The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-08-26
THE STRIKE ENDED.
DAYS AGO IN BUFFALO HAS
UTTERLY FAILED.
A WATERLOO FOR THE swrrcHMrN.

BUFFALO, Aug. s4.-At midnight to-
night, Mr.. Sweeney, the head Of the
switchmen's order, officially recognized
the fact that the strike movement of
switchmen, which was inaugurated
twelve days ago in this city, has failed.
In the official terms of the order, the
strike was declared off," The men
who were formerly employed as switch
men in the railway yards here will be.
fore daylight be notified by their local
officials that the purpose for which
they quit their employment has not
been accomplished and that they are
now at liberty to get back their places
# they can.
The evident fact that the compan-
les had resumed the natural conduct
of their business without the men who
had left their employ with Mr.. Sween-
ey'S sanction pressed home to the
grand master workman the conviction
that his local followers had become
no longer striking switchmen, but only
IDLE men whose work is the throwing
of switches, but whose positions have
been forfeited without profit to them
selves. 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.
Thus at the close of last week with
physical fact of renewed traffic move
ment by the railroad confronting him,
and without an official bank account
at his command, Mr.. Sweeney knew
that his cause was lost. He turned as
last resort toward the other organi.
zatons of railroad workers and his in
vitations to Messrs. Sargent, Clark,
Arthur, Wilkinson and Thurston were
the visible indications that the switch
men must confess defeat without
fraternal aid.
Mr.. Sweeney was ask ed 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 con-
clusion of Mr.. Sweeney's statement,
MIR. Sargent reiterated what he had
already stated. that his men should
not 60 out on a sympathetic strike
unless all railway organizations did so.
If this was case which demanded
chat general issue should be made
by all organized railway labor, then
he would be in the line With his fire.
men; otherwise the fremen would be
kept or boiling water.
Mr.. Clark stated that the conduct
ors had no grievance and that while
they believed the demands of the
switchmen were just, there would be
no strike of conductors save it was to
redress wrong to the conductors.
Mr. Wilkinson, for the trainmen, in
formed the switchmen's leader that he
felt the original demands Of the switch
men were fair if ever any demands
were just, but his order could not con.
sent to cooperation by a sympathetic
strike.
These statements having been made,
Ah'' oWSChSy iiou iCSClNCu ihS uitiihd-
tum. The conference broke up about
seven o'clock and all save Mr. Sweeney
strollcd together down the broad stair
case to the lobby. Nearly the entire
force Of newspaper correspondents
who have been working here were
awaiting the result of the conferences
to learn the determination of the coun
Gil. The three labor chiefs frankly
stated the ultimatum they had several
ly given to the switchmen's leader.
Mr.. Sweeney proceeded through the
upper hallway and made his escape
from the hotel and the correspon.
dents through the ladies' entrance. He
had appealed for aid which had been
denied him and his next duty and er-
rand was to appraise the representa-
tlves Of the now idle switchmen that
their cause was lost.