Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-08-21
POwderly Endeavors to Arrange a
Meeting With Vice President
Webb, But Fails.
The Grand Master Workman Wishe.
the Railroad Company to Show
Cause for Action.
The Entire Correspondence Between
the Two Men Made Public
Webb is Stubborn.

between Vice President Webb, of the New
York Central, and Grand Master Powderly
is made public tonight Aug. 16. Mr..
Powderly addressed a letter to Mr.. Webb
saying that he had been investigating the
cause of the Central strike and asking for
an interview on Monday, to discuss the
question of abitrating the differences
which existed between the New York
Central and its knights of labor employees.
Mr.. Webb, in reply, granted an interview,
but at the same time wished that the mat
ter be presented in writing Mr.. Powder
ly replied the next day, saying he had
been called away from the city and that he
was obliged to commit to paper what he
would rather discuss in person. He SAYS:
! IF am correctly informed old and faith
full employees of the New York Central
have been summarily dismissed froll the
| service of the company because they were
active members of the knights of labor.
| 1t is represented to me that up to
the time of their discharge they
were faithful to the interests of the COM
pany and not one mark of discredit stands
against the industrial record of any of
these who were discharged prior to August
/ 8, 1890 That in brief, is the statement
of the men. The frequency of dismissas
had left but little room for doubt in the
minds of the men that they were all in
danger of discharge at moments notice,
and hence the strike. The whole question
hinges upon the discharge of the knights
OF Labor because they are such.
! If 1T can be shown that these men
We're working injury to their employers
right minded men will say they were treat
co as they deserved. If they were dis
charged for cause the railroad company
has everything to gain and nothing to
lose from an investigation. If they de-
served dismissal from the service of the
company none of us will ask for their re-
lnstatement. IT, however, they were dis
placed because of their connection with
the knights of Labor, it should be known,
for If 1T Is 10 be the policy of
the New York Central that no knights of
labor are to be employed, then the
statement to that effect will clear up all
90 BITS and there can be no future mis-
Il. erstanding, There will be nothing
then to arbltrate so long as you hold to
] that opioion
1.-The interests of the pnblic, the inter
ests OF the owners OF the company you
represent and the right of the men to
lpi ShhlNV ipi otil piDttttltN are all IN
volved IN this contest. The policy of the
order of knights of labor is to work peace.
fully in the line OF educational and legis-
lative reform it is not a policy OF the ms
ttutlon, no matter what its enemies may
say, to enter hastily upon strikes.
The present strike MY he pointed to in
refutation OF that last assertion, but until
an investigation into the cause or
nl ha1 .
"a disputed question, while hundreds Of
cases that have been peacefully and quietly
adjusted through the intervention of thr
knights of Labor, although not heradeJ
broadcast as they would have been had
they ended in strikes, prove that our aim
Is to avoid strikes rather than precipitate
them. The interests of the public re-
qulre tbat the freight and passen-
ger trade should work smoothly
The interests of the company require exact
y the same time and in addition that such
traffic prove renumerative. The interests
of the working people are the same as
Others, but their right TO organize and
select the organization they wish to belong
to- is fully as dear to them as their pc cuni-
AIRY interests can possibly be.
Here is an organizations the aim of
which is to work for educational and legis
latlve advantages, called upon to
defend lists of members, who, up to the
time of their dismissal, had worked only
in educational and Legislative direction.
Surely we have a right to question why
they were discharged Each man, no
matter how humble he may be, has as
much part in the public as any other
man. True the New Yoak Central is trib-
utary to the comfort and well-being Of
the community, but the community
gives to the corporation in question
its strength and wealth and of that com
munity, at least thirty are working peo-
pie and belonged to that element of society
that dare not organize for their own well
fare. Some one had said since this strike
began: money is not everything in
this world" He was railroad
director, believe. He spoke
truly, for liberty is far
dearer to the laborer and that is what he
struggles for that is what is denied him
when he is discharged for being knight
Of labor. If liberty was once valued 50
highly that men offered up life and treas
ure and sacred honor to gain it,
surely their children should not be
Dldlutu lOT su1kliG LOT IL.
Whether they struck wisely in this
: case is yet to be determined Who is TO
determine? You may feel that you are
right, the men may feel they are right,
both are partisans, and If an impartial
: verdict is to be reached, smpartial men
must arrive at it by hearing both sides
} and then judgment. Men are willing to
submit a case to such arbitration
, and will not be unreasonable
} Will you consent to do the same? If you
will agree to submit this matter to arbitra-
ton we can meet and arrange details and
/ agree as to how parties may be selected.
'The newspapers report that you are re-
fusing to admit that arbitration can enter
into settlement of the trouble, but your
letter leads me to believe you are misquot-
ed, and shall hope for a speedy termina-
ton of the strike through arbitra-
ton.
To this com munication from Powderly,
Vice President Webb replies as follows
Replying | have to say that none Of the
persons discharged from this company
prior TO August. 1888, and referred to in
your communication were discharged be-