The new North-west., 1890-08-29

THE STRIKE.

Some two or three weeks since about
fifty or sixty men We're discharged from
employment on the New York Central aud
Hudson River railroads. All of them were
Knights of Labor. They claimed that no
cause was assigned for their removal other
than that they We're members of the Order
of the Knights Of Labor. The men sought
through representatives, of the order to
have their grievances adjusted, but their
appeals being disregarded, Il strike was
inaugurated. At this iuncture, Puwtlcrlv,
Grand Master Workman Of the knights Of
Labor, entered upon the task Of adjusting
the difficulty and making such arrange.
mcnts as would result iii an honorable
peace between the employees and officials
Of the road, but his efforts were unavailng.
Mr.. Chauncey Depew, the president Of the
company, is absent in Europe. and H.
Walter Webb, vice president, is acting
president Mr.. powdcrly proposed to Mr.
Webb to have the men heard in their own
defense in the presence Of Mr. Webb and
himself, but this Mr.. Webb refused. Pow
also refused. @ .5a....#.a.. ..".M
Mr.. Webb's position was that the man
agcment Of the company did not deem it
consistent with its continuance and pros
perity in business, and with the discharge
Of the duties il owed 10 the people, to sub
NIT its action in the discharge Of any Of its
employees 10 arbitration. lie further
claimed that the men discharged We're not
discharged because they We're Knights
and that each case had been investigated
before discharge took place, but he re
fused to state the causes Of discharge. ON
last Friday the State Arbitration Commits
sioner Of New York addressed Il letter to
Mr. Webb and also one To Mr. Powderlv.
inviting Il conference todevi4c some means,
either by arbitration or otherwise, to avert
that he held himself in readiness to respond
at Il moments notice. Mr.. Webb replied
at length, firmly declining, believing that
the strike would fail. He further said:
II am not aware of any difference or
grievance existing between the COMPANY
and its employees, and must assume that
| the conference suggested by you was de
signed to be between the officers Of this
| company and the officials Of the knights
Of Labor. These officials represent, not
| our employees. but persons who have left
| our service and have not asked to be re-
employed; but who, through these same
officials, the knights Of Labor, have asked
| tain persons be submitted to their invcsti-
CATION, and to arbitrate by some tribunal to
| be selected in the same way. This request
| have felt it to be my duty TO Decline
| Mr.. Webb then came forward with a pre-
he stated the reasons for the discharge of
the men about which the trouble began:
"Thc company discharged the men, Mr.,
Webb said, "irrespective Of their member
| ship in the order of the Knights of Labor,
for drunkenness, incapacity, breach Of
duty, insubordination, and for lack Of sutfi-
cient work to employ them; and it will
continue to do so whenever a proper occa-
sion arises
| To this P0wderly makes Il lengthy reply,
claiming in substance that the men were
discharged without a hearing. He further
says:
"A(cn whose words never had reason to
doubt make the statement to me that they
were called up before their foreman or
superintendent and asked if they We're
Knights of Labor, and when they frankly
admitted it, they were discharged. 1t is
not arbitration alone that YOU refused.
You have refused to arbitrate; second, to
investigate; third, to face those men in my
presence and to satisfy yourself whether
your foreman told You the truth; fourth,
you have deiied the laws Of the State in
| ignoring the board of mediation and arbi-
tratinn."
In the meantime the Supreme Council
of the United Order of Railway Employees
met in Terre l1a,Ite to consider the sitla-
ton. and IN Tuesday Of this week gave
forth its official statement, in which the
actions Of Powelerly and the Knights are
unlnalitiedly approved, and the course
pursued by Mr.. Webb toward Mr.. Pow
derby and the Knights condemned, though
a general strike of all railway employees is
not ordered. In the mcantime the strike
continues with all its consequences.
! We have cndeavored to give II fair state
ment OF the situation and of the positions
taken by the respective parties. 1t is diff
cult to believe that Vice President Webb
has managed this matter wisely. Had
President Depew been acting at the time,
it is believed, from his we'll known views
concerning organized labor, that the strike
would have been averted.
|