developments in the
yards that If his men were saved at all some
power beyond his resources or theirs must be
invoked.
WITHOUT FUNDS.
At this point the fact should be stated which
has not before been made public as one of the
hampering conditions which entered into the
problem Mr.. Sweeney bad set himself to solve.
The finances of his order are exceedingly linn
tied. The organization Is without reserve and
without money. The leader. who has been try
ing here to win against the railroads has found
how necessary is a bank account in an organized
effort of labor for the establishment of new con-
ditions which are not acceptable to railroads
with big money reserve.
col e., 80 rono,v.d +r.fsic norsmant r, 81.
ra;lroad confronting him and without a bonl
account at his command. Nr. Sweeney knew
that his cause was lost. He turned, as q last
resort, toward the other organizations of rail-
road worters and bis invitstions to Wessrs
Sargent Clark. Arthur. wilkinson and Thurs.
ton were the visible indications that the switch
men must confess defeat without frsternaI aid.
Before noon Yesterday each of these labor
leaders. save Messrs. Arthur and Thurston.
were in the city Already Mr.. Sargent had in
formed Mr.. Sweeney that the fremen would not
come ont unless the men of all the other rail-
way orders also co-operated. Mr. Wilkinson,
the trainmens chief. had not met Mr.. Sweeney
since their memorable meeting at Terre Haute
and his aid could scarcely be reckoned upon
other than grounds of absolute justice to his
own men, while Mr. Clark of the conductors
had already stated tina. the men of his order
bad no grievances of their own. Such was the
situation when, at o. clock on the afternoon OF
the last day of the strike. three men assembled
the stairs of the Hotel Broezel and proceeded
toward room IS, which is at the end Of a quie,
hallway on the first floor and overlooking the
depot and passenger yards of the New York
Central
Arriving at room IL, which was that occupied
Pv Mr. Sargent OF the hremen. MIR. Sargent
received them at the threshold. ushered them
in and closed and bolted the door. Some one
from within also shut the transom. There was
little formallty IN the procedure of conference.
Mr.. Sweeney was asked at once to set
forth the position in which he and his
men were placed. He did so at length
and in detail. At the conclusion Of MIR.
Sweeney's statements Mr.. Sargent reiterated
what he had already stated-that his men would
not go out q sympathetic strike unless all
railway organizations did so. If this was a case
which demanded that general issue should be
made by all organized railway labor. then he
would be in the line with his firemen.
Mr.. Clark stated that the conductors had no
grievance and that WINE they Deheved the de-
hiaius Oh tne ssitcnmen were JUST, tnere "ouid
,sro no 10 Ihem.siveS "'''''' W 'eoi'''
Mr.. Wilkinson. for the trainmen. informed
the switchmens leader that he felt the original
demands of the switchmen were fair if ever
anv demands were lust. but his order could not
consent to co-operation by asympathetic strike.
These statements having been made. Mr..
Sweeney lad received his ultimatum. The
Sweeney strolled together down the broad
staircase to the lobby
.nv,srn nv co>x,ss,oxvp noxov
After leaving the confere,ca NJ Sreorov
went 10 the rooms Of arb;tro,;o,, Comn,;,sio,,.r
Donovan and informed hin, % ,bo rasr,, or Al.
conference, In view of the result of the con-
ference and OF mine with railroad officials I
recommend 10 YOU that the strike be declared
off and thereby secure a return 10 work of as
many men as possible" said Mr.. Donovan.
Mr. Sweeney WAS undecided and after n lengthy
discussion. in which the whole situation was re-
viewed. and Mr.. Sweeney had stated that he
was not beaten and could vet cripple all the
trunk lines between New York and Chicago. he
finally decided that the suggestion of the COM
of the labor organizations during the confer
ence, that the most advisable thing to do was to
declare the strike of we've wise, and promised