Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-28
The History Of the Proceedings Be-
tween Webb and POwderly
Made Public.
All Efforts Of the Grand Master Work
man Proved Futile With the
New York Central.
Vice President Webb Scored
Unto the Former Autocrat Of the
Road, W. H. Vanderbilt.

sent out by the council of railway en-
ployes, signed by the president Sargent
and Sheehan to Powderly, at Albany:
The supreme council adjourned this after
noon after carefully considering the strike
in all its details. You will note the result
of our deiberation in tonight dispatches,
which it is hoped will meet with your
approval. The council was unanimous in
considering your position and the grand
executive board most earnestly hopes that
the right of which you are the champion,
in the great conflict on the New York
central may finally and powerfully pre-
vail"
An official statement of the council given
to an associated press representative is as
follows:
Headquarters Supreme Council United
Order Railway Employes-To all laboring
organizations, men and brothers: ION
the night of August 7th, strike began on
the New York Central and Hudson River
railroad. involving about 800 men in the
employ of the same road, who were mem
bers OF the great labor organization known
as the Knights of Labor. The reason set
forth by Powderly, chief executive of the
order, may be summarized as follows:
The peremptory discharge Of between
fifty and sixty men, employees of the road
without giving them any reason whatever
for their discharge. Prior to the strike
the men involved sought, through the
representatives of their order to have their
grievances adjusted, but their appeals be-
Ing disregarded strike was inangurated.
''At this juncture Powdtrly, the general
workman n. tho ly,,i crhtc Of jab o,.
entered upon the task of adjusting the
difficulty and making such arrangements
as would result in an honorable peace he
road, but his efforts we're unavailing.
Powderly, compromising the purposes Of
Walter Webb the third vice
president Of the company to make
war upon the knights of labor and ulti-
mately upon all thu labor organizations on
his road, sought conference with the su-
preme council of the united order of rail-
way employees. The request of Fowderly
was granted to the extent that four mem
bers of the council of the chief executives
of the federated orders met him in the city
of Buffalo, viz: Z. P. Sargent, grand
master of the brotherhood Of locomotive
tiremen and the supreme council; Il. w
Howard, grand chief of the brotherhood
of railway conductors and vice president
of the supreme council; S. f. Wilkinson,
grand master of the brotherhood of rail
way trainmen, and Frank Sweeney. grand
master of the switchmen S mutual aid asso-
citation.
At the conference with Powderly at Buff
falo, the members of the supreme council
became satisfied that the officials of the
road by every consideration of fair and
honorable treatment of the labor organiza-
tions should meet Powderly and adopt
some just plan foI the adjustment of the
grievance of the striking employees. This
conclusion having been reached, the mem
bers of the supreme council In response to
request Of Powderly, extended their
journey to New York, to afford such aid
as was in their power to bring about
settlement between Vice President Webb.
the official having full authority on all
matters pertaining to the strike, and
Powderly, having authority to negotiate
such arrangements for the knights as
might end the dispute
The interview having been secured,
PowderIy. sought to have the men DIS
charged heard in their own defense in the
presence of Webb and himself. This fair
and honorable proposition was refused.
Powderly proposed an arbitration, which
was also refused. Other propositions were
made by Powderly having for their object
an honorable settlement of the existing
trouble, all of which were refused on the
part of Webb.
The members of the supreme coun-
Gil while in Buffalo and New York, had
ample opportunities to thoroughly inform
themselves upon all matters concerning
the strike. They saw and heard both
sides, they appreciated the gravity of the
situation and comprehending the impend-
ing consequences to the labor Organiza-
tions deemed it advisable to convene the
supreme council for deliberation and
such conclusions as facts should warrant.
In response to the order of Sergent, presi-
dent of the supreme council. that the
body was convened at TeTre Haute Satur-
day he 23rd August 1890, and remained
in session until noon Monday the 25th.
In making their report to the council, the
members who went to New 7 ork to confer
with Powderly found all the statements
made by him fully corrooorated by facts.
In an interview with Webb, he refused to
entertain any proposition looking to set
Element of the difficulty He would not
arbitrate any question or make any ex-
PLANTATION or concession whatever with re-
gard to the discharged employees. He
claimed the right to discharge employees
at will without making an explanation, CT
giving to the victims of his power any
reasons for his despOtic action. He would
manage his road to suit himself without
reference to any rights claimed by its en-
plOyes, or any rights clasmed by labor
organizations to interfere in the matter to
protect their members. The council hay
ing heard the statement of its members,
who had visited New York for the pur-
pose of ascertainirg the true condition of
affairs, extensively discussed every i'm
portant proposition and arrived at con-
illusions as follows:
"First-That the position of the
knights of labor, as set forth by Powder
". the general master workman, and gen.
eral executive board of the knights of
labor. meets with our unqualified appro-
val
"Second-The course pursued by Webb
towards Powderly and the Knights of
Labor. Notwithstanding his declarations
to the contrary, evlnces a purpose to dis
rupt and destroy labor organizations on
the New York Central and Hudson River
railroad, as done by Austin Corbin on the
Philadelphia and Reading.
Third policy Of Webb is despotic
to an extent that outrages every principle
of American citizenship, and if generally
adopted would, if successful, reduce the
American workingman to degraded con-
dition of affairs.
'Fourth-Webb, by the employment OF
Pinkerton thieves, thugs and murdererss,
1 IL ~. l,,04 l,1l-
of New York and other cities to kill the
workinpmen because they dared to protest