New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-27
THE WABASH WORKMEN.
DISCUSSING THEIR GRIEVANCES.

f.bo Kn;gbts of Labor and the officers Of the Wabash,
st. Louis and Pacific Railway Company yesterday was
not important in actual results although IL was saa
nv all TO have been agreeable and perhaps instructive
IN character The railroad company was represented
by President Amos l.. Hopkins and General MAN.
aper A. A. Talmage. Ali the principal executive
oe,cers of the Missouri Pacific Railway. Jay Gould,
president r. s. Hayes and II. NJ. Hoxie. first ana
third yice-presidents were pre- sent by invitation but
excepting Mr. Gould they took little part in the dis
oussion Five Knights of Labor composing the execu-
five board were present General Master Workman
powderIy, of Scranton, Penn; General Secretary
Turner of Philadelphia; and J. r. Buchanan, OF Dem
yer: John W. Hays. of New Brunswick, n. D., and
William II. Bailey of Shawnee, Ohio.
Referring to the publ hed statements that he had
issued discriminating orders against the members oil
the association Mr. Talmage mace the positive asser-
ton that he had issued such orders and that none
had been issued by his subordinate ofheers with MS
knowledge and consent. He stated that he had not
eiscrimnstcd, in the mrloyment OF worknen against
any labor organization and that as long he remained
in his present position he never should do so. when
he was shown pledges that had been exaced from the
workmen he expressed profound ignorance oil the
proceeding
The committee demanded that the railroad officers
sboud discharge all the men employed by the receivers
since June 49, when the shops reopened and put
IN their places members of the Knights of Labor who
had been shut out when the shops were closed Ar'
Taimape avoided a direct rcpy to this proposition on
the ground that he did not know how much the accept
ance OF il might involve. lie promised 10 seek luYor
information ON the subject and to give the committee
an answer Mt early day. II is understood however,
that the railroad cement is not likely TO comply
with the demand. because refuses TO discriminate
either against III favor OF any labor organzalons
The sbops that closed tor two days were thoee
MT Moberiy No., Decatur and Springfield, ILL.,, and
Fort Wayne 1t is said the part OF the knights OF
Labor that when the shops we're r~opentc men were
refused employment who would not give pledges to
abandon tho association. II they were not members
not to join It, The railroad officers deny tD cnarse;
and saw they did not know until some Time ater"afu
whether OF not the mon who asked ior WORK were
members of any labor association AT the conference
Vice. PRESIDENT loxie OF the Missouri racluo l3u,Su
II that company had not maintained carefully the
agreement made in March, and II the assocalioh hhu
a1y complaints against the management OF Tue com.
many The committee replied without hesitation mat
The agreement had been faithfully observed by the
Missouri Pacific In letter aud spirit 10 inc next IN
ouiry why the company had been threa'eheu un.ei
speh circumstances the committee said that IL hau
haan found necessary the southwestern eystcn
aa club 70 compel the Wabash TO keep ITS part OF hc
aga sements it had made jay Gou tooK an Unusually
active part in the conference. lie SAID hat personally
he had no feeling of aDtagonlsm To LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
formed for mutual protection and benem. on tno
| contrary, no favored them, and was wiling az any
e r. do his part in helping support them. liz ex;
messed The belief that the railroad companies wouid
do e 10 foster Ooiations among their Workmeh
ana 10 contribute to the funds whenever IL hgh' 0,
niece ssary on account OF unusual causes IN genera
depresson of business or IN local troubles ne in-
terests of the railroads and the workmen were largely
daoecdsot on ca other In regard to the danger OF
strike Mr. Goud said that he did not appr hend such
an event because the Norkmtn were intelligent men
and knew the evil results that always followed sruses
He declared that he felt less rear OF bliike tu"n
probably the members OF the committee entertained
Tho Executive BIOS I'd of the knights oil LABOR were
nm early in the morning akng preparations Tor the
con terence Some of the members went down TO the
Western Union Building and informal conversations
| were held with Hr. Hopkins. Mr.. alma &c ana Mr.
i A
Board at the Aston House shortly alter p M ana IN
| formed them that if they would go 70 the western
Ijnion building they would find the men they wished
TO see ready meet them. They were In consultation
| for nearly twoshours: n,, +. ,.
| inc of the conference said: We were received by
the officers of the Wabash in most friendly anu ami
cable manner which renders me sangIne OF an early
and satisfactory settlement OF the whole annlr; me
condition OF affairs was discussed freely and fairly and
while no definite conclusion arrived at We icel en-
couraged. We stated our ease irlly IRON Toe ihSsP
tiep OF the trouble tho present day. General Man
] ager Tamage denied that any Reorganization
| whatever had been made against the hngh's OF
| Labor with his knowledge and consent ana
| doubted at first that there had been any such
| discrimination at oil, bat we proved conclu-iyeY
to him that such things had been done, AIter aus
cussue that part OF the business thoroughly we were
| oske, what we wanted and stated our deDands. Ia
snostancs they were that all the men that were locked
| ont on June 10 should be re-employed. We dd not
| sst that The company should employ any more men
than they had need Of and to got over thls trouble
posed tnat the knights of Labor should draw up list
1
ON from this list In all the shops. until all existing
| vacancies are filed Then when vacancies occur they
shall be filled from the list our last pr2p''i"n wa
| that in future no discrimination shoulu DO m"ue
| against tho Knights OF Labor"
| =. Was no demand made for the discharge OF the men
| employcd ia tho shops sInce Juue l0P
:" IL. sir: VIC made 90 demand tor the discharge of
| ANYBODY All asked was tie re-einPloymcht oil our
men who were looked out | think thnt so many o. o.
them have found work else where that If those who ltt
are taken on there would be necessity discharge
any of the hands now employed Our propositions
we're iagoIably received so lar as We cGn,G eee. or
| Talmage said thst tins w@ matter which required
| consideration and could not be decided 0n-hanu but
that he would take it under advsemcnt ana give u- an
early answer lie further stated that ho was power
less TO do anything except with the consent OF the
Court inasnuch the affairs OF the wabash are IN Tue
hands OF receiver we lett inc western .", ION
will have another conference to-day ut which we nope
| tho whole affair will be settled
After the conference the Executive Board went back
10 the Astor House and discussed the outlook Tor an
early settlement among themselves; They all express
themselves as hopeful. Mr. Gould sald 70 nc. sald
John W. Hays !" that ho was heartily IN favor OF
settling these matters by arbitration and ih~ he hoped
that in the future the men on his lines would always
come to HIM frankly with their grievances before they
| struck In the evening the Of the Executive
Board in the Astor House were filled with local mem
beers of the Knights Of Labor. who were anxious to
know the result of the conference.
| General Manager Talmage said 10 TRIBUNE re-
porter last night AT the Fifth Avenue Hotel There
is no diicuty OF any knd on The Wabash roaa pc
where All trains running regularly and all bust
ness is being transacted promptly and without delay
The shops are all running with as much force a. the
business Of the road will warrant the receivers in EN-
blowing There have been orders Issued 10 dscrii-
nate against knights OF Labor by myself nor by any
subordinate officer with my consent or authority IIe
men at work in the shops have been employed on their
own Individual merit and have not been required to
sirD any paper that they did not belong TO secret
cetes or II they did that ley would sever their con;
nsction. have never written letter OF my KIND
s,ating that would bro ak up the knights OF Labor
and then break up other orean .atons OF
simar character have taken no pans 10 evade the
Exeoutiye Committee OF the Knights OF Labor re-
ned 10 them SOME ten days ago that could not under
stand why it was necessary that should meet them
Ianfa that nnr all a