Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-25
EAST OF THB ROCKIES.
Probability Of a General Strike on The
New York Railroads.
CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAMME.
Through Sleeping Cars to be Run
Between Denver and San
Francisco.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE REcoRDsBNIoa.I
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE REcoRD-BNoN.
THE RAILROAD STRIKE.
Views of Sargent on the Impending
TrOubfe.

Nothing authoritative will be given out al
to the deliberations of the Supreme Counci
until tomorrow. at the earliest. 1t il
among the probabilities that the decision O
the Council may not be reached for seyera
days. This Sunday saw no convening O
the Council proper. This does not NEAR
that the agencies were not at work.
The Council last night put into the hands
of Grand Secretary Debs, of the Brother
hood of FiremeD, Vice Grand Master Nor.
rissey, of the Brotherhood ofTrainmen, anG
Vice Grand Master Downey. of the Switch.
mems Mutual Aid Association. the delib
erations of the Council, and they will pre-
pare certain propositions to be presented to
the Council, which will define the action
of the Supreme Lodge. This committee
has been in session since s O'Clock last
evening. The members separate only to
take what may be strictly named as
lunches.
Sargent was at his Office to-day, overhaul
ing books and papers which not only bear
on the threatening general strike on the
Vanderbilt system, but he is compelled to
look over his work as regards the Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen. An Asso-
ciated Press correspondent called at Sar-
gents house this afternoon, and Sargent
was as frank as usual. He had carefully
read Powderly's letter to Webb, sent out
last night. While Sargent would not ex-
press any opinion as to the action the
Council would take on the report of the
committee, yet he freely expressed himself
about Powderly' 8 missive. He said-
II admire Powdsrly's stand. Powderly
puts Webb in the position he belongs, and
which, when the public thoroughly under.
stand it, will convince it that Webb is
wrong. Webb's position is directly oppo-
site to that taken by Depew, his superior
officer. Depew always advocated the or.
ganization of labor"
To sustain this statement Sargent gave
the Associated Press reporter the following
extracts from an address delivered by De-
pew at meeting of the Firemen's Brother
hood held at Tammany Hall, May Is, 1887.
Said Depew at that time:
II believe in an organization Just like
yours for protection, for charity. sobriety
and industry. 1t is proper in these days
that there should be an organization, for
the simple reason that the business of this
world cannot be carried on in any other
way. That railroad people ought to be
able to intelligently discuss the questions
of the day, and should tell the Government
that they did not want imported labor
"These expressions of Depew," said
Sargent, "show conclusively be was in
favor at that time of organized labor. He
believed in the right of the workingmen to
go to the polls and exercise their right of
franchise"
Said Sargent: "The Knights of Labor
have taken an active part in legislative
affairs in the State Of New York during the
past year. Much of this legislation being
directly in the interest of the railway em-
ployes, and the New York Central being
one of the largest corporations that would
naturally be affected by such legislation,
and many of its employees going before the
the fact that some of the men discharged
by the New York Central were participat-
ing in this effort to bring about the passage
of these labor bills before the New York
Legislature, shows plainly that the COM
pany is antagonizing the Knights of Labor
in its present action, for had the men been
discharged tor drunkenness, breach of dis
cipline and euch causes as are now claimed
by Webb, he would not hesitate one mo
ment to have an investigation. am sur
prised that men who had been in the en-
ploy of the New York Central for eleven
or twenty years should now be dismissed
on account of character. 1t is sad COM
mentary on the management of the road.
I'm the course of the address delivered by
Depew Sunday, May 25, 1889, shortly be-
fore the Director sailed for Europe lie said
to the meeting of Brotherhood Engineers
at New Haven: There are few things
about the relation of the President to the
employees of the road which would like to
say. We both draw our salaries from the
same treasury. The President of the COM
pany has his duty to the stockholders of
ha hrt 10 Of
pose, his only duty. While be must see to
it that proper economy is maintained and
an earning power developed, he must see
that the public at all times gets the best
possible service, and that the men in the
employ of the company are treated well.
1t is his duty to march out and take by the
throat and throttle any man who, in his
brief authority, treads on the toes of some
one OF the men under him. The railroad
goes on forever, and the men in its employ
realize the security of their employment,
and it gives TO them an independence
which is their right.
ANY one who reads these utterauces
of Depew Understandings cannot help
but believe that Depew, as President of
the New York Central Road, believed in
the recognition of his employees whenever
they desired to confer with him, and if any
of bis subordinates practieed any Injustice,
in his own words he said, / would take
them by the throat and throttle
them The employees who were dis
charged by the Central were denied
the right to give their side of the story to
the management. They claim that they
had been mistrealed by the subordinate
officers, demanded redress, were refused
hearing and have now combined for pro-
odu tod hu col
dent of the New York Central.
'Powderly, as the mems counselor and
adviser, comes forward, and by honorable
means tries to bring about an amicable
adjustment. He is met by the acting Presi-
dent of the road and informed that the
employees have no rights in the premises.
He also says be will discharge any man at
any time, and no questions need be asked
at the New Haven meeting Depew
went on record as advocating the combin-
ing of labor for its own protection. He
said: Some time ago / was working up
some matters regarding the progress o.
civilization. / learned that our laws came
from Great Britain, where, prior to 100
years ago. labor had no voice in her legis.
lation. The statutes which we found are
enough to make the hair stand on the head
of a bald man, and to read them gives you
such circulation of blood that you have to
put a piece OF ice on your pulse. The Law
fixed the wages and made it crime fol
labor TO meet and combine for its own pro
tection.'
"rhe Knights of Labor, as an organizt
tisn, are combining oday to protect ths
New York Central employees, just what the
President of that grea. corporation adyo
Gated, and | am in sympathy with the boys
While / have never been an advocate o
strikes. where there was a way open Il
avoid them, yet cannot help but believe
that the position of the executive head c
the Knights of Labor is correct"
THE REPORT TO BE MADE KNOWN TO DAY.
TERRE HAUTE, August 24th.-After .
session of one hour the Supreme Council
adjourned until $50 tomorrow. The re
port of the sub. committee has been com
pleted. bat the Council decided not to ente
upon lis consideration tonight. 1t i
semi officially announced that the result o
the meeting of the Supreme Council is 4
be made public By noon tomorrow.
GENERAL STRIKE MAY OCCUR.
New YoRK, August 24:h.-The usua
auietude prevailed around the Grand Cen
trail depot to-day. Vice President Webb
of the opinion that the Terre Haute Con
venliou will do little or nothing in supper
Of the action Of the Knights Of Label
and that the strike if there Is one, vi
quickly be proved failure.