Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-08-25

SARGENT IN BUFFILo.


The Head of tho Organization Of Loco
motive Firemen Talks About the
Switchmen's Trouble.
BUFFALO, N. u. Aug 90 Frank Ii.
Sargent, grand master oil the Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemon, is here.
lie arrived this morning and registered
mt the Brozel House, where he was seen
by an Associated Press correspondent at
10 o'clock. MIR. Sargent said he had
come here at the request Of Mr..
Sweeney.
what position will you take, if re-
quested to order a strike of the fire.
menT was asked.
III J order n strike of the tiremen, il
will be in connection with the Brother
hood Of Locomotive Engineers, the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen and
Brotherhood of Railway Conductors,
and the Order of Railway Telegraphers."
"rhen there will not be an isolated
strike of the iiremcny"
mo; you can deny that the firemen
are gong into this strike except as part
of column, composed Of the other
railway organizations. | do not say
that they will not strike, but the impress
sion that they are to be forced to the
front in the matter is absolutely in
correct"
would il be possible for the local
organization to order n strike of the fire
men in this city, or upon one or more of
the roads where trouble exists, without
your sanction2"
ut would not We have clause in
our constitution fixing penalty Of cx-
pulsion in the event of a strike without
authority"
"rhen you wish to be quoted as say
ing that If u strike of tiremen occurs il
must Of necessity be general?'
81 do"
"lS statement recently made by a
railroad official that i: would require
several days to bring about strike Of
| the tiremen correctly"
ut is not We have proceedings in
such shape that are acceptable to our
employers and which give them an
opportunity to adjust any difficulty that
| may exist. There is no unnecessary red
tape i'll the matter and if we have occa,
sion to strike it could be done legally
within AZ hours"
'Do any difficulties EXIST"
81 know of none, 50 far as the fircmen
are Immediately concerned. AT least
none have been placed in my hands"
us there any precedent since the birth
OF your order where the liremen have
struck out of sympathy"
"We have not yet as an organization
struck out of sympathy for any other
| order that has had strike on its hands
| we have, however, aided kindred
organizations in securing the recognition
Of their rights and the adjustment of
difficulties before strike was ordered. Z"
Have you any information as to the
time and placeof holding the conference
TO which you have been called p
| mo, have not yet Mr.. Sweeney,
upon whom the burden of the business
will naturally devove, as it was he who
called the conference"
| Mr.. Sargent could not say exactly
who would take part in the delibera-
tions, but intimated that it would be
Chief Engineer Arthur of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers, Grand
| Master Wilkinson Of the Trainmen, of
Galesburg, ILL.,, Grand Master Clark of
the Conductors, of Cedar Rapids, Ia,
Grand Master Sweeney Of the Switch
men, and himself.
"Can you forecast the matter to be con
sidcred at the conference :" continued
the reporter.
Il have not been officially informed Of
the situation here and | cannot form
things on the hypothesis that the condi-
tons slated in the newspapers actually
| exist Ii such is the case we must con
slider carefully whether or not, the com
panies, should they defeat the switchmen
in this strike, would single out our
organizations, one after another,
and virtually attempt to destroy
organized labor. In the event of such
a contention, we might conclude that
now is the time to join hands and make
a fight against capital, for the recog-
milton of organized labor and for our
own existence. If this is the case,
GENERAL STRIKE MAY FOLLOW.
But, as | said before, | have no,
come here to order strike of the fire
men unless the other organizations join
forces"