THE STRIKE IS OFF.
MR. SWEENEY ADMITS THAT IT HAS FAILED.
The Appeals to Heads of Other Orders Failed—No
Grievance of Their Own.
BUFFALO,
Aug. 24.—At midnight to-night Mr. Sweeney, the head of the Switchmen's order, officially recognized the
fact that the strike movement of Switchmen, which was inaugurated 12 days ago in
this city, had failed. In the
official terms of the order the strike was "declared off." The men who were formerly
employed as switchmen in the
railway yards here will before
dawn be notified 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 what was until last
Sunday an almost general strike of switchmen in the Buffalo railroad yards was
marked by Mr. Sweeney's 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 that as stated in these dispatches Sunday night, there was no
longer any strike of switchmen in the Buffalo yards. The evident fact that the
companies had resumed the natural conduct of their business without the men who
had left their employ with Mr. Sweeney's sanction, pressed home to the Grand
Master Workman the conviction that his local followers had become no longer
striking switchmen, but only idle men whose work is the throwing of switches,
but whose position had been forfeited without profit to themselves. Their leader
was brought to see by daily development in the yards that if his men were saved
at all, some power beyond his resources or theirs must be invoked. At this
point the fact should be stated which has not before been made public, as one
of the hampering conditions which entered into the problem Mr. Sweeney had set
himself to solve. The finances of his order are exceedingly limited. The organization
is without a revenue, 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 for the establishment of new conditions which are not acceptable to railroads with a large money reserve.
This, at the close of last week, with the
physical fact of renewed traffic movement by the railroads confronting him and
without an official bank account at his command, Mr. Sweeney knew that
his cause was lost. He turned, as a last resort, toward the other organizations
of railway workmen, and his invitations to Messrs. Sargent, Clark, Arthur, Wilkinson
and Thurston, were the visible indications that the switchmen must confess defeat
without fraternal aid.
Before noontime today each of those labor
leaders, save Messrs. Arthur and Thurston, were
in the city. Already Mr. Sargent had informed Mr. Sweeney that his men would
not come out unless the men of all other railway orders also co-operated. Mr.
Wilkinson, the trainmen's chief, had not met Mr. Sweeney since their memorable
meeting at Terre Haute, and his aid could scarcely be reckoned upon other than
grounds of absolute justice to his own men, while Mr. Clark of the Conductors,
had already stated that the men of his order had no grievance of their own.
Such was the situation, when at 4 o'clock this afternoon, three men ascended
the stairs of the Hotel Broczel and proceeded towards Room 18, which is at the
end of a quiet hallway on the first floor, and overlooking the depot and
passenger yards of the New York Central.
There was little formality in the procedure
of the conference. Mr. Sweeney was asked at once to set forth the position in
which he and his men were placed. He did so at length and in detail.
At the conclusion of Mr. Sweeney's statements,
Mr. Sargent reiterated what he had already stated, that his men should not go
out on a sympathetic strike, unless all railway organizations did so. If this
was a case which demanded that a general issue should be made by all organized
railway labor, then he would be in the line with his firemen; otherwise the
firemen would be kept in boiling water.
Mr. Clark stated that the conductors had no
grievances, and that while they believed the demands of the switchmen were
just, there would be no strike of conductors, save it was to redress wrongs to
the conductors.
Mr. Wilkerson of the trainmen informed the
switchmen's leader that he felt the original demands of the switchmen were fair
if ever any demands were just, but his order could not consent to co-operation
by a sympathetic strike.
These statements having been made, Mr.
Sweeney had received his ultimatum. The conference broke up about 7 o'clock, and
all save Mr. Sweeney strolled together down the broad staircase to the lobby.
Nearly a mile mile up Main street, in one of the big hotels, four men lounged
upon a big feather sofa. Finally a slight, wiry figure hurried in and beckoning
to the four proceeded with them to room 163, on the fourth floor of the hotel.
It was Mr. Sweeney's room, and the slight, wiry man was Mr. Sweeney. The men
who were awaiting him were Master Workman Moriarity
of the Switchmen's Lodge in this city, and the three others were also local
representatives of the men who had gone on a strike. Then began a confab which
was continued until after 1 o'clock. During its progress messengers came and
were dispatched frequently.
To representatives of the press Mr. Sweeney
said: "A conclusion has been reached by the duly authorized representatives
of the switchmen, and it is that this trouble is ended at midnight tonight.
That is all I have got to say and I don't propose to answer any questions, so
you need not ask any." Then he added: "Four
hundred and fifteen switchmen can't fight 8,000 troops and four or five railroad
companies."
"There are more switchmen out than 415,"
shot in one of the correspondents.
"Yes, about 515 are out now,"
corrected Mr. Sweeney. "And if any men had a grievance these men did."
"We are a little disfigured, but still
in the ring," interjected Officer Barrett of the Switchmen's Order. ''Sh!''
commanded Mr. Sweeney, and then he added as the newspaper men withdrew and in
answer to an inquiry, "I have nothing to say as to whether there will be a
federation of railway orders or not. You will probably give us credit for
making a stiff fight if we are beaten."
"Will any of your men be taken back by
the roads?" asked a retiring correspondent.
