The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-08-19
The LEADERS TALK
Concluding COurtesieS Exchanged Be-
tween POWderly and Webb.
Some Very Pointed Remarks BY
the Master Workman and
Brief Reply From
MIR. Webb.

NEW ibkh' aug. lS.-lhe cOfrcsponu-
ence between vice-President Webb Of the |
New York Central, aud Grand Master |
Workman Powderly was made public to- !
night. On August Ii Powderly addressed |
letter 10 Webb, saying he had been in
vestigating the cause Of the Central strike
and asking for an interview on Monday TO
discuss the question of arbitrating diff
ferences which existed between the New
York Central and its Knights If Labor
employees. Webb. in reply granted the
interview, but at the same time wished
that the matter he presented To him in
writing. Powderly replied next day,
saying he had been called away
from the city, and that he
was Obliged 10 commit To paper what he
would rather discuss in person. He says:
"lf | am correctly informed, old and
faithful employees Of the New York Central
have been summarily dismissed from the
service of the company because they were
active members OF the knights Of Labor.
IL is represented Ia me that up Ia the time
OF their discharge they were faithful to
the interests Of the company aud not one
word of discrcdit stands against the in-
dustrial record of any of those who were
discharged prior to August 8, ls9O.'
While hundreds Of eases that had been
peacefully and quietly adjusted through
the intervention Of the Knights Of Labor,
although not heralded broadcast as they
would have been had they ended ~
strikes, prove that or aim is 10 avoid
strikes rather than prccipitate them.
The interests of the public which
require that freight and pass
enger traffic should work smoothly.
| The interests of the company require eN-
| actly the same thing, and in addition that
| such traffic prove remunerativc. The in
| terests Of the working people are the
| same as others, hut their right Ia organize
| and select the organization they wish to
belong 10 is fully as dear 10 them as
their pecuniary interests can poss-
| IDLY be. Here is an organization,
the aim Of which is To work for e,llIca.
tional and legislative advantages, called
upon 10 defend its members, who up To
the time of their dismissal. worked
only in educational and legislative
direction. Surely we have the right To
question why they were discharged. Each
man, no matter how humble, is rs much
part Of the public as any other man.
True, the New York Central is tributary tn
the comfort and well being Of the com
munity, hut the community gives To the
corporation its strength aud wealth, aud
|
people and belong To the same element of
society Mat dare not organize for their
own welfare. Some one has said since
this began, Money is not all in the world,
He was a railroad director, believe. He
spoke truly, for liberty is tar dcarcr 10 the
lahorer. and that is what he struggles for,
that is what is denied him when he is dis
charged for being knight Of Labor. II
liberty was valued so highly that men Of
fered up life and treasure and sacred
honor 10 gain u, surely their children
would not he blamed for striking for il.
Whether they struck wisely in this ease Is
To bc determined.
There will be nothing then 10 arbitrate 50
long as you hold TO that opinion. The IN
terest Uf the public, the interest nf the
owners of your company you repre-.
sent and the rights of men To or
ganize for self-protection, are all involved
in this contest. The policy of the order
OF the knights of Labor is 10 work in
the ltne, of educational aud Legislative
: reform. Ii is not the policy of the instiu'
, ton to ask for their reinstatement. IT,
however, they were displaced hecaus" al
; their connection with the knights ni La
bor. il should be known, Tor IL il is tho
policy of the New York Central that n,
knights Of Labor are Ia hn employed thrU
the statement to that effect viii
clear up all doubts and there
, can be no future misunderstanding
because they are such. II itcan be shown
that these men were working an injury q
their employers righ,-mnded men vii
! say they were treated ns they deserved
2 II they were discharged for catise the rail
/ road company has everything Ia gain ant
G nothing 10 lose FROM the investigation
g If they deserved the dismissal from th,
: service Of the company none Of us will
give il moments notice, and hence tht
y strike aud the whClc question hinge
upon the discharge Of Knights of Labol
y | men,
J 10 this communication from Powdrrly
y Vice President Webb replied ~ follows
I. "In replying, have Ia say that no per
u SONS discharged from this company prio
o to August : and referred 10 IN your com
g munication, WAS discharged because h,
II was a member of your order. Immediate
suppriors of each said persons reported I,
the division superintendent, or "a th
superintendent of the motive power
4 Investigated each case prior to discharge
"a and the facts that such discharge having
!. bceu reported 10 the management of th'
company they were further investigate
. and the action Of the division supcrinten
: dent or superintendent of the motiy
}, power fully approved. The managrmcu
5 Of th> company do not deem II consisten
!. with its continuance aud prosperity Il
n business aud with the discharge Of th
n duties IL owes to the people tu suhm
T. properly TO its action ia the discharge q
Il any Il its employees Ia arbitration. lhly
h read your communication with care and
II think the foregoing answers define ih
position of this company
Wchb said Ia "A reporter tonight tia
the freight service was complete AN
A everything working smoothly bctwcc
- here and Buffalo. All freight receive
= yesterday has been cleared M and ha
= lpft Tor its destination. The places Of a
u strikers have hcen filled aud there WI
'e not single vacancy ou the road.
u strike Among Marine