St. Paul daily globe., 1892-08-26
Grand Master Sweeney AS
Saulted and Badly Used
Up by a Striker.
The Latter Had Lost His Job,
and Was Maddened by the
Defeat.
Vague Rumors Of Meetings of
Dissatisfied Men to Plan
Reppisals.
Sweeney's Integrity Under
Suspicion, It Is Believed
Unjustly.

BUFFALO, Aug. 25.-At II o'clock this
morning, Grand Master Sweeney, of
the switchmen'S union, was set upon by
Arthur Quinn, striking Nickel Plate
switchman, and brutally assaulted.
Mr.. Sweeney and seventy-tive switch
men had been attending the investiga-
ton organized by the state board of az
bitration and had left the hall and were
standing at the corner of Swan aud
Main streets. Quinn approached and
told Sweeney he was responsible for
the loss of his job. Before Sweeney had
time to answer Quinn dealt him fear
ful blow OH the head and followed it
up with several sledge hammer pounds
in the face.
Sweeney fell to the sidewalk, and
then Quinn kicked him several times,
when bystanderS interfered and pulled
Quinn off. He ran away, followed by
an angry mob of strikers. Quinn threat
ened to kill them if they followed him,
walked to drug store and bathed his
face. He told a reporter he did not
know why Quinn had hit him, but sup
posed it was because he had lost his Job
by the failure Of the strike. Sweeney
said it was the first time in the history
of the order that he had been assaulted
by striker or any member of the
switchmen's organization. He has often
heard threats against him. but had
never been touched by a man who was
disappointed over the outcome of a
strike. The assault. he said, was most
coWardly and unprovoked.
Hostile Expressions.
While Sweeney was having his
wounds dressed in the drug store a
number OF strikers assembled on the
Sidewalks in front of the place, and
threatened to do further violence 10 the
grand master. Sweeney was frightened.
and the police reserve dispersed the
crowd. A bitter feeling against Swee-
ney has developed among the late strik-
ers. who consider that they have been
duped and betrayed by him.
One of them stated that Sweeney had
given the men no chance to get their
places back again. If he had given
them an intlmation yesterday that he
intended to declare the strike off the
men say they would have had a chance
to see their former employers and get
employed again. "Sweeney had better
get out of town. and get out quick -
was the remark of one of the men.
Naturally these switchmen, who, by
reason OF exceptional activity in the
movement, now find themselves unable
to return to their places, are bitterly re-
gretful. Doubtless it was this spirit
which prompted the assault today. Al
any rate Mr. Sweeney so believes, as is
indicated when he says:
Il know of no other reason than that
Quinn was dissatisfied with the result
of the outcome of the strike, and, being
in All ugly mood, showed his animosity
by attacking me-"
Hot Heads in Council.
1t is stated vaguely tonight that the
men who would have had the strike
maintained are in meeting in some hall
down towards East Bnffalo, and there
are suggestions even that some men
wish, without knowing how, to open up
the strike again upon their own respon-
sibility. This, however, would require
leader of temper and cahber, which is
believed not TO exist among the dissatis-
fed men. Feeling the Importance of
their desires, however;it is felt by many
conservative people here that the i'm
pulse of aggression may outwork in
violence at scattered points were the
thinned out military have the lightest
picket lines.
There was meeting of conference
among the switchmen this afternoon
and another is to be projected for to.
night, as has been stated. Only a can
vasS of the situation in general may be
the purpose of these councils, but the
police particularly will be relieved at
dawn each day for some time if the
record of the night shall showno yio-
lence. Late this evening there comes
up from the direction of East Buffalo a
report that at the afternoon meeting
those present repudIated Mr.. Sweeney
and decided to ask Mr.. Barrett, who is
next in authority to Mr.. Sweeney in the
switchmen's order, to take up their
views and try and reopen the strike
which Mr.. Sweeney last night declared
Off.
There comes along with these state
mentS also a report that. among those
who are disconnected, there exists a
doubt as to Mr.. Sweeney's integrity III
the settlement OF the strike.