The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-19
WITH NAUGHTY DISDAIN.
Webb, Of the New York Central, Will
Not Arbitrate Labor Diff
ficulties.
He Makes q shaky Statement
About the Discharge Of
Knights Of Labor.

S~SS>~S eSAA&8xAJ SVASVSeAAoe~S
About the Discharge Of
Knights Of Labor.
Powderly's Letter to Webb Proposing .
Method Of settlement---The End
New YoRk, Aug. 18.-The correspondence
between vice-President Webb, of the New
York Central, and Grand Master Workman
Powderly was made public tonight. Au-
gust 10th Powderly addressed q 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 arhitrating the differences
which existed between the New York Gem
tral and its Knights of Labor employees.
Webb in reply granted the interview but at
the same time wished that the matter be
presented to him in writing. Powderly re-
piled uext day. saying he had been called
away from the city and that he was obliged
to commit to paper what he would
rather discuss in person. He says: eff I
am correctly informed. old and faithful en-
ployes Of the New York Central have been
summarily dismissed from the service of
the company because they were active mem
bers of the Knights of Labor. It is repre-
sented to me that up to the time of their
discharge they were faithful to the interests
of the company and that not one word of
discredit stands against the industrial rec
ord of any of those who were discharged
prior to Aug. 8, 1890. That in brief, is the
statement of the men. The frequency of
dismissals left but little room for doubt in
the minds OF the men that they were all in
danger of discharge at moments notice.
and hence the strike. The whole question
hinges upon the discharge OF Knights of
Labor because they are such. If it can be
shown that these men were working injury
to their employers. right minded men will
say they were treated as they deserved. If
they were discharged for cause the rail-
road company has everything to gain and
nothing to lose from an investigation. If
they deserved dismissal from the services
of the company none of us will ask for their
reinstatement. If, however. they were dis
placed because of their connection with
the Knights of Labor, it should be known,
for if that is to be the policy of the New
York Central, that no Knights Of Labor are
to be employed, then q statement to that
effect will clear up all doubts and there
I'm There Will be nothins thsn e.
arbitrate SO long as you hold to that opin-
ests of the owners of the company you rep
resent, and the rights of the men to organ
ize for self protection, are all involved in
this contest.
The policy of the order of Knights of
Labor is to work peacefully in line Of duty
and legislate for reform. It is not the pol
icy of the institution, M matter what its
enemies may say, to enter hastily upon
strike. The present strike may be pointed
to in refutation of that last assertion, but
until an investigation into the cause or
causes is had, that must remain
disputed question, while hundreds of cases
that have been peacefully and quietly ad-
justed through the intervention of the
Knights of Labor. although not heralded
they ended in strikes, prove that our aim is
to avoid strikes rather than to precipitate
them. The interests of the public require
that freight and passenger traffic should
work smoothly. The interests Of the com
pany require the same thing. and in addi-
tion that such traffic prove remunerative.
The interests of the working people are the
same as of others, but their rights to organ
ize and select the organization they wish to
belong to is fully as dear to them
u.;,,h. as their %s cs Recuniary interests can can
aim Of which is to work for educational and
legislative advantages, called upon to de-
fend it's members who, up to the time of
their dismissal, had worked only in an edu-
cational and legislative direction. Surely
we have right to question why they were
l;~nl r~k
humble, is as much part Of the public as
any other man. True. the New York Cen
tral Is tributary to the comfort and we'll be-
ing of the community, but the community
gives to the corporation in question it's
strength and wealth, and Of that commu-
same element Of society" that dare
not organize for their own welfare. Some
one has said, since this begun, that money
is not everything in this world. He was
ar asgss to be as ba sPese
er. and that is what he struggles for, that
is what is denied him when he
is discharged for being knight of
Labor. If liberty was valued 60 highly
that men offered up life and treasure and
Soa no s. sa fre or srne asr
for it. Whether they struck wisely in this
case is to be determined.
Who is to determined? You may feel that
you are right. The men feel that they are.
Both are partisans, and if an impartial ver-
dict is to be reached impartial men must ar
rive at it by 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? II you will agree to submit the mat
ter to arbitration, we can meet and arrange
details and agree as to how the parties may
be selected. The newspapers report that
you are refusing to admit that arbitration
can enter into the settlement of the trouble.
but your letters lead me to believe you were
misquoted and still! hope for speedy ter
mination of the strike through arbitration,
To this communication from Powderlv
Vice President Webb replied as follows:
Replying. have to say that no person dis
charged from this company prior to August
9th, and referred to in your communica-
tion, was discharged because he was mem
ber of your order. The immediate superiora
of each said of persons reported to the di-
vision superintendent or superintendent Of
motive power had investigated each case
prior to the discharge, and the fact of such
discharge having been reported to the man
agement Of the company they were further
investigated and the action Of the division
superintendent or superintendent of motive
power fully approved. The management of
this company do not deem Il congietent
with lts continuance and prosperity in busi-
ness and with the discharge OF the duties il
owes to the people to submit the propriety
OF lts action IN the discharge of any Of its