"They need trainmen and skilful help and
they certainly cannot get any better men than these," was Mr. Sweeney's
response. The word was carried out towards the East Buffalo yards at once by
messengers, and before dawn the idle switchmen knew they were at liberty to
again seek work where they could. It is estimated by Arbitration Commissioner
Donovan, who has called upon the railway officials in behalf of the men, that
nearly 50 per cent of the now idle switchmen will be reemployed. It is probable
that the troops from the east will be speedily withdrawn, the local militia being
left to furnish such protection as may be necessary.
Sergeant
Gray Returns from Buffalo.
Sergeant Harry P. Gray of the 45th Separate
company arrived home from Buffalo
last Sunday evening on the milk train. He seemed to be ill and almost unable to
walk when he got off the train, and a friend assisted him to his home, corner
of South Main and Union-sts. His wife and her mother were in the upper part of
the town and the house was locked. Mrs. Gray soon returned and found her husband
lying on the grass in an almost unconscious state. He was taken in the house and
Dr. Dana summoned, who found him suffering from bowel trouble.
Mr. Gray says he was hit on the head by a stone thrown by one of the women strikers at Buffalo. He has no recollection of starting for home or of getting off the train here. Mr. Gray is much better and hopes to be able to be at his store to-day.
Mr. Gray says he was hit on the head by a stone thrown by one of the women strikers at Buffalo. He has no recollection of starting for home or of getting off the train here. Mr. Gray is much better and hopes to be able to be at his store to-day.
Carpenters
Get Together.
The carpenters and joiners of this village
have organized a carpenter's union with about 40 members. The following temporary
organization was effected: President, Walter B. Stevenson; Secretary, Edward
Toomey; Treasurer, Chas. W. Brown. They expect to add about 15 more names to
the roll when permanent officers will be elected.
Drowned
at Tully Lake.
At about 10:30 o'clock last Saturday evening,
while Patrick Gleason of Tully, and three other men were crossing Tully lake in
a row boat, the boat was capsized and the occupants were thrown into the water.
The party had started to cross the lake, their objective point being Hobart's
hotel located on the west shore. The accident happened within 50 feet of the
landing and Frank Russell, one of the occupants of the boat, swam ashore and
procuring another boat succeeded in getting two of the men on board, but
Gleason could not be found. After two hours search the body was found in about
20 feet of water and was taken to the rooms of undertaker Earle in Tully and
coroner Roberts of Syracuse was notified.
Gleason was 38 years old and was coachman
for Frederick Hanes of Tully and had previously served in the same capacity for
H. J. Mowry of Syracuse. The boat was loaded too heavily and those who saw them
start out say that the water came nearly to the top of the rail on both sides
and it would require only a slight movement to turn it over. It is thought that
one of the oars must have struck Gleason on the head when the boat capsized,
partially stunning him, as he was not seen after the boat went over until his
body was taken from the water.
Relatives from Syracuse and Pompey seemed anxious
to secure the body and undertakers were there from both places demanding the
remains. It is reported that the wrangle between the undertakers was most
unseemly and disgraceful and that it was only ended by the tardy directions of the
coroner. The body was finally taken by the undertaker from Pompey.
Gleason had saved up something over $2,000
and is said to have been quite an industrious and frugal citizen. The coroner decided
that an inquest was not necessary.
Fishing
on Sunday.
The general term decided that fishing in a
private pond on Sunday is a crime. A wealthy New Yorker named Robert H. Moses
was charged in July, 1891, with fishing in Wickham pond, a private pond in the
town of Warwick, Orange county, on Sunday, July 5. He was tried before Squire
Wisner, found guilty and fined $5. He refused to pay this fine and appealed to
the County Court. Judge Beattie affirmed the decision. Moses then appealed to the
general term and the case was argued at Poughkeepsie last May by Matthew Daly
of New York for Moses, and District Attorney Hirschberg for the people. The
General Term, Judge [Cullen], writing the opinion, affirms the conviction of
Moses. In the opinion Judge [Cullen] says: "But one question is presented
to us on this appeal. That the defendant was fishing on Sunday is conceded, that
the lake where he fished was private property, and that he had the privilege of
fishing in it was also conceded.
"It is not shown that he created any commotion
or disorder, or that his acts attracted or were witnessed by any person other than
the complainant, or disturbed the peace. On these facts the defendant contends
that he was guilty of no offense that under the authority of People vs. Denin,
35 Hun. 327, to constitute the crime the act must disturb the repose of the
community. Section 265, penal code, prohibits 'shooting, playing, horse racing,
gambling, [pastimes] or shows.' It will thus be seen that while only public
sports are forbidden, all shooting, hunting and fishing, etc., are forbidden.
The decision in People vs. Denin proceeds on this distinction. In fact, it might be very difficult to draw any
distinction between ''a public'' fishing or hunting and private fishing or
hunting, The validity of such legislation cannot be questioned in this state.
Nuendorf vs. Duryea, 69 N. Y., 557, Lindmiller vs. People, 33 [Barb.,] 548. The
question of how far these restrictions should be carried is for the legislature,
not for the courts. Judgment appealed from affirmed."
