New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-18
MIR. SWEENEY AssAILs thin ROADS.
he THINKS THEY BURNED THE OARS TO PREVENT
PUBLIC SYMPATHY FOR THE MEN.

he THINKS THEY BURNED THE OARS TO PREVENT
PUBLIC SYMPATHY FOR THE MEN
Buffalo n. Y. Aug I7.-Master Workman Sweeney
of the switchmen. In an interview today SAID ron
may say that the switchmen are not only NOT 10
blame for the acts Of disorder that. have been com
rnitted but that they have not sanctioned them IN
anv wey. The best proof Of this is there has been
nons Of them arrested any such charges How
,onr do vou suppose our men would DO ont OF jail
4, they had boon concerned In these deeds And how
long do you suppose II would take the railroad de-
tectives who swarm In these yards tn gobble them
I'M Not an hour or two. There Is great deal
under the surface in this matter which IL would sur
prise you to learn. You are aware that the heading
and Erie systems and their dependencies arc highly
unpopular among the working classes because OF their
treatment Of their men. They treated their men
like dogs and Mcleod, the president Of the road. even
declined TO SEQ the committee OF tho organization which
went TO him. He asked to give only 20 much ms
Eve minutes. but declined.
"when the first OF this strike came 1t became
necessary somehow or other to divert public sym
patty from the strikers. Railroad lawyers and rail
road managers are not fools. and they devised means
by which they got the sympathy and put the strikers
in the hole. Tho strikers did not set these cars on
hrs Sunday morning."
"We who did P'
"Draw your conclusions" said Mr.. Sweeney.
The reporter asked "Do you mean to nsnuate
their own property ~
Mr. Sweeney said: II have heard that rumor going
about-nOthiDg less. II Is we'll known that the cars
burned were condemned, abandoned old hulks. shnted
on TO grass grown sidlngs out Is CrcektOvaga and
left there TO rot The Poles have been taking
them TO pieces and using them for Hrcwood right
along without any objection being made BY the com.
pany. And these werc the ears burned Sunday, and
that burning set the citizens against the switch
men who had had all their sympathy before Those
the most profitable bonnrcs ever head Of, and they
aid not cost anybody q cent, unless the county Is
foolish enough TO pay for them. We car furnish
evidence that they were abandoned and vauless old
cars"
"what is the stntnde Of your organization and Its
Buffalo members townrd the minta' Are they
friends foes ~
Friends" replied tho Master Workman promptly
but the presence OF the militia Il absolutely un
necessary TO prevent destruction of property by any
OF our people; we will do no destruction We have
done no destruction and We have planned no destruc
ton"
"wIl you aid rather than hinder the militia In their
efforts TO protect property"
awe shall aid them In any way their officers may
suggest. We not thugs, but well disposed people
who want to gain their ends by peaceable and not
riotous means. The Buffalo members are too well
known TO do any overt act and not be Immediately ap
pretended"
ado you look for success IN this swtchmen's a.
ISOLATION movements"
~ expect II will succeed was the reply. awe
will sncc eed In the proper way too by not wording
and letting the roads learn by experience that they
cannot get competent men to Ill our places. There
| are union yards In the West where they don't spoil
S5 worth OF property In n year. Every green switch
man learning his business costs the road where he Is
learning about 800 before he's got his lessons and
when he has learned he gets an experienced mans
pay or goes to a road where he can get II. Why
these roads are at their Wits ends trying get men
and they ain't got them.'
Just here Nj Sweeney pulled long telegram out
"This Is from Chicago said he. "They have got
a recruiting office In Room No 49, Atlantic Hotel
This telegram Is from one Of my scouts. He wires :
4 hired out TO them last night and 10 East
at once but / here yet
aNow' said Mr.. sweeney, at these people think
they Will get any comfort from Western sw1tchmen
fhey are greatly mistafen-the Western will fool
them
AZ to the chances Of the strike becoming general
Mr.. Sweeney said "N0 man can predict where this
thing viii end. IT may spread IKE wildnre. Ger
tain It Is that the men have done everything that
q man with an ounce OF self respect could do to avoid
forcing the issues TO strike fle Lchish Valley men
first sshed for reform in certain places June II last
The company's officers refused 70 listen 70 anything
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