Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-19
Passenger Trains Running on Time-No
Freight Trains Moving.

BUFFALO, August 18.h-The strike re-
mains unchanged. The switchmen are
still firm, not freight train moving. The
passenger trains are running on time and
no disturbance is anticipated.
An important conference is in session
here. Those taking part in it are Powderly,
Grand Master Knights of Labor; F. P.
Sargent. Grand Master Brotherhood of Lo-
connective Firemen and President of the
Supreme Council of Railroad Employees
G. w. Howard, Grand Master of the
Brotherhood of Railroad Conductors s.
e. Wilkinson, Grand Master of the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen, and Frank
Sweeney, Grand Master of the Switchmen's
Mutual Aid Association. Sargent says the
assemblage is the result of telegraphic
request from Powderly for meeting. The
precise object Of the gathering is not yet
known.
After the conference ended the members
or il declined to talk. except to say they
were going to New York. Rumor has it
they will consult with Webb.
At NEW YORK.
New YoRK, August 18th.-The Executive
Committee of the Knights of Labor, headed
by Powderly. presented the result Of their
oouside; a ion of the strike or the New York
Central to Vice President Webb this morn
ing. It was in the shape of formal COM
munication, which Webb said he would
read carefully and return an answer this
afternoon. There is no material change in
Che condition of affairs.
Webb changed his mind in view. of Pow
derly's conference in Buffalo and will not
reply to the demands of the Knights OF
Labor Board till after he hears from Pow
derby. 1t is surmised compromise is in
progress
Lee, representing the knights of Labor
of this city, sent the following mys-
terious cipher dispatch to the New England
Protective Railwsy Union at Boston to-
Gay Whatsoever whatever, or more, be
IN readiness" 1t is understood this is the
prelude to a general strike, and it may
come at any hour.
PowDERLYs LETTER To WEBB.
New YoEK, August 1Sth.-The CORE
spondence between Vice President Webb
of the New York Central and Grand Mas
ter Workman Powderly was made public
to night.
On August 10th Powderly addressed a
letter to Webb saying that he had been in
vestigating the cause of the Central strike,
and asking for an interview on Monday to
discuss the question of arbitrating the diff
ference which existed between the New
York Central and its Knight of Labor en-
ployes. Webb. in reply. granted the in
terview, bat at the same time wished the
matter to be presented to him in writing
Powderly replied next day saying that be
had been called from the city, and that he
was obliged TO commit to paper what he
would rather discuss in person.
He says: IF l am DIRECTLY informed,
old and faithful employees of the Central
have been summsrily dismissed from the
service OF the company because they were
active NJ embers OF the Knights of Labor.
II is represented to be that up 10 the time
of their discharge they we're faithful to the
Interests OF the company, and not one word
OF discredit stands against the industrial
record of any of those who were discharged
prior to August s. 1890. That in brief is
the statement of the men The frequency
of the dismissals left but little room Tor
doubt in the miads of the men that they
were all in danger of discharge at mo-
msnt's notice, and hence the strike. The
whole question hinges upon the discharge
OF the Knights of Labor. because they are
such. If it can be shown that these
men are working an injury to their
employers, right-minded men will say they
were treated as they deserved. If they
were discharged for cause, the railroad
ing to lose from an investigation. If they
deserved dismissal from the service OF the
company, none of us will ask for their re-
in3'atemeDt. II. however, they were DIS
placed because of their connection with
the knights Of Labor. it should be known.
For if thus is to be the policy of the New
York Central, that no Knights of Labor
are to be employed, then a statement to
that effect will clear up all doubts, and
there can be no future misunderstanding.
There will be nothing then to arbitrate, so
long as you hold to that opinion.
'rhe interests of the public, the interests
of the owners you represent, and the right
of the Knight Of Labor men to organize for
self-protection are all involved in this con-
test The policy of the Order of the
Knights of Labor is to work peacefully in
line of educational and legislative reform.
1t is not the policy of the institution, no
matter what its enemies may say. to enter
hastily upon a strike. The present strike
may be pointed to in refutation of that last
assertion; but until the investigation into
the cause or causes is had that much will
remain a disputed question. There are
hundreds of cases that have been peace
fully aud quietly adjusted through the
intervention of the Knights of Labor, al
though not heralded broadcast, as they
would have been lad they aided in strikes.
''0ur aim is to avoid strikes rather than
to precipiiate them. The interests of the
public REQUIRE that freight and passenger
trafac should work smoothly. The inter-
ssts of the company require exsctly the
same thing. In addition that such traffic
prove remunerstive, the interests OF work
inc people are the same as the others.
Aboui their right to organize and select the
organization they wish to belong 10 is fully
as lear to them as their pecuniary interests
cal possibly be.
Here is an organization. the aim Of
which is to work for an educational and
legislative advantage, called UPON to defend
itc members, who, up to the time OF their
dismissal, had worked only on educational
AMI legislative direction. Surely we have
q right to question why they were dis
charged. Each man, no matter how hum
bic, is as much part OF the public as any
other man. True, the New York Central
is tributary to the comfort aud well-being of
the community. but the community gives to
the corporation in question its strength and
wealth, and of that community at least 80
per cent. are working people and belong to
that same element of society that dare not
organize for their own welfare. Some one
had said since this strike began, Money is
no, everything in this world He was a
railroad director. | believe he spoke true
". Tor liberty is far dearer to the laborer,
and that is what be struggles for; that
IS what is denied him when he
i discharged for being Knight OF
LABOR. II liberty was once valued so
highlv that men offered up life and treasure
and sacred honor to gain it, surely their
children would no. be blamed for striking
for il. Whether they struck wisely in this
case is Yet to be determined. Who is 10
determine? You may feel tina you are
right and the men may feel that they are
risht Both are partisals and If an Impair
ti,t verdict Is TO be reached, impartial men
must arrive at i. by hearing both sides and
then judging.
TIE men are willing TO submit the case
fe sucn arbitration, aud will not be unrea
scaabe. VIII you consent to do the same
] Vou will agree to submit this matter &c
arbitration we can meet and arrange the
d. ails and agree as to how the parties may
be selected The newspapers report that
yo1 are refusing to admit that arbitration
ca enter into settlement of the trouble
bus your letter leads me to believe that yor
W re misauoted, and / still hope for a
spsedy termination of The strike through
arbitration"
IT MAY END IN A GENERAL STRIKE.
BUFFALO. August lsth-Trainmaster Ma
louey was working hard at the Esst Buffalo
wards all day to raise the freight blockade