Omaha daily bee., 1892-08-21
ANXIOUSLY AWAIT THE ISSUE
Striking Switchmen RealiS9 That Their
Cause is Weakening.
THEY REQUIRE THE AID OF THE FIREMEN
Unless the Leaders Adopt Decisive Meas
ures the Fight is Admitted to Be
Lost - Moving Cars in the
Yards-The situation.

BUFFALO, N. Y. Aug. 2O-fhere is tonight
no reason apparent for withdrawing the
statements OF the probable strike by the fire.
men which have been presented in these dis
patches since Thursday. The exclusive and
definite information transmitted by the AS
sociated Press from here last night with ref
erence to the council session OF tho tiremen
in this vicinity left the men awaiting the ar.
rival of Mr.. Sargent from the west. The
men expected he would be in the city today.
1t is not publicly known at 8 O'Clock tonight
whether he has arrived. In the meet
ing last night the firemen were a
unit upon the point, it will be re-
membered, OF declaring themselves then
and there on a strike. The Difference of the
matter until MIR. Sargent's arrival here was
probably more an act Of courtesy to the head
OF the order than an indication that the men
would not ultimately do as their majority
seemed disposec-to strike In sympathy with
the switchmen. Hence, 1t may be easily
reasoned, without further facts, that should
Mr.. Sargent delay coming until past mid
night tonight, or should he not come at all,
the men may before dawn Sunday have
taken the entire subject within their own
hands and have gone out. The risk they viii
take, should the fremen of this vicinity
strike without official sanction, will be all
their own They viii be obliged to make
the battle upon their own resource and with
out any financial support from the hremen's
order at large. So stands the matter ae this
moment.
Work of the Railroads.
None of the companies whose switchmen
are on strike have today moved normal
quantity of traffic. Tue Erie has fallen
snort about one-half; tho Lehgh somewhat
more than one-halt; the Lake Shore made
start for the first time since the strike; the
Nickel Plate was doing business ana tho
Buffalo Creek road was warming its engines
the hrst time in week, while the Michigan
Central whose yard WORK is involved with
that OF the Central, also showed movement.
The Central today handled traffic nearly
equal TO Its normal freight movement.
The threatened demand on the part of the
Erie county oihclals for the withdrawal of
the troops has been deferred at least until
Monday. Tomorrow the sheriff and super
visors of the county will travel aoout
through the city yards in order that they
may see how nearly business Is restored to
its usual status, and their determination will
rest upon tho result Of their OBSERVATIONS.
The United States regulars on the frontier
here are in readiness tonight for immediate
movement should they be called upon. BY
tnose who know, 1t is regarded as an out
growth of the present railway complications
Hoping and Waiting.
There need be 40 more mlncing of terms as
tu the fate of tho striking swltchmen here
while the status which prevails tonig ht
is maintained. Unless the LABOR leader
adopt decisive measures In new directions
the switchmen in the Buffalo yards are uu-
deniably defeated. They know it themselves
but still cling 10 conviction that something
will yet happen. Tney have faith in their
leaders, they hope the tremcn may come out,
and yet the mass OF them, while hoping,
have little knowledge OF the progress OF
official diplomacy, and tonight, as AT the be-
ginning OF the week. they are dumoly await
ing the issue.