The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-26
Who Claim the Midnight Announcement Might
Have Been Postponed Long Enough 10
Give Them o Chance to Make Terms
Mr.. Sweeney's Head Punched and His
Nose Badly Cut by Switchman Quinn.
Effort TO Repudiate the Leaders Action-Very
Few of the Strikers Likely to Be Taken
Back by Their Late Employers
BITTER AGAINST SWEENEY.
Swttchmen Think They Have Been Betrays
The Grand Master Assaulted.


Switchmen Think They Have Been Betrayed
The Grand Master Assaulted.
BUFFALO. Aug. 25.-Grand Master Swee-
ney,, of the Switchmen's Union. was as
saulted to-day and roughly handled. AT ten
minutes to IL o'clock at the corner of Swan
and Mann streets, o crowd of switchmen
surrounded Mr.. Sweeney. demanding that
he declare o strike from New York to Chi
cage. Words ensued and switchman
Quinn, of the Nickel.plate yards, struck
Mr.. Sweeney q furious blow. knocking him
down. Blood flowed in q stream from Mr..
Sweeney's nose. Quinn got his leaders
head against telegraph pole and punched
and pounded HIM until pulled away.
Mr.. Sweeney had his wounds dressed In q
drug store. 4 number of strikers Assem-
blod on the sidewalk in front of the place
and threatened to do further violence to
the grand master. The latter was fright
ened and the police reserve dispersed the
crowd.
A bitter feeling against Sweeney devel-
oped this morning among tho late strikers,
who consider that they have been duped
and betray ed by him. One of them stated
that Sweeney had given the mon no chance
to get their places back again. If he had
given them an intimation that he was GO
ing to declare the strike of or had held the
announcements until to-day the men say
they would have had chance to SOC their
former employers and make terms with
them. But declaring the strike off at mid
night gave them no chance. Sweeney
had better get out of town, and get out
quick" was the remark of one of the men.
Dr. Daniels. the surgeon of the Erie road,
attended Mr.. Sweeney, who. after leeches
had been applied and bis head bandaged,
was taken to his hotel. Nr. Sweeney He-
ceived q cash one and q half inch long
severing the nasal artery. 1t took four
stitches to close the wound.
Naturally those switchmen who recen tly
struck and who. by reason of exceptional
activity in the movement now find them
selves unable TO return to their places are
bitterly regretful. They see some of their
less aggressive fellows accepted by the
companies, and this adds TO the feeling of
which prompted the assault on Mr..
Sweeney. At any rate Mr.. Sweeney so be-
Heves.
TRYING TO REOPEN THE STRIKE.
It is stated vaguely tonight that the
,mc-, who would have had the strike main
tanned are in meeting in some hall down
towards East Buffalo, and there are sug-
gestions even that those men wish.
without knowing just how, to open
up the strike again upon their
own responsibility. This, however, would
require a leader of temper and of
caiiber, which is believed not to exist
among the dissatisfied men. Feeling the
Importance of their desires, however, 1t is
felt by many conservative people here that
the impulse of aggression may outwOrk In
violence at scattered points, where the
thlnned-out military havo the lightest pick
ct lines. This, however, is not designed to be
an alarm. but only an indication of what
must he considered in faithful digest of
the situation.
There was smeetlng of conference among
the switohmen this afternoon. and another
IS said to be projected for tonight, as has
been stated. Only O canvass OF the sltua-
tion In general may be the purpose of these
councils, but the police particularly will
be relieved at dawn each day for some
time ii the record of the night shall chow
no violence. Late this evening there
comes up from the direction of East Buffalo
a report that ut the afternoon meeting
those present repudlated Mr.. Sweeney. and
decided to ask Mr.. Barrett. who is next in
authority to Mr. Sweeney in the switch
and reopen the strike which ME-.
Sweeney last night declared off.
There comes along with these
statements also report that among
those who are discOntented there exists q
doubt as to Mr.. Sweeneys integrity In the
settlement of the striSe. The same doubts
have been heard during the day, and it is
thought likely that Quinn, who struck Mr..
Sweeney this noon, had been first declared
by the grand master TO be q liar because of
an inslnuation, IL not charge, tnat his
tMr. Sweeney's) hands were not clean in
this affair. There can be no warrant, the
best informed believe, for such an lntima-
lion against Mr.. Sweeney. The attack upon
rfad q ho Avo q
feature of the day. The grand master has
been carefully attended during the
afternoon and he was able to 90 ont from
his hotel this evening. He is said to havo
train before morning. This, if it should
become a fact, will demonstrate what
many now feel TO be true-that MIR.
Sweeney Will be safer at q distance until
sided. Conclusion must not be had. how
ever from the fact OF assault upon Mr..
Sweeney, that he has no adherents or
friends among his defeated followers hero.
There are local leaders who have lost
their places irrevOcably who nevertheless
say that they believe IN their leaders in
tegrity, of HE efforts and In tho cleanness
of his purpose in declaring the strike inef-
fective without calling out any more men.
With Mr.. Sweeney gone matters will soon
settle. With the troops here men and
property may be safer for time, though
dctachments will be released tomorrow
The night 10 dark, chilly and heavy. The
militia are heavily clad on the picket lines.
and blan kets In camp are OF increased
value.
SOME STRIKERS MAY BE TAKEN BACK.
A visit was made this morning to the
various offices OF the railroads on which
the strike occurred. and the question was
asked whether the companies would now
reinstate their old men. The reply invaria-
bly, was that the men would not be taken
back in a body. Some of them would not
be taken back under any circumstances.
and the others could come back only under
the conditions governing new men. If any
of them made application for work the ap-
piication would be filed and considered In
due time the same as the applications of
new men. Superintendent Brunn, of
the Erie. stated that there are proba-
bly, twenty-five good switchmen who
went out from the Erie because they feared
for their lives il they did not. These men
will be taken back, but beyo that the
most careful scrutiny will be exercised.
The LehiGh people are only receiving the
names of applicants; they have restored no
strikers yet. Superintendent johnson, of
the Nickei-plate. says hrs road will not hire