Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-23
MORE LITERATURE.


New YORK, August 22.-Siore literature
was added to the strike history this after
noon and evening.
State Commissioner Donovan. Of the
Board Of Mediation and Arbitration. sent a
letter to Vice-President Webb and copy
20 Powderly saying: 1T having come to
the knowledge Of the State Board Of
Mediation and Arbitration that another
strike is seriously threatened upon the
lines Of road Of your company, | am in
structed by the board to again commune
cate with You and invite "a Joint confer
ence between the officers of your company
and representatives. of your employees with
the view Of deyising some means. either
by arbitration or such other method rs
may be mutually agreed upon, whereby
the threatened strike may be averted and
an abrupt Interruption travel and trans
portation of freight prevented
Mr. Powderly in reply said "Our board
are willing 10 comply with your request
and hold themselves in readiness 10 re-
spOnd az a moments notice. We have
from the beginning been willing and
anxious 10 submit the matter TO your
board for adjustment
In his reply Mr. Webb SAYS: The
further strike referred 20 by you will or
VIII not take place. as the efforts of per-
sons who have left our service may OF may
not meet with success. | believe that such
efforts will fail The operating force of
this company is full, the passenger service
of the company is regularly performed,
and there is no obstruction 10 It's freight
service. except laWless interference and
the apprehension thereof. IL seems TO me
inappropriate and unnecessary to have a
conference as suggested by YOU"
STATEMENT PROM Mr.. WEBB.
New YoRK. August 22.-The following
statement was given out by Mr.. Webb for
publication:
No man has been discharged by this
company because he was a knight Of Labor
or member ofany other organization. The
company has discharged men irrespective
of their membership in the order of
Knights Of Labor for drunkenness. inca
pacity. breach Of duty, insubordination,
and for lack Of sufficient work TO employ
them, and IL will continue TO do so When
ever proper occasion arises.
The people of this State granted 10 this
company its franchises, made II obligatory
upon il to render certain service TO the
public. aud provided that all its duties, IN
Guiding the employment aud discharge OF
all classes of agents, should be performed
by certain officers and its officers do not
propose 10 surrender. abandon or transfer
tine OlHcudFHt OF lit9t hhtlfN ~ aAe tAt q
Of them to any one except their duly
appointed SUCCESSORS.
II would be moral and probably a
criminal neglect OF duty for me TO omit TO
discharge a switch-towerman for drunken
ness. when upon his sObriety and fidelity
10 duty depends the safety Of life and limb
of some OF the millions of passengers trans
ported annually by this company.
REASONS FOR DISCHARGES.
We could Temporarily supply Replace of
a man who absented himself from work. for
two DAYS without leave and without excuse,
hut what business. private or public, can
be carried on subject To dictatiOn from
workmen that there shall be performed
only this or that amount of work. What
employer can tolerate insubOrdingtiOn
based upon the belief that the offender
will be supported therein by a secret organi-
cation to which he belongs. and by the
agency Of which the employers business
can be- damaged or stoppedY
The foregoing gives, without setting forth
the name or place Of employment, the
causes which called fer the discharge Of
the fifty or sixty men referred 20 IN Mr.
Powderly's appeal. For these discharges
and 10 avert the threatened strike i have
been called upon by Mr.. Powderly and his
associates 10 consent 10 the mOnstrOus
absurdity Of satisfying by some kind Of arbl-
tratiOn or inycstigation persons other than
duly constituted authorities of the COM
pany, that these causes existed, a command
which a. longas | occupy the position with
which am intrusted / feel 1t my duty to
firmly decline.
lSignedl II. WALTER WEBB.
Third Vice President