The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-09-05

btFOHe Ire AHelIHA Ono.
some Interesting Testimony About the
Central strike--Declared on
New YORK, Sept. 8-Vice President
Webb was the first witness before the ar
bitration board yesterday. His testimony
was repetition Of his statements to the
press and others In the past few weeks.
He denied that there was any trouble on
the Central now, and said that number
OF men had quit the company's employ
and their places had been filled with new
men. He gave very little information as
to why the men had been discharged.
whose dismissal had caused the strike,
holding that the company was not bound
to tell any man why he was discharged.
Refuses to Answer "A Question.
Generally the men in question had lost
their places on account of unsatisfactory
service. Master Workman Lee was very
arrogant and insolent and had threatened
to tie up the road unless he got some of
Vanderbilt's money. He refused, by adj
vice OF his attorney, to reply to the ques-
| ton "When did you first arrange for the
| employment of Pinkerton meni" but said
he had not asked protection from the au-
thorities before employing them. The
| men discharged-seventy eight out OF %,
000-except those for whom there was no
| work, had been dismissed on reports of the
secret service of the railway company, and
| the papers in the case had all been de-
stroyed
Master WOrkmen on the Stand.
Master Workmen Valentine and Lee
were the next witnesses. The former said
that his understanding was that he had
been discharged because he was knight
of Labor. Lee gave similar testimony
| saying that Manager Toucey told him
personally that he was an agitator, and
must go. The discharge of men without
giving them hearing was violation Of
| an agreement with the men Daniel Nc.
earthly swore that his discharge was the
| result, us Toucey told him, of his being
| Kicker"
Says the Charge Was False.
Charles Mallori member of the exec
| utive committee of ID. A. 246 testified that
| he was discharged July 2o, after eight
years employment. He was told it was
because he had lied in order to obtain a
pass. The charge was false. j. j. Hol-
land and j. w. Devlin, of the general ex-
| ecutive board, both testified rs to their
| meetings with Webb and Toucey, the ties.
| timony being reiteration of the reports
| printed in these dispatches at the time
the meetings took place.
| correspondence with Powderly.
The most important testimony given, rs
showing how Powderly felt about order
ing strike, with reference to the pros
pect of winning, was that of Master
| Workman Lee, who was recalled to the
| stand A letter from Powderly dated
| yaI1 alx,;e 20
| carefully" remembering that he was cop
| ing with one of the strongest corporations
in America, and to treat the company
courteously. Under date of April II Pow
| derby regretted to see that the road was
picking off so many knights, and advised
| Lee to do all possible to prevent a strike,
which, he said, was what the road wanted.
"The order" he wrote, could not now
support strike; besides, am informed
| Mr.. Depew is anxious to have the men
strike" On July 80 Lee wrote Powderly
that the road was crowding the knights
very hard, evidently trying to force strike.
Depew's Weak Spot Pointed Out.
Aug. 2 Powderly wrote regretting the
condition of affairs, saying that if there
was to be trouble, it would come in De-
pew's absence. He still advised avoidance
of a strike at all hazards, as the order
could not support it. "Act on the follow
ing suggestions" he wrote. Select from
your men such as are good and reliable,
and secure places for them in the west.
| Then have them ask for shorter hours
and higher pay. This the road will not
grant Then have them quit and take the
| new places secured for them. Do this Sc
cretly, and wait for Mr.. Depew's return.
He is a presidential candidate, and would
not care for a strike on his road"
Powderly Hopeless of Winning.
Again, under date of Aug. 6, Powderly
| says: at is madness for the men on the
| Central to strike. They cannot win." He
calls attention to the fact that 1892 will
be presidential year, and in 1893 the
| Worlds fair will be held and for that rea-
son the road wanted the trouble got out
| of the way at once. In conclusion he
says: ave cannot assist you. Workmen
| of this age will not stand assessments. If
| the strike is inevitable, let the men of the
New York Central enter it with their
eyes open,"
Mr.. Powderly was called, and related
his interview with Mr.. Webb, but said
nothing new. Pending the strike he said
he had no interview with any of the Off
Gals of the road