New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-21

ayers Of tho company have no fight against any any
labor organization But at the same mc u, inau h
agement Of This company intends to Keep ms HsIa a
in the hands Of the proper officials pun !, ~ & ue
hands Of the labor organizations or & tiW I sn
would be far more injurious to te pnonC ,ad go a
anything that could do We arc SIM determined
10 carry this hight TO the end
Mr. Powdcrly and John Devlin, the Western
member of the General Executive Board OF the
Knights of Labor. held two important conferences
with officials Of the railroad company. One was
held in the forenoon and the other in the after
noon. The morning conference was between the
two labor leaders just named and the general
manager Mr.. Touccy, of the railroad, and IN the
afternoon it was between Mr.. Webb. the third
yicc-president and the two labor representatives
The afternoon conference was the important ore
Of the two, and it was after this conference
that Mr.. Powdcrly decided to send
out the appeal and that the members
Of the General Council of the Federation Of Kali
road EMPLOYEES determined TO hold meeting on
Saturday. AT this conference several questions
were nut to Mr.. Webb by Mr. Powderly and Mr..
Devlin. and last night the labor leaders gave out
what purportcd Ia be correct report OF The
questions and answers Some of them were cor
rect, but Mr. Webb denied that all Of them had
been put 10 him. According 10 Mr.. fowderiy'
this is the first question that was asked:
Would you have any objection, Mr.. Webb,
10 sitting down here with me in the presence Of
the men. permitting me 10 question them so that
| can come al a dccision?'
i'll NJ N.h ID ta6 nc
giving
"I can hardly do that. Mr.. Powdery do
not think that I ought 10 be asked TO do it
Mr.. Webb says that his answer 10 this qnes-
ton was a hatfootcd denial.
After this Mr. Deylin is quoted as asking
"Do understand YOU TO assume the position
that the public and your employees have no
rights that you propose 10 consult relative 10
this matter? DO you simply look upon 1t as II
the railroad system is absolutely in your hands,
and without any consideration being due 10 the
public and the employees
To this question, Mr.. Webb is reported as re-
! fusing 10 give an answer. But he says that no
such question was asked him, and if it had been he
/
The public has great deal of interest III
this matter, but the officials of the company are
the ones who are the best judges Of what the
roads management should be-
Mr. powderly is thcn said to have asked
"Supnosc Lee was left out of the question
oI,ooctbcr. would you permit an investigation OF
the causes Of the mems discharge p
Mr.. Toucey answered this question by say
ina that this had absolutely nothing to do with
the case. THE company will decide as TO whom
it will employ, when it will employ and how II
will employ" he added.
Mr. Webbs answer that the discharges OF
the men had been fully Investigated and that the
men were discharged for good and sufficient
cause.
While Mr.. Powdcrly gave out the interview as
being nothing more nor less than categorical list
Of questions and answers both Mr.. Toucey and
MFR. Webb said that there was running fire OF
questions and answers on both Sides and that no
| reoular order was followed. Mr. Webb told Mr..
powderly that there was absolutely truth in the
reports that the men had been driven from the
service Of the company because they were men-
hers of n labor organization. lie asked him If
no preferrcd 10 take the word Of half n dozen
men who had been discharged for good reasons
rather than that Of the GO,OOo employees Of the
company and all Of its officials.
When Mr. Powdcrly asked him TO give his rea-
sons for dismissng the men Mr. Webb told him
that 10 this had TO be done every time man were
discharged he could run the railroad much better
from Mr. Powdcrly's place than lie could as the
third vicc-presidcnt of the railroad company. Mr.
Powderly and Mr.. Devlin then Withdrew.
After they had gone Mr. Webb said
II a general strike Is called suppose that II Will b.
on the entire Vanderbilt system. but 1t Will affect th'
ycy York Central division very slightly. There ar'
tour branches Of the Federation of Railway Employees
| tho conductors tranmen, switchmen and frcmen. bu
ia tIe last Ten there has been practically a new
nrr,nizatOn Of the employees on this road II q gen
ssI strike were ordered at this Instant We would no
| lie i'm anywhere near so serious condition as w
, were ten days ago go - - -. .,,,u.,,
The organization Of the tranmen has been cntlrey
changed In that tiale. The places OF the striAof