St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-26
WE'RE WITH YOU IN SPIRIT.
The Federation Cannot Order a
General Strike.

The Federation Cannot Order a
General Strike.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind, Aug. 25.-Fol-
lowing is the manifesto of the fedora
tion:
Headquarters of the Supreme Coun-
Gil OF the United Orders of Railway En-
ployes. Terre Haute, Ind, Aug. %. 1890.
TO All Laboring Organizations-Me
and Brothers: On the night Of Aug.
a strike began on the New York Central
& Hudson River railroad, involving
about 5000 men in the employ of said
road, who were members of great labor
organization known as the Knights of
Labor. The reasons set forth by L. V.
Powderly, chief executive of the order,
may be summarized as follows: The
peremptory discharge of between
fifty and sixty men, employees of
the road, and members of the
Knights of Labor, because they
were Knights of Labor, without
giving them any reason whatever for
their discharge. Prior to the strike the
men involved sought, through the rep
resentatives of the order, to have their
grievances adjusted, but their appeals
being diSregarded, strike was inau-
gurated. At this juncture L. V.
ONu6Ily. S6li6IdI uldSlGI NOlhIlldu Ol
the Knights of Labor, entered upon the
task of adjusting the difficulty, and of
making such arrangements as would re
suit in an honorable peace between the
employees and officials of the road, but
his efforts were unavailing. Mr..
Powderly, comprehending the purpose
of IL. Walter Webb, third vice presi-
dent of the company, to make
War Upon the knights
of Labor, and ultimately upon all labor
organizations represented upon his
road, sought conference with the su-
preme couhcil of the United Orders of
Railway Employees. The request of
Mr.. POwderly was granted to the ex-
tent that four members of the council,
the chief executives of the federated
orders, met him in the city of Buffalo,
N. Y, viz: F. P. Sargent, grand master
of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men, and president of the supreme
council; George w. Howard, grand
Conductors, and vice president of the
supreme council; S. E. Wilkinson,
grand master of the Brotherhood of
Railway Trainmen, and Frank Sweeney,
grand master of the Switchmen's Mu-
tual Aid association. At the con-
ference with Mr.. Powderly at Buff
falo the members of the supreme
council became satisfied that the
officials of the road, by every considera-
tiOn of fair and honorable treatment of
labor organization, should meet Mr..
Powderly and adopt some just plan for
the adjustment of the grievances of the
striking employees. This conclusion
having been reached, the members OF
the supreme council, in response to the
request of Mr.. Powderly, extended their
journey to the city of New York to af-
ford such aid as was in their power to
bring about a settlement between II.
Walter Webb, third vice president of
the company, the official having full au-
thority in all matters pertaining to the
strike, and T. V. POwderly, general
master workman of the Knights of
Labor, having the authority to negotiate
such arrangements as
Might Eud the Dispute.
An interview having been secured,
MI. Powderly sought to have the men
discharged heard in their own defense
in the presence of Mr.. Webb and him
self. This fair and honorable PROPOSE
ton was refused. Mr.. Powderly pro-
posed arbitration, which was also re-
fuSed. Inere were OJnef propositions
made by Mr. Powderly, having for their
object the honorable settlement of the
existing trouble, all of which were re-
fused on the part of Mr.. Webb. The
members of the supreme council, while
in Buffalo. and the city of New York, ,
had ample opportunity to thoroughly
inform themselves upon all matters
concerning the strike. They saw and
heard both sides. They appreciated the
gravity of the situation. and compre-
hending impending consequences to
labor organizations, deemed it advisa-
BILE to convene the supreme council
for deliberation and such conclu-
sions as facts should warrant. In
response to the order of F. P. Sargent,
president of the supreme council. that
body was convened in the city Of Terre
Haute, Ind, on Saturday, the 23d day
of August, 1890, and remained in ses-
sion until noon on Monday, the 25th. On