St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-19
STAND BACK, KNIGHTS
Powderly's Request That the
Central Strike Be Arbi-
trated Is Seopned.
Vice President Webb Says the
Vanderbilts Manage Their
Own Business.
They Do Not Propose to Per-
nit Any Outsiders to
Interfere.
All Members of the Fedora
tion to Be Ordered Out
To-Day.


has passed between General Master
Workman Powderly and Vice President
Webb, of the New York Central rail-
road, relative to the strike now on. Mr..
PoWderly, under date of Aug. 16. wrote
to Mr.. Webb, soliciting personal in
terview with the view of discussing the
question of arbitrating the differences
which existed between the New York
Central 81 Hudson River railroad and
those of its employees who are members
of the Knights of Labor and who were
discharged from the service of the COM
pany prior to Aug. 8. Vice President
Webb replied under date of Aug. 16,
suggesting that the points Mr.. Pow
.derly wished to present be put in writ
ing, leaving 1t optional, however, with
Mr.. Powderly. The latter, having been
called from the city, committed to paper
the points that he had intended to pre-
sent at the interview with Webb. In
his letter, Mr.. Powderly, alluding to
the fact that he is called out Of the city,
says:
If | am correctly informed, old and
faithful employees of the New York
Central & Hudson River railroad have
been Summarily dismissed from the
service of the company because they
were members of and active in the
Knights Of Labor. 1t is represented to
me that up to the time of their discharge
they were faithful to the interests of
the company, and that not one mark of
discrediU stands against the industrial
record of any of those who were dis
charged prior to Aug. 8, 1890. That in
brief is the
Statement of the Men.
The frequency OF the dismissals left
but little room for doubt in the minds of
the men that they we're all in danger of
discharge at moments notice, and
hence the strike. The whole question
hinges upon the discharge of Knights of
Labor because they are such. If it can
be shown that these men were working
injury to their employers right-minded
men will say that they were treated as
they deserved. If they were dis
charged for cause the New York
Central & Hudson River railroad
has everything to gain and nothing
to lose from an investigation.
If they deserved dismissal from the
service of the company, none of us will
ask for their reinstatement. Ii. how
ever, they were displaced because of
their connection with the Knights of
Labor, it should be known, for, if it is
to be the policy of the New York Cen
tral 65 Hudson River railroad that no
Knights of Labor are to be employed,
then a statement to that effect will clear
up all doubts and there can be no fut-
ure Misunderstanding. There will be
nothing then to arbitrate so long as you
hold to that opinion. The interests of
the public, the interests of the
owners of the company you
represent and the rights of
men to organize for self-protection are
all involved in this contest The policy
of the order of the Knights of Labor is
to work peacefully in the line of educa-
tiOnal and legislative reform; it is not
the policy of the institution, no matter
what its enemies may say, to enter
hastily upon strikes. The present strike
may be pointed to in refutation of that
last assertion, but, until an investiga-
ton into the cause or causes is had, that
must remain disputed question, while
the hundreds of cases that have been
peacefully and quietly adjusted through
the intervention of the Knights of
Labor, although not heralded broadcast,
as they would have been had they ended
in strikes, prove that our
Aim rs to Avoid Strikes
rather than to precipitate them. The
interests of the public require that
freight and passenger traffic should
work smoothly. The interests of the
company require exactly the same
thing, and, in addition. that such traffic
prove remunerative. The interests of
the working people are the same as the
others. but their right to organize and
select the organization they wish to be-
long to is fully as dear to them as their
pecuniary interests can possibly be-
Here is an organization. the aim
of which is to work for educational
and legislative advantages, called
upon to defend its. members,
who up to the time of their dis
and legislative directions. Surely we
have a right to question why they were
discharged. Each man, no matter how
humble, is as much part of the public
as any other man. True, the New
York Central & Hudson River railroad
is tributary to the comfort and well
being Of the community, but the com
munity gives to the corporation
in question its strength and wealth.
and of that community at least
two-thirdS are working people and
DPlOnS 10 Illdb SAINT 6I6lu0u
of society that dare not organize for
their own welfare. Some one has said
since this strike began. money is moi
everything in this world" He was a
railroad director, believe. He spoke
truly, for liberty is far dearer to the
laborer, and that is what he struggles
for, that is what is denied him when he
is discharged for being a Knight o1
Labor. If liberty was once valued 81
highly that men offered up life and
treasure and sacred honor to gain it
surely their children should not bt
blamed for striking for it.
Whether They Struck Wisely
in this case is yet to be determined
Who is to determine? You may fee
that you are right, the men feel that
they areright. Both are partisan, and
if an impartial verdict is to be reached
impartial men must arrive at it b.
hearing both sides and they judging
The men are willing to submit the cas-
to such arbitration, and will not be un
reasonable. Will you consent t
do the same? If you will agre
to submit this matter to arbl
tration, we can meet to ARRANGE the de
tails and agree as to how the partie
may be selected. The newspapers re
port you as refusing to admit that arbl
tratiOn can enter into the settlement o
the trouble, but your letter leads me t.
believe that you were misquoted, and
still hope for a speedy termination