The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-08-26

Executive Board aud the Master Work.
men OF the District and Local Assem-.
blies OF the X. OF L.
TIE EXECUTIVE BOARD
Ofthe OF l.. Hears tho Grievances OF the
Discharged Employees.
ALBANY, N. Y, August 25.-Geueral
Master Workman r. V. Powderly aud
four OF the five members OF the General
Executive Board arrived here this morn.
ing. 7. Devlin, A. Wright md ]. W.
Hayes came upon the night boat to
Troy with Mr.. powdcrly, where they ar.
rived this morning and Immediately
took local train for Albany, and are
now quartered ut the S.anwix Hall, op.
posite tho headquarters OF District As.
sembly 246. Mr.. John Costello, the
other member OF the General Executive
Board, has not yet arrived. Mr.. Pow
derly and the General Executive Board
met and joined the secret session with
District Assembly 2iG this afternoon.
District Assembly PIG represents a mem
berahip of $4,000.
Mr.. Powderly, when asked this objec.
OF the joint session, said he did not know
exactly what might come up for discus.
sion, but he was sure the general situa-
tion OF the strike would be the main
question for consideration.
The discharged men were preseut at
tho F,,aatsr,, n1 Il 81
interrcgatcd by the members OF the
General Board as he stated the reason
he believes led to his dismissal.
The board took a recess before one
o'clock until three. 1T looks row,"
said Secretary hayes, "as though the
session will be prolonged until to.mor.
row."
Mr.. rowDERLY's STATEMENT.
After the adjournment Mr.. Powderly
stated: "This mornings conference was
mostly taken up with hearing reports
from the thirty.nine local assemblies
which had sent delegates. He had called
upon every discharged man present to
stand up, and the men who were pres
ent were closely questioned Individually
by him. All OF them were in the em-
ploy OF the Central road from five to
twenty-five years, and he thought they
were as bright lot OF workmen as he
bad ever met. They denied that intoxi-
cation or incompetency could be truth
fully put forth as cause for the dis
charge Of any ofthem. Three ofthem said
| they would make affidavit to the fact
previous to their discharge they had
been asked by IN official OF the road
whether they were Knights OF Labor,
and had replied in the affirmative. Their
discharges followed Immediately alter.
Mr.. Powderly then made this general
statement: II am convinced after this
mornings conference more than ever
that all the men were discharged simply
because they were Knights Of Labor and
that Mr.. Webb has started crusade to
down the order. II ought not 10 re-
ouire from three to twenty-five years for
employers to discover drum kenness or
incompetency among their men. Every
thing looks cheerful and no matter what
decision the Supreme Council ct Terre
Haute may arrive ct, the strikp on the
Central road will bn fought out to the
end" When asked if he thought the
Fitchburg, Boston & Albany and
the Delaware 4 Hudson roads would be
tied up, so far us their freight traffic was
concerned, hu replied thut no atepa
looking toward such action had been
been taken by the Knights as yet.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Tho General Executive Board recon.
vened in session with District Assembly
241 at 2:l5 p. m. Previous to going
into the meeting Secretary Hayes said;
"In the conference this morning, after
Master Workman Lee called the dele.
gates together, Mr.. Powdsrly explained
that the object OF himself and colleagues
was: They wanted the fullest possible
infor nation upon the causes OF the
strike, and they wanted to hear the
statements oil the discharged men that
they had not yet been able to see; also
the present condition OF the strike; how
many men were out, or had gone back,
etc. Most OF the discharged men were
present, and ten had proofs that they
were discharged because lhoy weru
members OF the Knieh,s OF Labor.
"rhey showed" uaid Mr.. dayee, "tha,
charges had been tIumped up against
them"
, In reply to n question, whether Mr.,
, powder,y thought the men had just
reasops for striking, he said "yes."
Ip the afternoon twenty m, n VI re
closely questioned by Mr. r1wderiy, ant
in all but single instance the result
, was the same.
Several of the men said they were
charged with iusubordination Mt the
, time OF ihe;r dismissal, and added that
the only insnboriiualion they had been
guilty OF was setyiug ON comqitttacs that
presented gricyanocl to tho officials
One man gave as the reason he wai
given rs working against tho interests
Of the COMPANY" and said he had been
!, threatened With di6Hlsss! Qn two occa
sions for heing Knight.
Mr.. Powderiy sail it had been charged
! that the knights Of labor was a "foreigr
| organization, All who had been berr
in the United States stood up, u dele
, gates in all. The foreign born wes.
then asked to stand up end but twt
= reBpOuueu. 1ue uleu saiu 'tet pioes
| were mostly alled by former employs
who had been discharged for ipcompe
tency, intoxication and dishonesty. A
preamble and resolution was adopted
! calling upon the State Board Of Athitra
? ton 10 order prompt investigation o
the existing difficulties. The delegateI
: were informed meeting OF the boar,
. had been called ior Thursday. Alter
9 talk by Mr.. Powderly the convention
! adjourned sine die.s ~ oY