The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-23
He Gives the Pretended Reasons for the
Discharge Of the Men-Othce
Troubles

OWAOAAy 0No AAtAoSOA0~A w WV
cede, but the railroad has declined.
There is a growing belief among persons
who are following the course of events
closely that there will be no further strike.
It was rumored that possibly the next move
would be the ordering out of all mechanics
along the line of the Central road. On this
point Webb was questioned.
anticipating" he said, ''some ten days
ago that by allowing the men employed in
our various shops to remain, was furnish
ing ammunition to the Knights, at once
ordered the shops be closed and directed
that only enough men be retained to per-
form the actual necessary repairs that we're
required. At the present time we have
fully 6,OOO cars in the course of construc-
tion at West Albany. and LOO men have
been laid OFF"
State Arbitration Commissioner Donovan
this afternoon sent 4 letter to Vice-Presi-
dent Webb stating: ut having come to the
knowledge Of the state board of mediation
and arbitration that another strike is seri-
ously threatened on the lines of
the road Of your company, ! am
instructed BY the board to again
communicate with you and invite joint CON-
ference in the Office of your company be-
tween you and representatives Of your em-
ployes with a'view of devising some means,
either by arbitration or suoh other method
as may be mutually agreed upon, whereby
the threatened strike may be avsrted and
the abrupt interruption Of travel and trans
portation Of freight be prevented.
A similar letter. was sent to- Powderly.
Powderly in his reply stated that the gem
eral executive board Of the Knights Of La
bor is willing to comply with the request,
and holds itself in readiness to respond ut a
moments notice. Er
Webb responded thus: 1.-THE further
strike referred to by you will or will not
take place az the efforts of persons who
have left our service may or may not meet
with success. believe that such efforts
will fail. am not aware of any difference
and it's employees, and I must assume
you was designed to be between
officers of the company and officials of the
Knights of Labor. These officials repre-
sent, not our employees. but persons who
have left our service and have not asked to
same officials of the knights of Labor, have
asked that the discharge by the company OF
| certain persons be submitted to their in
vestiRs.sen. and to arbitrate by some tribu-
nal to De selected in the same way, q request
which I have felt it to be my duty to de-
cline. shonld take every means in my
passenger and freight traffic.. and il
the constituted authorities prevent law
less interference with our operatives
do not anticipate any Interruption. Fol
the above reasons 1t seems to me inappr0-
pirate and unnecessary. to have the confer
ence snggested by you"
Webb comes forward tonight with 4
prepared statement. evidently prompted By
Powderly's manifesto. Webb starts oui
with the statement that no man has beer
discharged BY this company because he wa
a Knight of Labor or member Of any othe
organization. Then. for the first time sine
the beginning of the controversy, Webb
names the list of offensss, among whicl
are those because OF which the Knight
discharged. Webb continues: The com
pany discharged men irrespective of thei
membership in the order Of the Knights o
Labor for drunkenness, incapacity
lack Of sufficient work to employ them, an
it will continue to do 90 whenever prope
occasion arises. It would be moral an
probably criminal neglect of duty for me t
omit to discharge switch tower man fo
drankcnnesa, upon whose sobriet
the safety Of life and linn
of some millions of passengers .transporte
annually by this company. What priyat
or public business can be carried on subjec
to dictation from workmen that this shal
be performed, or only this or that amour
of work be done? What employer can to]
crate insolence and insubordination base
upon the belief that the offender
will be supported therein by
secret organization to which b
belongs by any agency which employers
business can be damaged or stopped. Th
foregoing gives, without setting forth nam
or place Of employment, the causes whio
called for the discharge of the men referre
to in Powderly's appeal. For thss
discharges, and to avert threatene
strike, 1 have been called upon b
P0wderly and associates to consent to
monstrous absurdity, satisfying. by som
kind of arbitration or investigation, Del
sons other than the constituted authoritie
of the company, that these causes existed
g demand which, AZ long - occupy til
position with which am entrusted, I fee
it my duty to firmly Decline" and to thi
Webb attached his signature.