The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-25

OFFICIALLY DECLARED OFF.
Grand Master Sweeney, Failing to Get As
sistance, Ends the Switchmen's Strike
BUFFALO, N. u, Aug. 24.-Ar midnight
to-night Mr.. Sweeney. the head of the
s~itchmen's order, officially recognized the
fact that the strike movement of switch
men. which was inaugurated twelve days
ago in this city. had failed. In the official
terms Of tho order, the strike was "de-
clared off," The men who were formerly
employed as switchmen in the railway
yards here will, before daylight, be noti-
fed 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 if
they can.
The beginning of the end of which was,
until last Sunday, an almost general strike
of swlrchmen in the Buffalo railroad yards,
was marked by Mr.. Sweeney in an appeal
to the heads OF other orders of railway
workers to meet him in conference in this
city. Mr.. Sweeney was brought face TO
face with the fact. as stated In these
dispatches Sunday night. that there was no
longer any strike of switchmen in the
Buffalo yards. The evident fact that the
companies had resumed the natural con-
duct of their business without the men VINO
had left their employ with Mr.. Sweeney's
sanction, pressed homo to the grand
master workmen the conviction that his
local followers had become no longer strlk-
ing swltohmen, but only idle men whose
works. the throwing of switches. but
whose positions had been forfeited with
ont profit to themselves. Their leader was
brought to see by daily Developments In
the yards that if his mon were saved at all
some power beyond his resources or theirs
must be invoked.
At this point tho fact should
be stated, which has not before
been made public, as one Of the hamperlng
conditions which entered into the problem
Mr.. Sweeny had set himself to solve, that
the finances of his order are exceedingly
limited. The organization Is without O re-
serve and without money. The leader who
has been trying here to win against the
railroads has found how necessary is a
bank account in an organized effort of labor
which arc not acceptable to railroads with
large money reserve.
swEENEY's LAST RESORT.
Thus, at the close of last week, with the
physical fact of renewed traffic movement
by the railroads confronting him, and with
out an official bank account at his com-
mand, ME-. Sweeney knew that his causo
was lost. He turned, as last resort.
toward the other organizations Of railway
workers. and his invitation to Messrs. Sar-
gent, Clark, Arthur. Wilkinson aud Thurs
mon must confess defeat without frater-
nal aid. Before noon-time to-day each
of these labor leaders, save Messrs.
Arthur and Thurston, were in the city.
Already Mr.. Sargent had informed Mr.
Sweeney that his men would not come ont
unless the men of all other organizations
also co-operated. MIR. WILKINSON, the train
mems chief had not met Mr.. Sweeney since
their memorable meeting at Terre Haute,
and bis aid could scarcely he reckoned
upon other than on grounds of absolute JUS
tice to his own men, while Mr.. Clark of the
conductors. had already stated that the
mon of his order had no grievances of their
own.
Such was the situation when at s O'clock
this afternoon three men assembled the
stairs at the Hotel Broozel and proceeded
toward Room 10, which is at the end of a
quiet hallway on the first floor and over
looking the depot and passenger yards of
the New York Central. One of the three
men sauntering slowing along the hallway
was a spare, light moustached man about
thirty years of life. whose short cropped
Ea;r was sprinkled with gray ana whose
sharp. blueish-white eyes conceal all
expression of impulse. That was Gran
Master Sweeney. of the switchmen. An
other one of the trio an exceedingly
tall man with plain brOad-brimmed hat,
whose crown had no dent nor crease, a
man whose eyes were blue and W hose en- fire
face indicated conscious strength, with
kindly impulses very near the surface.
That was the leader of the organized train
men OF the United States, Grand Master
Wilkinson. The last of the three men as
of medium helght, attired mostly In black,
under whose derby hat appeared the strik-
ingly handsome face, black mustache,
brown eyes and nose indicative Of quiet
force and determination. And that was
Chief Clark, of the Brotherhood of Rail-
way Conductors.
Arriving at Room 49, which was that oc-
cupled by Mr.. Sargent, of tho firemen, that
gentleman received them at the threshold,
ushered thom in, closed and tolted the
door. Some one within also shut the tran
som. There was little formality in the pro-
cedure of conference. Mr. Sweeney was
asked at once to set forth the position In
which his men were placed. He did at
length and in detail. At the conclusion
of Mr.. Sweeney's statement, Mr.. Sargent
reiterated what he had already stated
that his men shonid not 90 out on a sym
pathetic strike unless all railway organiza-
tions did so. Ii this was case which de-
manded that . general issuo should be
made by all organized railway labor. then
he would be in the line with his fremen;
otherwise the firemcn would be kcpt
boiling water.
Mr.. Clark stated that the conductors had
no grievance and that. while they believed
the demands OF the switchmen were just,
there would he no strike Of conductors save
il was to redress wrongs perpetrated on
conductors
Nr. Wilkinson, for the trainmen. informed
the switchmen's leader that he felt the
original demands Of the switchmen were
fair If eser any demands were jost. but