St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-22

that their men were singled out for en-
deavoring to secure the passage of the
above mentioned law. After thoroughly
| investigating the causes which led to
the strike, and after making every effort
in their power to induce the
investigation by impartial men the
question at issue (namely, whether the
men were discharged because they were
Knights of Labor and for the
purpose of destroying their organ
ization, as they believe and main
tain, or for just cause and
proper reasons as the officials of the
company allege.) The general execu-
tive board have by unanimous vote
determined to stand by the men, who,
whether their strike was opportune or
not, had no alternative consistent
with their manhood. l have no doubt
but that it is the determination of
the management to destroy the organi-
zation of labor along the line of the
N. Y. c. & ii. r. railroad, unless the
organization subsequently bends the
knee to the will of the VanderbiltS.
During the controversy MeSsrs. TOucey
and Webb stated and repeated the state
ment that the men were not dis
charged because they were Knights OF
Labor. and they expected the public to
believe them simply because they say
so. Both of these gentlemen deny GER
tain things in relation to their cOnversa-
ton with me which both Mr.. Devlin and
myself are prepared to make at1idavlts
to. l may therefore be excused ii am
not prepared to accept as being true.
Beyond Question Any Denial
by them of statements made by men
whose words should be of equal value
with theirs. Everything that could in
honor be done to terminate the strike
on an honorable basis for the men was
done and the alternative of unconditional
and absolute surrender OH the part of
the men, OF a protest against the
tyranny of the officials of the New
York Central & Hudson River railroad
was presented TO US. Under the clr-
cumstances it would be unmanly. 1t
would be cowardly ard unworthy
of the sons of men whom to
for the rights of humanity.
We We did not seek the quarrel. The gen
eral executive board knew nothing of it
until it was thrust upon them, and now
that we have to face it we ask of the
entire order of the Knights of Labor to
come to our assistance with the means
to win the strike. We are not
craving for sympathy, We are
not in need of moral support.
We have to fight power which owes
its lofty bearing to the wealth it has
piled up from the labor of its employees;
untold millions are at its command. and
we want money to carry on the strus-
gle. We ask all members OF organized
labor to come to our aid. We not only
ask labor organizations, but we ask
Of bf,
organizations of labor to come to our
relief. 1t is not because few cents
more day or some paltry concession
to the men was required that this strike
was precipitated. The real animus lies
in the fact that our order has been
struggling with the questions which
concern the control of trusts, corpora
tions and syndicates by the government
of the people. The allied force of the
Knights of Labor and the Farmers
Alliance are
Marching on to w ashingtOn
to secure legislation favorable to the
whole people and secure the repeal of
certain unjust laws. 1t is the hope of
turning our attention away from these
matters that this warfare is made
on the part of the allied
forces. We are not the disorde1ly
mob that their papers paint us. The
orderly and law-abiding conduct of the
men on strike has won the admiration of
the public, and yet the best feelings of
the community have been outraged by
| the introduction of an armed force, un-
der command of Robert Pinkerton,
man vino holds no commission
| from the state or nation tor recruit or
arm men for military duty. Had the
| interested of the state of New York
required it, there are many thousands
| of old veteran soldiers within her
! borders who faced death quarter of
| century ago. 1t was not nee
essary to call upon them, and yet
| bowling mob of the worst characters
| in the land have been quartered upon
| the people of New York to terroriZe her
| citizens, to provoke men to great
| wrath to shoot down those who asked
for the right to be heard III their own
| behalf. The conduct of the men since
| the strike began has been most orderly
and commendable, and until it closes no
| Knight of Labor will be found in
an unlawful act of any kind.
We are pledged to maintain the law
| We will obey the legal commands OF the
| state, but not of the corporation which
| defies public opinion and has no regard
| for justice when dealing with its en-
| ployes. Cancellation and arbitration
can deal with the most intricate CUES
| tions of dispute. The unchristianattitude
| of the New York Central officials is
| best illustrated by the manner in which
| they hold the laws of the land through
their agents. During this strike Robert
| Pinkerton is the agent of that railroad
| company. He advertises for men. they
! respond, and are hired without re-
| gard to
Qualifications of Manhood.
Apparently the brute alone is for and
| such creatures as will do any deed of
desperation best appreciated. Adolph
I POlieshek came to me Aug. 16 and made
| an affidavit that he was hired in New
| York by the New York Central railroad
| as a Watchman and sent to Albany,
and upon arriving there was handed
| commission appointing him deputy
sheriff without expense to the county,
and given club and pistol and told to
use them. Polleshek could scarcely
speak the English language. 1t will be
well to ask why blank commissions with
| the sheriff's name attached are placed at
| the disposal of Robert Pinkerton to be
| placed IN the hands of ignorant men
who believe that under this authority
they have the right to shoot citizens to
! death. In order to test this case still
| farther and to learn if all citizens
would receive the same treat
ment, / telegraphed Sheriff Tap
pen. of Rensselaer, county, asking
| him if he would swear in 200
! deputies to protect the lives of ourmem-
bers. He replied that he did not think
the present situation would warrant the
I appointment Ii. Walter Whbb
upholds the action of the Pinker-
Ton. aud cax,c fhAu did riobf RI