Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-28
POwDERLY SCORED.
Chief Engineer Arthur Goes for t
Master Workman.

Chief Engineer Arthur Goes for the
Master Workman.
NEW YORK, August 27tb.-The letter
given below was written by P. M. Arthur,
Chief Engineer of the Grand International
Brotherhood of Locomotive Epgineers TO
the engineers of the Third avenue elevated
road. The letter is in response to letter
on the subject of the Central strike, and is
the first utter ance of Arthur which Iully de-
fines his position towards the Central
strikers and the Knights of Labor. The
letter is as follows:
CLEVELAND (O.). August 25d.
To r. II Holman-DEAR SIR AND BROTHER:
Your letter of the 23d inst, with Powderly' s
letter and other clippings from the New York
p pers inclosed, has been received. In reply
viii say that l have not received any letter
from Powoerly. He claims to have written me
private letter on the trouble, and wants me to
define my position. If he considers mis- letter
that appeared in the newspapers a private one
l do not, nor will answer letters that reach me
in that way. II is unnecessary for Powderly or
any one else to ask me define the position of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in the
present trouble on the New York Central. The
policy of the Brotherhood is well known to him
and the public, as it has been repeatedly ex-
planned from the public platform and pub
lished in the newspapers.
He says: "Some time ago l telegraphed him
for a meeting-that would meet him in Cleve-
land-and when l arrived thete | could not
find him high or low learned that the mes
sage had been received by him. but couldn't
locate him" Now, the facts in the case as
near as l can recollect are these: Some years
ago | received telegram from Powderly re-
questing me to meet him at the Union depot in
Cleveland on the arrival of a certain train on
the Lake Shore road. Owing to my absence
from my Office l did not receive the message
until after the departure OF the train and so in
formed him by letter, addressing it to him at
Scranton. j do not believe he stopped over
and looked for me. If he had he would have
had no difficulty in finding me at my office, or
at my home, as am always at one or the other
when in Cleveland.
He tells willful falsehood when he says the
other leaders were unable to find me when
they tried to do so. Any msn who tries to find
me when am in Cleveland can do so with very
little expense, and no man, whether leader or
private in the ranks of labor, ever came to my
Office that he was not treated courteously.
While differ with men as to the best meth
always have been liberal enough TO eoncede to
every man the same rights and privileges ask
for myself.
When the present trouble on the New York
Central first occurred i advised the engineers TO
abstain from sl participation in it and attend
strictly to their own business. gave the same
advice when the strike occurred on the Gould
system a few years ago. Ny sdvice TO Brother
hood engi0eers when men employed in other
branches of the railroad service have been on a
strike was 10 mind their own business and not
to do anything that did not properly belong to
them as engineers. Can Powderly say the
same? think not. Whenever the engineers
have been on strike we never asked any other
labor organization to assist us. 1t is true, some
members of the Order, during the Chicago, Bur
lington and Quincy strike, importuned the
switchmen to quit, but they did it ON their own
responsibility, no; by authority of the organiza
ton.
consequently. hold that we sre perfectly
justified in maintaining a strictly neutral posi-
ton when others are engaged in conflict with
their employers. Powderly accuses members OF
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers OF
taking the places OF striking hremen. II this is
will deal with them. It is not within the
province of my authority to deal with individ-
ual members / wonder If. Powderly had the
knights expelled who took the places of oul
men on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
Yours, fiaternally, r M. ARTHUR.