_Sargent and Debs_: Can you select a Committee of your Order to act in conjunction with our Committee? Meet us at Commercial Hotel morning of December 29. [Signed] ALEX. R. CAVENER. "This was the first intimation the B. of L. F. had that the B. of L. E., or the Committee of nine, recognized that the B. of L. F. had any interest whatever in the 'Q' strike, or in the settlement of the strike. Grand Master Sargent was not in Terre Haute when the message was received, and Grand Secretary and Treasurer Debs, of the B. of L. F., replied as follows: TERRE HAUTE, IND., Dec. 27, 1888. Grand Master Sargent is expected home from the East this evening, and your message will be referred to him on his arrival. For myself I do not favor the appointment of a Committee such as you suggest at this time. The invitation for joint procedure comes too late in the day. I have no doubt our regular Committee representing the C., B. & Q., now at Chicago, will be amply able to look after our interests. E. V. DEBS. "Upon the arrival of Grand Master Sargent the following message was sent to Chairman Cavener, at Chicago: TERRE HAUTE, IND., Dec. 29, 1888. _A. R. Cavener, Commercial Hotel, Chicago, Ill._: Referring to your telegram we have to say, that in our opinion we should have been given an opportunity of being represented in the tour of inspection of the "Q" system. We are in the habit of acting for ourselves in such matters, and hence we are not disposed at this late hour to join in the "amen" to what has been done. If we were not capable of doing our part from the beginning we are not willing to join issues now. We respectfully decline to appoint any Committee for the purpose suggested in your telegram. [Signed] F. P. Sargent, Grand Master. E. V. DEBS, Grand Sec. & Treas. "The refusal of the B. of L. F. to appoint a Committee to act with the engineers' Committee was adversely criticised, and resulted in sending to Terre Haute a Committee of two, Bro. R. H. Lacy, Chairman of the C., B. & Q. Committee, having charge of strike affairs, and Bro. George Godding. These men visited Terre Haute, and, acting under advice, represented to Grand Master Sargent that it was important that a Committee should be appointed to represent the firemen on the Committee of engineers. "Grand Master Sargent thereupon transmitted to Grand Chief Arthur the following message: TERRE HAUTE, IND., Jan. 2, 1889. _P. M. Arthur, Cleveland, Ohio_: I have been requested by A. R. Cavener, Chairman of Committee at Chicago, to appoint a Committee of firemen to act with them in the matter now before them. Will you inform me if he has the authority to do this, and if you approve of the same as the Executive of the Order? Has this Committee full power to act regardless of you? Answer at my expense.