The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-23
If 1t Be True the Reading Company
Is Not to Blame.
The Knights of Labor, on the Other
Hand, Have Been Wrong.
An Attempt to Boycott Originated
All the Trouble.
He Properly Maintains That the Com.
pany Has Right to Manage It's
own Property Without
Interference.

PHLADELPHIA, Pa, Jan, 22.--President
Corbin, OF the Reading railroad, in answer
TO the various communications from peo-
pie along the line Of the road who are
deeply interested in the operation of both
the railroad and coal and iron companies,
has made long statement in regard TO the
recent troubles between the companies
and their employees. lie says: "In De-
cember certain car loads OF merchandise
arrived at Port Richmond consigned TO the
Philadelphia Grain Elevator company.
The employees OF this company at Port
Richmond in charge Of the switch engines
refused TO transfer these cars TO the ele-
vator company and rave as reason that
the company did not employ Knights Of
Labor. They were Immediately notified
that with such a question this company
had nothing to do; that we were common
carriers and bound 10 receive and deliver
freight TO any person or company that Of
fered it to us and paid for transportation.
Notwithstanding this they still refused
TO make the transfer, and an order was
issued by the general manager Of this
company for their discharge from the
service OF the company. Because Of that
action the leaders Of the Knights OF Labor
ordered all the employees OF the Philadel-
phia and Reading Railioad company 'on
strike. They left the service Of the com
pany with notice TO II That they would not
return unless the men discharged were ~
instated. To this the management
answered that the men discharged for dis
obedience OF orders would never be re-
ins,ated, and this company proceeded TO
ill the places left vacant The men who
left the service Of the company had never
made any complaintthst they were worked
an unreasonable number OF hours, that
their wages were not inir wages for the
work performed, or that in any single in
stance they had bcen treated otherwise
than kindly by the management Not
withstandingthi ana that under the terms
OF their empoymentwitht the companythey
were bound TO render honest and faithful
service, complying with all reasonable or.
ders Il might make N the regular transac-
ton OF its busi.,cr, fhev violated every
obligation Of this vharncler, and by their
own net cancelled any obligation there
might have been on the part Of the com.
pany TO retain them In their service. Over
1000 men voluntarily left our service.
Competent men presented themselves for
service With the company. They wer
employed aud will be retained NJ long ~
they perform their duties faithfully. We
have never made any objections TO labor
organizations. so long as men perform
the duties they owe 10 this company prop.
erly, We shall stand by them, whether
they be union or nOn-union men. The
trouble on the railroad is ended, and will
never be opened up again"
As 10 the miners difficulty, he rccounts
the contract made between them through
a committee and the superintendent Of the
coal and iron company. An advance Of
wages was granted for four months, and
the contract was made and reduced "a
writing at the request Of the miners them.
selves. by this agreement the company
paid IN addition 10 the basis wagcs the
sum Of $4,000. Notwithstanding the
terms Of the agreement, the miners ~.
fused 10 continue at work In the mines
after the Let day Of January, m they had
promised 10 do. They did this for two
reasons. First, because We would not no.
instate the men who were discharged on
the railroad and second, because We
would not continue the s per cent. adj.
vance which We had, under this agree.
mcnt, paid for four months; and We arr
informed they would ON no basis Of wages
have been willing 10 return 10 work unless
We had first rcinstated the railroad men,
or arbitraicd that question. That ques.
ton Is ended, and no matter In connection
with that strike will ever he submitted Ia
arbitration. As 20 the question Of wages
TO be paid 10 miners, we have always paid
and have always been willing 10 pay M
high wages for mining coal IA any Of the
large companies which are selling coal in
the market in competition with this one.
Mr.. Corbin concludes For reasons
which every business man can understand,
II would be impossible for us 10 maintain
even a solvent corporation, much less re-
turn anything 10 the shareholders, II We
were compelled 10 pay for our produce
more money than our ncighbOn pay for
theirs. We regret exceedingly that this
action on the part Of the employees Of our
road M well M the notion Of the miners.
promises 90 bring such disastrous results,
but there IL no alternative for this com.
pany that can sec, except 10 insist upon,
first, the right 10 manage lis own property;
and second, the right TO employ labor IN
the mining Of lis coal N that Il will have
at least an equal chance with lis ncighbors
In every competitive market.
''for the twelve years commencing
January !, 1888, this company has mined
81, 900. 600 tons OF coal paid for II 10 IL
miners 57,llO,0O0; and has received, ~
the net proceeds for the coal NO mined,
only 81, $4,000, making an actual loss IN
the mining Of It's coal d sl2, 270, 900 during
that period. In other words, We have dis.
tnbuted throughout tho country 81, 100000
tons Of coal, the miners have received
every dollar Of net money We have OBJ
timed for II, and We lost In the operation
Sl2, 270, 900 besides; and during all thcsc
twelve years, the stockholders Of the rail
road company which transported this coal
who have paid up $1,000 900 Of money
for their stock, have not received ] cent
by way Of dividends, and they have Just
been called upon, with a portion OF the
junior securities, 10 pay in, by way OF as
sessments, $4,000, 600 Of fresh money ic
make good the losses Of the companies.
The Courier-Journaia and the strike.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Jan. 22.-Ihe Courier
Journal this morning has column editorial
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