River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-08-28
THEY WON'T STRIKE.


the New York Central CompRny-The
Position of the Knights. However, Is
Endorsed. and yiee-President Webb
Roundy Scored - Important Meetings
at Albany, n. n.
1ERRE HAUTE. Ind, Aug. 26.-The
supreme council of the Federation of
Railway Employees has decided that no
strike will be ordered by the federation
on the New York Central system be-
cause, under the rules of the federation,
no strike can be declared except
for grievance against the road by
one of the orders comprising the fedora
ton and the Knights of Labor order is
not member of the federation. On the
subject of financial assistance to the
striking Knights no final action has
been taken. Another meeting will be
had on that question.
The statement given to the press ex-
plains the grounds upon which the de-
cision is based, and warmly indorses
the action of Mr.. Powderly in the pres
emit contest Vice-President Webb
comes in for unsparing condemna-
tion. 1t is believed that the mem
bers of the supreme council in
dividually favored a strike, but that
the stringent laws of the federation
precluded them from ordering it. This
action leaves the Knights of Labor 10
fight the battle single-handed, so far as
aggressive action is concerned.
The decision was made public Mon
day night. Late in the afternoon,
however, the nature of it was indicated
by the following dispatch to Grand
Master Powderly:
ITO Il. V. PowDERIY: The supreme council
adjourned this afternoon after carefully con
sidering the strike in all its details. You will
notice the result of our deliberations in
to-nights dispatches which it is hoped
will meet with your approval. The com
mittee was unanimous in indorsing your
proposition and the proposition of the grand
executive board, and most earnestly hope that
the right of which you are the champion in the
great conflict on the New York Central may
finally and powerfully prevail.
"E p. SARGENT. President"
The decision of the council is stated
in a manifesto addressed ITO all labor
organizations, men and brothers" A
synopsis follows:
II recites the facts OF the strike and the eff
Forts of Powderly and the officers Of the fedora
ton to have II arbitrated; the rejection by the
New York Central officials of all Overtures to
that end and the appeal Of Mr.. Powderly TO the
federation to call their men out in order TO
force the Central TO come to terms
The members of the supreme council while
In Buffalo and the city of New York had ample
opportunities to thoroughly inform themselves
upon all matters concerning the strike. They
saw and heard both sides. They appreciated
the gravity OF the situation, and. comprehend
ing the impending consequences TO labor or
CARNATIONS, deemed it advisable TO con- me
the supreme council for elaboration and such
conclusions as facts should warrant.
The manifesto then proceeds:
In making their report TO the council the
members who went 10 New York to confer with
Mr. Powderly found all the statements made
by him fully eorroborated by the facts. In an
interview with Mr. Webb he refused 10 enter
tain any proposition looking TO a settlement
u the difficulty He would not arbitrate
any question nor make any explanation or con
cesson whatever with regard to the discharged
employees He claimed the right TO discharge
employees at will without making explanation or
giving to the victims of his power any reasons
for his despotic action. He would manage his
road to suit himself without reference to any
rights claimed by its employees or any rights
claimed by labor organizations 20 interfere in
the matter TO protect their members.
"The council having heard the statement of
It's members who had visited New York for the
purpose of ascertaining the true condition of
affairs, extensively discussed every important
proposition and arrived at conclusions as fol
ows:
Il. That the position Of the knights OF Labor
rs set forth by T. V. Powderly, General Master
Workman and the general executive board of
he knights Of Labor meets with our unquali-
led approval
20 That the course pursued by II. Walter
Webb toward Mr.. Powderly and the knights OF
Labor Notwithstanding his declaration to the
contrary evinces a purpose to disrupt and de-
gtroy labor organizations on the New York
Central & Hudson River railroad, as was done
~ Austin Corbin on the Philadelphia g.
heading.
% That the policy of H. Walter Webb is
spotc to an extent that outrages every prin-
Die of American citizenship, and il generally
adopted would, if successful, reduce American
work. s-men to a degraded condition.
"a That H. Walter Webb, by the employ
nent OF Pinkerton thieves, thugs and muir
ierers, vile wretches from the sluns and broth
els OF New York and other cities, to kill work
ing men because they dared 10 protest against
his rule ana strike for their rights, has partici
pated in a crime of such enormity as will asso-
ciate the name of II. Walter Webb forever with
those who dressed in a little brief authority,
have used their money 20 secure power to de-
grade their fellOw-men
IS. That the resorts now being put forth by
III.
Labor would, were circumstances changed, in
like manner be made 10 destroy the organ
izations of engineers, firemen, conductors,
trainmen and switchmen, and If successful II is
only question of time when similar effort
will be made TO seal the fate Of other labor or
CARNATIONS
q. That II. Walter WEBB, by the course he
has pursued toward the knights OF Labor and
the representatives Of the labor organizations,
has shown total disregard of those principles
Of citizen sovereignty desired by every Amer
can worthy OF the name; and, considering only
his money power and the corporate power of
the company he represents, his acts, which
speak louder than words, say, in the language
OF w. II. Vanderbilt once the autocrat OF the
New York Central: The public be damned
~ H. Walter Webb seeks to support his AFRO
giant attitude toward working-men and labor
organizations by assuming that the New York
Central & Hudson River railroad is private
property and that his acts in the treatment OF
his employees is in no sense matter of public
concern; that he can with IMMUNITY dis
charge and remand them to idle
ness and poverty and render them
homeless wanderers without giving any
reason or explanation whatever for his
conduct; dsregarding the fact that the
corporation for which he plays autocrat is a
thing created by laws in the making OF which
the men he seeks to degrade have voice,
which, unified will bring his corporation TO the
bar of Justice where his millions and the other
millions he represents will cease to be potential
in deciding questions Of this kind.
"In view Of the foregoing facts the supreme
council puts upon record its unanimous and
unqualified approval Of the strike on the New
York Central for the cause set forth by t. V.
Powderly, as also the efforts made by
Mr.. Powderly to bring the strike TO an
honorable termination. In this general
expression of approval of the action of the
knights of Labor the course of Nice-Presl-
dent Webb is unequivocally condemned. The
power of the supreme council in the matter
of the strike has been exerted to aid the
knights of Labor through their representa-
tives, 10 secure the recognition OF their order
by the officials OF rich and powerful cor
poration. In this the council met with fail
ure owing TO the autocratic attitude of H.
Walter Webb II now becomes necessary for
the supreme council to say that, owing to the
fact that the order of the knights of Labor Is
not a member of the Federation of Railway EN-
ployes, the laws of the council do not permit its
doing more than ii has done to aid the knights
of Labor, and its inability to participate In the
strike is known and appreciated by Mr. Pow.
Derby"
Then follows a statement OF the circum-
stances under which strikes may be declared
and how grievances are managed in the feder-
otion, another Endorsement of the Knights in
their present struggle with the Central road,
and an approval of the action Of Messrs. Sar-
gent, Howard Wilkinson and Sweeney of the
supreme council in responding TO Mr., Powder
Tvs reouast 10 eonfer with him and the eXecu-