Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-18
The Last Not Yet beard of the New
York Central's Difficulty With
the Knights of Labor.
TRAINMEN TO USE THEIR POWER.
No Doubt Row That Labor Day Will be
Celebrated in q Manner Be-
fitting the Occasion.
TIE STORES WILL BE ASKED TO CLOSE
Musicians Still Display Preference for Disc0rd Over
Harmony.


day afternoon, in the porch Of the Westlng-
house building, seeking shelter from pass
ing shower, a DISPATCH reporter picked up
some very interesting industrial and political
pointers from John B. Rae and Robert
watchorn, who rested here over the day.
Mr.. Rae, as we'll as being President OF the
United Mine Workers, is an official of the
knights of Labor, whose advice is sought In
cases and matters of moment. Asked his
opinion concerning the struggle between the
knights and the New York Central, ne
said:
"You will observe that Mr.. Powderly and
Vice President Webb, of the road, are to
have a conference tomorrow. AS result
of that, am in hopes that an adjustment OF
the matter at issue will ensue. l have very
GOOD reason to believe that some arrange
meut will be arrived at 1t is an error to
suppose that the knights of Labor took the
Initiative in this matter without fully con-
considering the steps and counting on the
consequences. was aware, a good time be-
fore auy move was made, of what was in
tended, and had my plans ready. 1t must
not be supposed that the fight is either lost
or over, and if the conference to be held to-
morrow fails in effecting settlement other
means will be adopted. One thing is GER
tain, that the trsinmen throughout the
country are thoroughly agreed in supporting
Us, and we look to their support as an i'm
portant factor in the struggle"
"How? Support you by striking with
you?"
HAVE THEIR SENTIMENT.
FsNo, don't say that. The sentiment OF
the men is with us, and the support 1 al
lude to is the moral pressure and influence
they can bring to bear on the officials of
their roads, to in turn exert their influence
10 effect settlement OF the differences of
which we complained. We know that we
can rely on the railroad employees for this
support-not to mention any other-and we
think that it will be an important factor in
bringing the affair to an end. 1t is likely
that a conference committee, representing
all the railroad organizations-except
perhaps, the engineers-will be delegated
TO act in the matter, and in sort of way
hold the balance between the company and
u.s."
"Why did you not shut off the supply OF
locomotive coal?'
"Oh, we would if we could, and at once, "
chimed in Mr.. Watchorn, "but by so doing
we would have injured one of our best
friends. The explanation is simple. The
New York Central uses about 400, 900 tons
OF locomotive fuel, all of which it gets from
Central PENNSYLVANIA, which is the finest re.
gion for such fuel in the world. The contracts
are mainly in the hands of two operators,
one of whom is a good friend to US and the
other just as bitter an enemy. To ocut off the
supply we could have shut down the mines
of the friendly operator, whose contracts
would have passed into the hands of the 9TH
ers, Bell, Lewis and Yates, and then opened
operations against these people. They refuse
to recognize organized labor, and we would
have a battle royal with them, involving
their road, the Buffalo, Rochester and Pitts
burg. We could have found means to shut
off the supply, but not, you see, without
crippling the friendly mine owner. This. Of
course, we would not do.
Regarding their property" continued
Mr.. Watchorn, "Bell, Lewis and Yates did
not make the bargain they expected in buy
ing. The price they paid Adrian Islin wa:
about fourteen millions and half, to be
paid in Is years. and with the understand.
ing that ne would not go into the same bust.
ness to their detriment. But Mr.. Islin was
too much for the purchasers, and subse.
quently bought 10000 acres of excellent
coal land in the same region, and is now
opening up mines with the aid of his old
managers.
HIS POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS.
"What is the sentiment, Mr. Rae, among
miners, regarding the Gubernatorial fght?'
81 may say at once it is strongly in favor
of Pattison. This is the sentiment per-
vading the craft everywhere throughout the
region have visited. 1 am sure that in
Bedford, Blair, Cambria and Huntington
counties Pattison will poll full 60 per cent.
of the mining vote, and in Washington
county he will have a very strong follow
ing. This feeling for Pattison 1 found
equally strong among farmers and business
men, and should say, from what picked
up in nv tours around the country, that
Pattison will be elected by at least 10, 000
majority.
''On what arguments did you find the op-
position TO Delamater base6?"
From general conviction that Delsms.
ter represents a system which miners regard
as being unalterably opposed to their inter-
ests. Among farmers and business men the
opposition arises from feeling that Patti.
son is more likely to serve them than his
opponent OF course, there are certain con.
Ihgencies W Oe IecAoneu Win, WIN respec'
to Congressional candidates, and it may be
held that when the time comes, all this will
be arranged. But the miners are a pretty
independent class, and will vote as they
please. Besides, where the head of the
party is Objectionable, Mr.. Rae concluded,
there is danger of dragging the Others
fdown."
Mr.. Rae was careful to remark, tha,
though himself Republican-G Green backer,
he was in favor of Pattison.