Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-08-22
THAT MANIFESTO.
Mr.. Powderly's Long Appeal to
@-s-... the Public. -...-.-......
ONE SIDE OF THE BATTLE.
The Knights Must Fight for Self
- Preservation. -

A Bitter AsraiTnment Of vice President
Webb and the Plnkerton Cohorts--Pow-
derIy Says the knights Used Every
Effort In Their Power to Avoid the
Trouble. but That the Central Would
Noe Meet Them Even Half way-A
Greas Battle Between Millions OF Cap
ital and Millions OF Laboring Men.
The Public Asked for Aid.
NEW York, Aug. 22.-In his appeal to the
public, Master Workman Powderly, Of the
knights of Labor, states at considerable
length the history Of the trouble with the
New York Central, and states that knights
have for some time been systematically
discharged by the road for the reason that
they were members Of the order. He says
that such IAN apparent effort was being
made TO destroy. the order on the Central
system that the matter was brought to the
attention Of the executive board, which sent
J. J. Holland to New York to investigate.
Hollands instructions were to use all
possible efforts to bring about an amicable
settlement of the difiiulty. Mr.. Powderly
then describes Mr. Hollands futile at
tempt to bring about settlement with
Vice President Webb. Mr.. powderly CON
tinues;
The Only Alternative Was 70 Strike.
Finding all efforts to effect peaceabe settle
ment Of their grievances impossible and being
convinced that it was only "A question OF time
when fhey would one and all be discharged un.
less they forfeited their manhood and abandoned
their privileges as citizens OF free country by
renouneing their right to join their fellows IN an
organization calculated 70 protect their Just
rights without intrenching upon those OF others,
the district executive board had no alternative
but TO order a strike, which they did. The most
earnest efforts Of the grand officers to secure
hearing for the discharged men were unavailing.
On Wednesday morning Mr.. John Deyln Of tine
general executive board, and myself waited on
M Toucey, general manager. and endeavored to
have the matter arbtrated or investigated. Mr.
Toucey was emphatic In his refusal Mr.. Webb
reiterated what Mr., Toucey had said. 1t was sug.
gested 10 him that disinterested parties hear and
determine: was also suggested that during the
Investigation the strike be declared of aud the
| investigation proceeded with. That was refused
Then Mr. Webb refused my proposition that he
sit with me ia9ha presence Of the men who we're
discharged and allow me % question them in his
presence that might know the facts Of the case
and be better able to arrive at a decision.
/ Aho AhAEhAH OF A-utpAulehs
Mr.. Powderly then refers to the silence
Of Mr. Webb when asked IL he considered
that the public and the employees had no
rights that be was bound to consider, and
/ Mr.. Powderly continues:
The public may have formed erroneous i'm
pressious Of tho position Of the knights in the
controversy. We do not pretend 10 dictate to
/ tho company that il shall not discharge EN-.
ployea. but In all fairness the discharged man
should be told why he is dismissed. During the
session Of tho state legislature the Knights Of
Labor Of New York were active in the passage Of
the weekly pay bin.
The African in the Fence.
| The committee Of the knights representing the
| employees Of the New York Central railroad we're
met at Albany by the attorney Of the railway and
brow beaten. questioned and terrorized. Some
Of the members Of that committee, who we're at
| the tlpae employed by the New York Central
| were discharged without any given caus. There
Is rot doubt in the minds Of the committee that
these men we're S.hged out for endeavoring q
| sar,,re the passage Of the above mentioned law
| Afte9 m, roughly investigating the causes which
! ied tn tba afsff and after making every effort IN
their power d iudps.a the company 70 arbitrate
or to submit 20 an investis. ton ny Impartial men
the question at issue, the genera uoa1
have by unanimous vote determins1 y s'''nu
| by the men who, whether their strike wis ppps
Il
| their manhood.
The Plan Of the vanderbiIts.
Mr.. Powderly believes the Vanderbilts
intend to destroy the knights if they do
not yield, and he insinuates that Messrs
| Webb and Toucey have not told the truth
| during the controversy. He adds:
Under the circumstances such surrender would
be unmanly. It would be cowardly and unworthy
Of the sons Of men Of two hemispheres who
struggled and died for the rights OF humanity
| We did not seek the quarrel. The general ex-
ecutive board knew nothing OF il until il was
| thrust upon them, aud now that we have to face
IL, We ask OF the entire order Of the Knights Of
Labor TO come TO our assistance with the means
TO win the strike. We are not craving for sym
pathy. We are not in need Of moral support;
FOR away down In the hearts Of the American
people, could they all be heard on this question
the sentiment IS on our side aud In our favor
We have TO fight power which owes its lofty
bearing to the wealth it has piled up from the
labor OF the employees Of the road Untold mill
ions are at its command, aud we want money TO
carry on the struggle We not only ask Of
knights OF Labor TO come to our aid, but we ask
IL OF all members Of organized labor II IS our
turn now; IL will be yours anon. 10 be SO easily
yanquished is to invite any company to repeat
the experiment We not only ask labor organi.
cations, but we ask Of the great public away be-
yond our organizations Of labor to come to our
relief. We are fighting against power far more
dangerous than that which laid down its arms
at Yorktown 100 years ago Then the fight was
with one king.
The Fight of the People.
To-day t is against a hundred, one Of whom
said In an after dinner speech not long ago, there
are fifty men in this country who have It in their
power 70 control the currency of the United
states, control her commerce, and st a Gays no
tlce stop every wheel in the whole territory OF
the United States. The struggle Is far more mo-
mentous than Il was during the American revo-
luton. Then our fathers fought for liberty
now we are fighting to maintain it. Theu the
enemy was 5000 miles away, today he is
entrenched in our own dominions He has his
fingers around our legislatures. He stands at
the doors Of congress to bar out legislation Ia
the interests of the masses. He presumes TO
dictate TO the executive Of the nation He
attempts 20 strangle or corruptg the judiciary.
And be does all of these by no shadow Of divine
right, but BY the power Of money wruug from.
the bending back Of the railway laborer; wrling
from the mortgages Of tSe farmers OF the land;
wrung from she bus.nrss OF America; wrung
from the very hearts OF the best and noblest Of
the nations poor. It IS against such power as
this-a power that cares for no right but its own
that we struggle, and whether we win or lose
IN the present contest. the battle will now go on
until that power is weakened forever, the
public is damned" Question the opportune
ness Of the battle, IL you WILL but is justice can
not but be apparent to every disinterested per
son. It is not because of a few cents more day
or some paltry concessions to the men required
that this strike be precipitated. Its origin lies
way beyond these considerations.
The Real Animus.
The real auiInus lies in the fact that our order