The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-08-26
THE GREAT STRIKE WAS NOT ORDERED
But the Supreme Council RoundIy
Scored Vice President Webb
And Covered Much Paper With Its
Endorsements of PowderIy.
Men Who Lost Their Jobs Tell Their
Side of the Story.

IERRE dAUTE, lnu., August "a = a
six this evening message was sent by the
Council of Railroad Employees to Mr.
Powderly at Albany saying: "The Supreme
Council adjourned this afternoon after care
fully considering the strike in all its details
You will note the report of our deliberation'
in tonight's dispatches, which it is hoped
will meet your approval. The council i:
unanimous in endorsing your position and
the Grand Executivel Board most honestly
hope the right you are championing in the
great conflict on the New York Central may
finally and powerfully prevail"
An official statement was issued tonight
from the headquarters of the Supreme Coun.
Gil of the United Order of Railway En-
ployes. 1t refers to the New York Central
strike inaugurated August 7th, involving
about 5000 men, and rehearses the causes Of
the trouble and efforts at settlement. The
statement then says that !appreciating the
gravity of the situation and comprehendlne
the impending consequences to labor organi
cations, the Supreme Council convened fol-
deliberation. The statement continues:
1.-The council, having heard the statement
of its members who visited New York, ex.
haustively discussed every important propo
sition, and arrived at the following conclu.
sions:
"First-The proposition of the Knights OF
Labor, as set forth by T. V. Powderly, Gen.
eral Master Workmen, and the General Ex-
ecutive Board of the Knights of Labor,
meets with our unqualified approval.
ter Webb toward Mr.. Powderly and the
Knights of Labor, notwithstanding his dec
larations to the contrary, evinces purpose
to disrupt and destroy labor organizations
on the New York Central u Hudson River
as done by Austin COrbin on the Philadel
phia 81 Reading.
"Third-The policy of Fl. Walter Webb is
despotic to an extent that outrages every
principle of American citizenship, and, II
generally adopted, would, If successful re-
duce American workingmen to degraded
condition.
ment Of Pinkerton detectives, thugs and
murderers, vile wretches from the slums and
brothels of New York and other cities, to
kill workingmen because they dared protest
against his rule and strike for their rights, is
guilty of crime of such enOrmity as will as
sociate the name of fl. Walter Webb forever
with those who, dressed in little brief au-
thority. used their money to secure the power
to degrade their fellow men.
"Fifth-The efforts now being put forth by
III. Walter Webb to destroy the. Knights of
Labor, were circumstances changed, would
in like manner be made to destroy the or
ganizations of engineers, firemen, conduc-
tors, trainmen and switchmen. If success
full, it is only question of time when SIM
liar effort will be made to seal the fate of
other labor organizations.
'Sixth-H. Walter Webb. by the course he
has pursued towards the Knights of Labor
and representatives of labor organizations,
has shown a total disregard of those princi-
pies of citizen sovereignty desired by every
American worthy of the name, and consider
ing only his money power and the corporate
power of the company he represents, his acts,
NUhi ha in ho
language of w. 81. Vanderbilt, once the auto
crat of the New York Central, the public be
damned
''Seventh-H. Walter Webb has to sup
port his arrogant attitude towards working
men and labor organizations by assuming
that the New York Central & Hudson River
railroad is private property, and that his
acts in the treatment of his employees are
in no sense matter of public concern; that
he can, with impunity, discharge men and
them homeless wanderers without giving
any reason or explanation whatever for his
conduct, disregarding the fact that the cor
poration for which he plays the autocrat is
a thing created by laws In the making of
which the men he seeks to degrade have a
poration to the bar of justice, where his mil
lions and the other millions he represents
will cease to be potential in deciding ques
tions of this kind.
''In view Of the foregoing facts, the Su-
preme Council puts upon record its unani-
nous approval of the strike on the
New Yolk Central and Hudson River rail
way for the cause set forth by T. Y. Pow
derly; as also the efforts made by Mr.. Pow
derly to bring the strike to an honorable ter
mination. In this general expression of ap-
proval of the action of the Knights of Labor,
the course of Vice President Webb is as une-
quivocally condemned. The power of the
Supreme Council in the matter of strike
has been exerted to aid the Knights Of Labor
through their representatives, to secure the
recognition of their order by the
officials of the rich and powerful
corporation to secure for the workmen, the
victims of autocIatlc power, hearing, and
to perform such other kindly offices as were
proper under the circumstances, demon
strating sympathy and good will and
thereby aiding the Knights of Labor to
bring the strike to close upon the princi.
Piles of right and justice. In this the Council
met with failure owing to the autocratic
attitude of HI. Walter Webb 1t now be.
comes necessary for the Supreme Council
to say that owing to the fact that the order
of Knights of Labor Is not a member of the
Federated Order of Railroad Employees, the
laws of the Supreme Council do not permit
more than 1t has done to aid the Knights OF
Labor and its inability to participate other
wise in strike is now known and appre
ciated by Mr.. Powderly."
ALBANY, N. Y, August 25.-Mr. Powder
ly says he never expected general strike
and is satisfied with the action at Terrt
Haute. The strikers, he says, will win.