Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1890-08-19
POWDERLY-WEBB.
Correspondence About the
Central Strike.
POwderly Asks that the Matter
Be Arbitrated.
Webb Declines to Admit that there
is Aught to Arbitrate..
He Denies that Knights of Labor Have
Been Discharged Without Cause
More Strikes Pending.


NEW YORK, August IS-Ihe cor
respondence between Vice-President
Webb, of the New York Central, and
Grand Master Workman Powderly, was
made public tonight. August 10Th,
Powderly addressed letter to Webb,
saying he had been investigating the
cause of the Central strike, and asking
for an interview on Monday to discuss
the question OF arbitrating the difference
which existed between the New York
Central and it's Knights of Labor EN-
ployee. Webb. in reply, granted an
interview, but at the same time wished
that the matter be presented to him in
writing.
Powderly replied the next day, saying
he had been called from the city, and
that he would be obliged to commit to
paper what he would rather discuss in
person. He says: eff 1 am correctly
informed, old and faithful employees by
the Central have been summarily dis
missed from the service of the company,
because they were active members of
the Knights of Labor. 1t is represented
to me that to the time of their dis
charge, they were faithful to
the interests of the company,
and not one word of discredit
stands against the industrial record of
any of those who were discharged prior
to August g. 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
were all in danger of discharge at mo-
ment's notice, and hence the strike.
The whole question hinges upon the dis
charge of Knights of Labor, because
they are such; if it can be shown that
these men were doing injury to their en-
ployers, right-minded men will say they
were treated deservingly. If they we've
discharged for cause, the railroad COM
pany has everything to gain and moth
ing to lose. From investigation, if they
deserved dismissal from the service of
the company, none of us will ask for
their reinstatement. If, however, they
were displaced because of their connec-
ton with the knights of Labor, it
should be known. For if this is to be
the policy of the New York Central,
that no Knights Of Labor are to be en-
ployed, then statement to that effect
will clear up all doubts, and there can
be no future misunderstanding. The re
will be nothing then to arbitrate, so
long as you hold to that opinion.
The interests of the public, the inter-
ests of the owners whom you represent,
and the rights of men to organize for
self protection, are all involved in this
contest. The policy of the order of
Knights Of Labor, is to work peacefully
in the line of educational and legislative
reform it is not the policy of the institu
ton, no matter what it's enemies may
say, to enter hastily upon strikes. The
present strike may be pointed to in
refutation OF that last asser ton, but,
until an investigation into its
cause or causes is had, that must remain
disputed question. While hundred
cases have been peacefully and quietly
adjusted through the intervention of the
Knights of Labor, although not heralded
abroad as they would have been had
they ended in strikes, prove that our
aim is to avoid strikes rather than pre-
cipitate them. The interests of the pub
lie require that freight and passenger
traffic should work smoothly. The in
terests OF ike company require exactly
the same thing, and in addition, that
such traffic prove remunerative. The
interests of the working people are the
same as others, and their right to or
ganize and select the organization they
wish to belong to, is fully as dear to
them as their pecuniary interests can
possibly be.
Here is organization, the aim of
which is to work for thier educational
and legislative advantage, called upon
to defend its members, who up to the
time of their dismissal had worked only
on educational and legislative directing.
Surely we have right to question why
they were discharged. Each man, no
matter how humble is his part, is tribu-
tary to the comfort and well-being OF
the community, but the community
gives to the corporation in question its
strength and wealth, and of that COM
munity at least thirty are working peo-
pie, belonging to that element of society
that dare not organize for their own
welfare.
"Some one had said since this strike
began Money is not everything in this
world. He was railroad director. l
believe he spoke truly, for liberty is far
dearer to the laborer, and that is what
he struggles for, and that is what is de-
MED him when he is discharged for
being Knight of Labor. If liberty was
INV NNiuSN cO AiShiy Chou luOh OhSiOi
up life and treasure and sacred honor to
gain it, surely their children would not
be blamed for striking for it. Whether
they struck wisely in this case is yet to
be determined. Who is to determine ?
You may feel that you are right,
the men may feel that they
are right. Both are partisans,
and if an impartial verdict is to be rem
dered. impartial men must arrive at it
hearing both sides and then judging.
The men are willing to submit the case
to such arbitration and will not be
unreasonable. Will you consent to do
the same? If you will agree to submit
this matter to arbitration, we can meet,
arrange details and agree as to how the
parties may be selected. The newspa-
pers report that you are refused arbitra-
ton for settlement of the trouble, but
your letter leads me to believe you were
misquoted, and still hope for speedy
termination of the strike through arbi-
tration.
Webb's Reply.
m II. = - n L.