New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-22

declared OF and the Investigation proceeded with. That
was refused then the following proposition was maze
by "Mr. Webb, could you not sit with me III uhe
presence OF the who discharged and allow ne
question them in your presence, so that might io"
facts OF the case and be better able TO arrive s'
decision Pr
This Mr. Webb emphaticaly refused Mr. De'iin thcn
said po understand YOU TO assume that the public and
the employees have rights that you are oounu W
consider, and do you look upon the matter siinp" -
though the railroad your own private proper"
Because you take that view OF It, hefe 10 no 'eo" "
our saying anything further"
Mr. Webb hesitsted, and then took refuge In silence
The public may have formed erroneous impressions Oh
the position OF the Knights in the controversy. we 90
not pretend to dictate 10 the company that IL snail NOV
discharge employees but In all fairness INC uiso""s man
should he told why he is discharged
KNIGHTS AT THE STATE CAPITOL.
rr,ne IN. session Of the state Legislature knights
~ Labor OF New. York active in the passage Of the
Weekly Pay bill. The committee OF the knights repre-
sentns the employees OF the NewYor Central ana HUDSON
River Railroad faced in the legislative committee
roam at Albany by the attorneys OF the railway ana
brovbesten questioned and terroHzed. some Of
the members Of that committee who were en-
ployed by the New-York Central were disehatseu
vi,bou. cause or rather without any given cause There
exists not the shadow Of doubt in the minds OF that
that these men singled out for endeaveFnS
to secure the passage OF the aforementioned law tc
thoroughly investigating the causes which led TO the stke
and after making every effort in their power to induce the
cempany 10 arbtate submit 10 an investigation by I'M
Martial men the question at issue namely whether The men
were discharged because they were knights OF LaDof anu
for the purpose destroying this organization as they De-
ieve maintain for just cause ana proper reason
a the officials Of the company alege), the General In
ecutive Board have by unanimous vote determined 70
stand by the men, Who whether their strike was opote
or no. had alternative consistent with their mahhoou
have no doubt that 1t is the determination OF the
management to destroy the organization Oh aoof aos ~
line of the New-York Central and Hudson River Railroad
rn,as that organization subsequently bends the knee to
the will CT the Vanderbilts During the cohfo'erS9'
Messrs Touccy and Webb stated ADD repeated the sV
ment that the not discharged because ey Fo
knights of Labor and they expect the public TO behe'e
them simply because they say Both OF THESE gentle
men deny certain things in relation to their conVeraeo
with m, which both Mr. pevn and myself are prepared
20 make afldayit 1 may therefore be excused an
not prepared to accept being true beyond question any
denial by them OF statements made by men whose "or"s
should be Of equal value with theirs.
EVERYTHING that could be done TO terminate the
strike on on honorable basis for the men was dohe anu
the alternative Of unconditional and absolute surrender on
the part of the men or protest against the tyranny OF tae
officials of the New-York Central and Hudson lNer ha-
road was presented to us. Under the circumstances
such surrender would be unmanly. 1t would be
cowardy and unworthy of the sons Of men VINO IN Two
henspherss struggled and died for the rights Of humanity
ASKING ASSISTANCE.
We did not seek the quarrel. The General Executive
Board nothing OF it until 1t vas thrust upon ten
and now that 10 face it we ask OF the entire Ou
"o0tS'~-'~N
means win the strike. We are not craving sympathy
We are not need of moral support, for away down IN
the hearts the American people could they all te hea
this question, the sentiment is on our sac ana III our
favor.
We have to fight power which its lofty bearing
TO the wealth 1t has piled the labor Of the employees
road Untold millions are az its command ana VIZ
money TO on the struggle we not ON! aSA
knights o, Labor to come to our aid but we ask " Oh
all members organized labor 1t is our turn now IL
will be yours anon If easily vanfrished as 70
invite company 10 repeat the experiment we ECU on!
ask labor organizations, but We ask OF the great pun
away beyond organizations OF labor TO come 10 our
relief. nghnc against far more dangerous
than that which laid down its arms at yorktown
one hundred years ago. Then the fight was with one
King. To-day 1t is against hundred one oil "hoh sara
in after-dinner speech rot long ago IheIe are t2
in this country who have 1t in their power 10 ooo'
the currency United States control her commerce.
and at a days notice stop evtry wheel In the wroe
territory Of the United States" The struggle Is lar
moro momentous than during the American Revou-
ton. Then our fathers fought for liberty. Now we
are fighting maintain It, Then the enemy was 0ooo
miles away. To-day he is ontrenched in our own
domnions. He has his fingers around our Legislatures
He stands at OF Congress to bar out legislation
In the the lie pesumes TO dictate 10
the Executive OF Nation. lie attempts TO stTange
and corrupt judiciary. and lie does all Of these Icy
no shadow OF divine right. but by the power q ncney
wrung from TIE bending back OF the railway labcrr;
wrung from the mortgages Of the farmers of the land
wrung from the business OF America wrung from
the very hearts OF the best and Eoblest Of
the Nations poor. 1t is against such
power thlsa power that cares for no right but it,
own-that struggle, and whether win lose IN
the present contest battle will go until that
power weakened forever Or the public is damned"
Question the opportuncDess OF the battle you will,
justice but be apparent TO every dnterst
person. 1t is not because a few cents more day Of
zone pary concession the required that this strike
Nus pfecipatcd. It's origin lies way beyond these
sderatons. The real snmus lies in the fact that our
order been struggling with the questions which con-
control Of trusts corporations and syndic3tes by
the government Of the people.
LOOKING AHEAD.
The allied forces Knights OF Labor and the Farm
ers' Alliance marching to Washington TO secure
legislation favorable w the whole people. They going
there the repeal OF certain unjust laws which
stand way Of progress and which anagonze JUS
1t is In the hope Of turning attention away
from these matters that this warfare Is made on u
part OF the allied forces. 1t is to weaken US
when do them the most harm and the
country the greatest amount Of good that these
aDDoyances visited upon We not the disor-
derry mob that their papers paint The orderly and
awabdng conduct Of the union strike has won the admra
ton Of the public and yet the best feelings OF the COM
munty have outraged by the introduction Of armed
force under command Pnkerton, who holds
commission from the State Nation to recruit or arm
for military duty
Had the interests Of the o. NewYork required IT,
many thousands OF old veteran soldiers within her
borders who faced death in all it's forms quarter o. cen
trIy ago. That cOuntry's nag might float nation
Of froemen who would willingly step 70 the front again dd
the Nation or State need their aid We have military
force within Itself sufficient to meet any possible
emergency. not necessary TO call for them, and yet
hirclig mob Of the characters in the land have
quartered upon the people OF NewYork to terroze
her citizens, provoke to anger and wrath 20 shoe.
those who asked the hight TO be heard in their own
behalf conduct OF the since the strike began has
been orderly and comendalc and until it closes no
Knight Of Labor will be found in unlawful act OF any
kind.
THEY WILL MAINTAIN ORDER
We arc pledged to maintain the law. We will obey he
commands State but not Of the corporation which
denes public opinion and has regard for justice when
treating with its employees Cancellation and arbitration
can deal with most intricate questions OF dispute
General Grants Administration demonstrates how well
arb could be employed. What General Grant Was