The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-08-20
THE DECISIVE STEP
TAKEN BY THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR
NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
An Order That Means Strike Involving
Tens of Thousands of HIen-What
Is Thought of 1t East
and West.

ST. LOUIS, Aug 90 Decisive action was
taken by the tficials of the Knights OF
Labor Tuesday afternoon, that, if success
full, will involve the striking of about rs, 900
men 1t was thought by outsiders thai
the former order calling upon the members
of the order at work for the Wabash to
strike would require to be supplemented by
som. thing that could affect more men. a.
comparatively few of the Wabash employees
were knights. The national committee
seemed to have the same view, and at 2 p
m. issued the following:
OFFICE of TIE q. s. T.; ST. LOUIS, Mo-,
Aug. Is, l,Sj TO ALL WHOM IT MAY Con
GERM GREETING; Owing to the persistent
fig It of IT, Wabash company against the
Knight os Labor, the general executive
board deem it advisable to isSue the follow
ing order to all assemblies:
All knights of Labor in the employ of the
Union Pacific and branches, the Could
Southwest system, or any other
railroad, must refuse to repair
or handle in any manner Wabash rolling
stock until further orders from the general
executive board and If this board is anita
goniZeA by the companies or any of it
officials, yonr executive committee is hereby
ordered to call out all Knights of Labor in
the above system without any further &C
ton
BY order of the general executive board.
FREDERICK TURNER G. 5. 7.
The general secretary said the above had
the approval of a large majority of the
knights.
The Wabash officials claim to be in entire
ignorance of any trouble existing between
the road and its employees. None of the
officials can imagine what grievance the
men claim to have, and it is a concerted ex-
preston that the Missouri Pacific men will
be called ont for no other reason than
to give the Wabash men support
However, it is claimed that the Mis-
souri, Pacific men are displeased with some
OF the bosses, and will go out sure. The
managers are making every preparation to
meet the emergency should it arise. Sew
eral hundred men ON the Missouri, Kansas
Il Texas and Missouri Pacific quit work
Tuesday night.
Dispatches from the southwest show that
the men are going out
A special from Jefferson City says: "Adjt
Gen. Jamison and Maj Kochtitzky. state
| labor commissioner being interviewed here
concerning the strike ordered on the Wa
bash system by the executive committee of
the Knights OF Labor of North America
and the possibility IT its involving the en-
tire Gould system, said that whatever
cause the Wabash man may have for
striking, the Missouri Pacific have none
| A satisfactory settlement of their griev-
ances was made March Is, at a meeting be-
| tween the railroad officials and the officials
of Kansas and Missouri. If they join the
! Wabash they do so without cause, and can
! look to the state neither for sympathy nor
! protection II necessary to protect the
| property Of the company the state will put
a company of militia in each shop along
| the limo of the Missouri Pacific. The
! Wabash line being in the hands
| OF receiver, the property of that
| company Is under the control Of the United
| States The stata will only interfere when
| breach of peace occurs or the law of Mis-
| souri, is violstNd Both officials express the
/ further opinion that it would have perhaps
been better for MIR. Talmage to have
| granted a conference with the Knights OF
1 Labor committee, but think it was a
matter for him 10 decide
! LATEST. Nothing has yet been received
from any point in this state, or beyond, OF
| any trouble growing out of Tuesdays order,
| day or two, o. until the order shall have
| reached, a least, the principal points on the
roads named in the order.
Tie national executive committee having
turned the whole matter over to the district
committees. with power to act they will
issue no more orders, aud started wednesday
morning for the east, where they have some
other matters to look after
| The members Of the committee represent
ing the Knights on the southwest system
left Tor their homes Tuesday night, and will
more fully explain Tuesdays order to TIT
various assemblies.
The Wabash committee will remain here
and transact such business rs may be neces
sary.
T. J. Russell, Of tue committee, say.
that the resolutions c.ilinv FOR the i'm
parchment OF Unl,r Judges
Brewer, Treat and Nl,. , carrie.
out il possible. Cougre, "a. AM
Gen. Palmer win draw a.. les o
Impeachment, which will uced