The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-24
ARTHUR ISN'T THERE.
The Chief Of the Engineers Won't
Confer at Buffalo.
NO GENERAL STRIKE PROBABLE.
Sargent Tells m Excitable Fireman to
Keep on Boiling Water and Go Slow
The Chiefs Of the Great Railway Or
ganixations Won't Back Sweeney.
ESPECIAL TO THE xEws.l


Trainmen and Grand Master Clark OF the
brotherhood Railway Conductors arrived
in Buffalo this morning and with Grand
Master Sweeney held a conference this
forenoon.
II Grand Master Sweeney can induce
Grand Masters Clark and Wilkinson to
order strike in their brotherhoods the
present trouble might develop into the
greatest labor contest OF recent years, but
such action grows more and more I'm
probable. 1t seems likely that the iate
Grand Master Sweeney realizes better
than any one else that the switchmen cam
not win alone aud will advance every ar
Rument to bring about general strike OF
the trsinmeu and conductors.
To-day the only roads unaffected by the
strike are the Grand Trunk ana the
Michigan Central.
The Switchmen's Union which obtains
On the Grand Trunk is not affiliated with
the American order, but efforts are being
made to bring its men into line. Should
this OCCUR It would reach into the Cana
dian Pacific with ramidcations Ia Canada
as In this State.
These strikes will undeniable affect the
roads involved, and will complicate the
situation very materially, though not
nearly so much as they would have af-
fected them some days ago, before the
other roads began the raising of the block
ade.
night. IL came in the form Of COM
munication from the Cleveland Office of
Chef T.. M. Arthur OF the brotherhood OF
Locomotive Engineers. Chief Arthur
will not obey Master Workman Sweeney's
summons to the conference OF labor chiefs
at the Brozoel House to-day.
Mr.. Sweeney refused to tell what Chief
Arthur's secretary had written him.
"Do you expect Mr.. Arthur here!" was
"No. Mr.. Arthur is down South. in
North Carolina or South Carolina, / be-
Teve," answered Mr.. Sweeney.
Twill he send representative hereF
"No, don't expect any,"
"Will there be any engineers at tho
conferencei
mo. not unless some of the local repre-
presentotives should attend"
Isn't this something of a disappoint-
ment to your" asked the reporter.
mo, we are never disappointed" an
swered the strike leader.
uificant thing last evening TO fireman
from the Nickel Plate road. who called
upon him Tat the Broozel House. The
fireman was anxious to strike for the
conversation was animated on his part,
while Sergeant was cool to degree.
Finally. when the man had made a final
appeal, Sargent turned to him and said,
with the utmost good nature: Tell the
boys on the Nickel Plate to keep on the
boiling water and not make fools of them
selves. Go slow"
There are a good many facts in connec-
ton with this switchmen's strike which
have not been made public. Mr.. Swee-
ney's term of Office as Grand Master
Switchman, expires this year. He wants
10 succeed himself. At last election of
the organization he came very near being
defeated.
Mr.. sweeney would like to retain the
5000 year salary, and travelling ex-
penses paid. IL is said to be a fact that
his popularity has been decreasing among
the members Of the switchmen's order
for long time.
IL is the custom of some labor organiza-
yions for some leaders to make what is
called grand stand plays" at just about
the time their term of Office expires.
masses. The annual convention of the
Switchmen's Mutual Aid Association
will be held in Dallas, Sept. 10.
This strike was ordered by Mr. Sweeney
on Aug. IL. If he could have carried il TO
a successful conclusion it would have
given him great prestige.
Master Switchman Moriarity has wore
q smile on his face ever since the day the
strike was inaughrAted. He is Mr..
Grand Master of the Mutual Aid Associ-
alton.
IL MIR. Sweeney had carried the fight to
a successful conclusion, Mr.. Moriarity
would not have been In 1t for the Office of
grand master.