The morning call., 1890-08-25
THEY MAY WALK OUT
Prospects Of the Vanderbilt
Strike Extending,
Interest Centered In the Terra Haute Con-
YentiOn.
The Declarations Of Vice President Webb Con-
tTaSted With Those of ChaulCey
N. DepeW.
Special Dispatches to THE MORNING CALL

to-day. VIce-President webb is of the
opinion that the Terre Haute convention
will do little or nothing in support of the
action of the Knights of Labor. and that
the strike, if there is one, will quickly be
proved a failure. Powderly and his col
leagues-Hayes, Devln and Wright-left
town tonight for Albany, to attend
convention Of District Assembly 246 to-
morrow. President johnson of the assem-
bly,, in commenting upon the situation,
said: "Unless the concessions demanded
by the strikers from the railroad managers
are acceded to, we expect tomorrow that
general strike will be ordered. Fully 5000
men in the Vanderbilt system will walk
out and We know that these men-switch-
men, firemen and yardmen-cannot be re-
placed under any circumstances"
THE SUPREME COUNCIL.
TERRE HAUTE Qnd.), Aug. 24-Nothing
authoritative will be given out as to the de-
liberations of the Supreme Council until to-
morrow at the earliest. 1t is among the
probabilities that a decision Of the council
may not be reached for several days. To-
day saw no eonvening of the council proper.
This does not mean that agencies were not
at work. The council last night put into
the hands of Grand Secretary Debs of the
Brotherhood of Firemen, Vice-Grand Mas
ter Morrissey of the Brotherhood Of Train
men aud Vice Grand Master Downey of the
Switchmen's Mutual Aid Association the
deliberations of the council, and they will
prepare certain propositions to be presented
to the council which will define the action
of the supreme body. This committee has
been in session since o'clock last evening.
The members separate only to take what
may be strictly named as lunches.
After session of one hour the Supreme
Council adjourned until $50 tomorrow.
The report of the subcommittee has been
completed, but the council decided not to
enter upon its consideration tonight. 1t is
semi-offically announced that the result of
the meeting of the Supreme Council will
be made public by noon tomorrow.
sARGENT's VIEWS.
Sargent was at his office to-day overhaul
ing books and papers which not only bear
On the threatened general strike on the
Vanderbilt system, but he is compelled to
look over his work as regards the Brother
hood Locomotive Firemen. An Associated
Press correspondent called at Sargent's
house this afternoon, and Sargent was as
frank as usual. He had carefully read
Powderly's letter to Webb, sent out last
night. While Sargent would not express
any opinion as to the action the council
would take on the report of the committee,
yet he freely expressed himself about Pow
derly's missive. He said: " l admire Pow
derly's stand. Powderly puts Webb in the
position where he belongs, which. when the
public thoroughly understands, will con-
vince it that Webb is wrong. Webb's
position is directly opposite to that taken
by Depew, his superior officer. Depew.
always advocated the organization of labor"
DEPEw ON ORGANIZATION.
To sustain this statement Sargent gave TO
the Associated Press representative the
following extracts from an address de-
livered by Depew at a meeting of the Fire
mems Brotherhood held in Tammany Hall,
May 10, 1887. Said Depew at that time:
81 believe In organizations Just like yours for
protection, for charity, sobrleiy and industry. 1t
Is proper in these days that there should be
organization, for the simple reason that The
business of this world cannot be carried on IN
any other way; that the railroad people ought to
b. able to in;eiligenly discuss the questions OF
the day, and should tell the Government they
did not want 10 import labor"
RAILWAY LEGISLATION.
"These expressions OF Depew," said Sargent,
"show conclusivey that he was In favor al that
time Of organized labor. He believed In The
right OF workingmen TO go to the polls and ex
ercise the right OF franchise The Knights OF
Labor have taken an active part In the legisla.
tive affairs of the State of New York during the
past year MnG9 81 IL ms nas Osn
the New York Central, being one OF the largest
corporations that would naturally be affected by
such legislation. and many OF Its employees
going before the Assembly In behalf OF
bills presented, and the fact that some Of The men
discharged by the New York Central were par
ticipatiug In this effort TO bring about the
passage OF these labor bills before the New
York Legislature, shows plainly that the COM
pany Is antagonlZne the knights OF Labor IN its
present action; for had men been discharged for
drunkenness, breach oil discipline aud such
causes as are now claimed by Webb, lie would
not hesitate one moment 10 have au investiga-
tion. / am surprised that mn who have been
in the employ Of the New York Ceutral for ten
or twenty Yeas should now be dismissed
on account Of their character. Ii is a SAD COM
mentaiy on the management of the road.
DUTIES OF PRESIDENT AND EMPLoYE.
"In the course OF address delivered by
Depew on Sunday, May 20, 1889, shortly before
the Director sailed for Europe lie said to the
meeting Of the Brotherhood of Engin ers at New
Haven: There are a few things about the
lation OF thc President TO the employees of road
which would like TO say. We both draw our
salaries from The same treasury. The President
OF the company has his duty 10 the stockholders
OF the road, but 1t Is not, as many OF you sup
pose, his only duy. While lie must see to II tiat
proper economy Is maintained and The earning
power developed, he must see that The public al
all times gets the best possible service and that
the men 10 the employ of the company are
treated well. II is his Guty TO march out and
take by the throat and throttle any man who in
his brlef authority tTeads on the Toes OF some
one OF the men under him. TIE railroad goes on
forever. and The men in it's employ realize the
security OF their employment and 1t gives TO
them an independence Which IN their right
TIE COMPLAINT OF THE EMPLOYEES.
"Any one who read these utterances of Depew
understandiDgly cannot help but believe that
Depew, as President OF the New York Central
road, believed IN the recognition Of his employees
whenever they desired TO confer with him, and
II any OF his sub0rdlnates praciiced any injustice.
in his own words lie would take them by the
throat and throttle theln.' Tho employees who
were discharged by lhe Central were denied Tie
right TO give their side OF the story to the man
agement. Tney claim that they have b en mis-
treated by subordinate officers and demanded re-
dress. They were refused hearing and have
now combined for protection, just as advocated
by Depew. P0wderly, as tile mems counselor,
comes forward aud by honorable means tries to
bring about an amicable adjustment. He Is met
by the acting President OF the road aud informed
that the employees have no right In the premises.
lie also says he will discharge any man at any
time and no question need be asked. AT the
New Haven meeIing Depew went on record as
advocating the combining OF labor for its own
protection. He said:
PROGRESS OF CIVILIZATION.
"'Some time ago was working up some mat
ters regarding the progress Of civilization. l
learned that our laws came from Great Britain
where, prior TO 100 years ago, labor had no voice
10 her legislation. The statutes which l found
are enough 10 make the hair stand on the head
OF a bald man, and 10 read them gives you such
circulation OF blood that you have to put u piece
Of ice on your pulse. The law fixed the wages
and made Il crime for labor to meet and com.
bine for Its own protection. The Knights OF
Labor, as an organization, are combining to-day
TO protect the New York Central employees, Just
hart tha n fiafp res i'm.
vocaled, and am III sympathy with The boys.
While | have never been an advocate OF strikes
when there was any way open to avoid them,
YET cannot help but believe that the position of
The executive head OF The Knights OF Labor is
correct"
THE HANDLING OF CENTRAL FREIGHT.
ALBANY, Aug 24.-The Executive Board
of Assembly 2i6 held secret session to-
night. II was decided that if the Delaware