New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-23

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EVERYONE AWAITS THE RESULT OF
THE WESTERN CONFERENCE.
All interest in the strike of the former employees of
the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Com
pany is centred upon the members OF the supreme
Council Of the Federation ofRailway Employees, who
will meet in Terre Haute Ind, this morning to de
termine what action the Federation Will take Upon
the delberation of the members of the council nuch
depends. They will decide whether or not more men
shall be compelled to leave the service OF the com
pany, and whether the public shall suffer the incon
venience which will naturally follow further disor
ganization of the company's service. III the Council
decides to call out the men on the New-fork Central
division only, II will not materially affect this branch
Of the Vanderbilt system, for the company since the
strike began has practically recognized the portions
of the service likely TO be affected by another order to
strike On other divisions Of the Vanderbilt system
there have been strikes before and the managers OF
those divisions do not appear to fear them in the least
In so far as the officials the Central Division
concerned they declare that there Is no trouble
among their employees and that they expect none In
fact Mr. Webb and his brother officials say that strike
would be much less injurious than the one of two
weeks ago was and that the road is now in as good
condition as it was on the morning OF the DAY on
which the strike ordered.
II the Council decides TO order further strike 1t
may affect only the fremen on this division of the
system and they do not want 10 leave their engines
OF large number of them who have bees seen
within the last few days, more than majority say
that they do not want to strike and Others declare
that they will not obey the order If II is given. or
the other three branches of the service in the Fedora
tion the trainmen, conductors and swtchmcn the
recent strike is said TO have taken away all who would
obey tho orders Of the labor leaders. In the two
weeks that they have been out, the company has had
time 10 fill their places, and yesterday There was not
vacancy anywhere along the line Of the railroad ex-
cept In occasional instances where the new men have
either been dismissed for incompetency or have left
the service Of the company Of their own volition
Superintendent Voorhees, said last night that he had
looked all during the day to find places for three
men 10 whom he was anxious to give employment. lie
added that the company had now an excellent OPP
portunity TO employ men of greater intelligence than
are the men who struck, and in the long the ser
would be greatly benefited thereby 1t is thought
by many Of the workmen that the council will do
nothing more than ndorse tho present strike and
condemn the company because the discharge of the
sixty employees of the railroad was not submitted to
arbitration The officers of the company are sanguine
that no serious action will be taken.
The appeal of the general master workman OF the
knights OF Labor pretty extensively read yeSter-
day. but Mr.. Powdery's presentation OF the case was
severely criticised BY the officials OF the railroad
company of certain statements which were
made by him. The employees in the offices were in
dignant at the charge that Mr.. Webb never worked
for living but Inherited all OF his money Mr. Webb.
they say, has been hard worker ever since he LETT
college and the only money that he has Inherited
came from his mother who died about three months
ago One Of the clerks under him said that Mr..
Webb has done more work in the last six months
than Mr.. Powderly has in the last ten years. AS
third vice president the engineers in charge OF the
construction, maintenance and supply DIVISIONS OF
the service report to him and he has entire Charge oi
these three branches. With his brother, Dr. W. sew
ard Webb, he took the Wagner Palace Car Company
when 1t was in extremely poor condition hnali-
cially, and built 1t up to what 1t now Is.
Regarding Mr.. Powdcry's appeal. Mr.. Webb said
al have said time and again that the New YORK
Central and Hudson River Railroad Company was en-
gagged In no crusade against any body OF ORGANIZED
workngmen and the policy OF the company proves It,
Only SIX months ago when there was big meeting OF
the Knights Of Labor ut Schenectady. l Instructed
the head. Of the various divisions to give all the dele
gates to the convention passes to and from that city,
Within one week of the strike delegates to the meeting
at Albany had special trains ~ travel in. / told
Mr. Powderly Of these things and assured him that
this company making no fight upon the organiza-
ton which he represents. see that he still! adhcreS
to the statement which have already denied That
refused to answer question put to Inc by MI Devlin
during the conference between US on Wednesday. Mt
Devlin never put such question and have already
told what my answer would be II he had. lie further
charges that representatives Of this company fought
the representatives Of the labor organizations In their
efforts to pass the weekly payment law. This Is alb
solutely untrue
Florence +. Donovan, one OF the members OF the
State Board OF Mediation and Arbitration called on
Mr. Webb early yesterday morning and told him that
he had been instructed by the board 10 inquire If the
causes which might bring about another strike could
not be arbitlated. Mr. Webb answered that no strike
on the road likely to take place and that he could
bod I'm fhn C0Gn
Mr. Donovan not satisfied with this reply, and
he returned TO the Murray Hill Hotel, where he is
STAYING and wrote this letter 10 Mr.. Webb:
1t having come the knowledge Of the State Board Of
Mediation and Arbitration that another strike Is seriously
threatened upon road OF your company am
Instructed by board again muncae with and
invite Joint conference between the officers Of COM
pany representatives Of employees with view Of
de,1sng means either by arbitration such other
method may be mutually agreed upon, whereby the
be averted and abrupt interruption
Of travel transportatio OF freight prevented.
To this letter Mr.. Webb made the following reply
have received your letter Of this date.
As is well known to you and to the public u large
number OF persons recently and suddenly quit the service
OF company and with but few exceptions have not
applied for unemployment but are engaged In holding
meetings comforting with the officials Of the order known
as the knights Labor and other labor organizations,
and seeking prevent by persuasion threats intimidation
aud In other ways tho continuance In lawful employment
u TIE persons who did not leave the companys service
and been employed In the place OF those
who did This the existing 'strke," and the
referred you will will not take place
persons who have left service nav
may meet with
i believe that such efforts Will fail
The operating force Of this company is full the passenger
service OF company regularly performed and there
is no freight service except lawess in
reference and the apprehension thereof.
l am not any difference grievances existing
between the company and its employees and must as
that conference suggested by between the
officers company and the representatives OF
Iaoyes between officers Of
company officials Of the Knights OF Labor These
officials represent employees persons who
left our service have asked 10 be rcempoyed but
who through these same officials Of knights Labor