New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-26
NO FEDERATION STRIKE.
THE SUPREME COUNCIL AT TERRE HAUIE
MERELY SYMPATHETIC.
IT PRAISES TIE NEw.YORK CENTRAL STRIKE AS
FIGHT FOR PRINCIPLE BUT GIVES NO
PRACTICAL. AID 49, THE OFFICIAL
STATEMENT - HARD WORDS
AGAINST VICE-PRESI-
DENT WEBB.

AGAINST VICE.PRESI.
DENT WEBB.
Terrc Hautc, Ind, Aug. 25.-At 6 o'clock To-
night the following message was sent by the Coun-
| Gil of the Federation of Railway Employees to l. v
| Powderly: The Supreme Council adjourned
| this afternoon, after carefully considering the
strike in all its details You will note the re-
port of our deliberations in to-nights dispatches
! which, it is hoped, will meet with your ap-
proval. The council was unanimous IN indors-
| ing your position and the position of the Grand
! Executive Board, and most earnestly hopes that
| the right which you championing In the
great conflict on the NewYOrk Central may
finally and powerfully prevail
Here is the official statement of the Council
1t was given to the Associated Press representa-
| tive moment ago:
| To all laboring organzations Men and I}rothers
ON the night Of August strike began on the New
| York Central and Hudson River Railway, involving
| about 5000 men in the employ OF the SAID road,
who were members Of great labor organization known
as the Knights of Labor The reasons set forth by
| be summarized follows:
The beremptory discharge of between fifty and sixty
men, en- ployes of the road and members OF the
! Knights OF Labor, because they were Knights or
Labor. without giving them any reason whatever for
Prior to the strike the men involved sought,
through the representatives OF the order TO have ther
grievances adjusted but their appeals being discarded
u strike was inaugurated.
- At this iunctuIc T; V. Powdcrly, General Master
Workman OF the knights of Labor, entered upon the
task of adjusting the difficulty, and making such ar
angementS as would result in an honorable peace be;
| his efforts unayalllng.
walter M WEBB Third Of the co@pany to
make urOn the knights cf Labor. and ultimately
SGlght conference with the supreme Council OF the
United Order OF Railway Empoyes. -, - .,o
extent that four members of the council, the chief
executives Of the federated orders met him in the ne
the brotherhood of Locomotive Firemcn and president
Of the supreme Gonncll George w. Ilo%aG Grand
vice president OF the supreme Council ;. f. WILKINSON,
Grand Master Of the brotherhood of Railway Tranmcn
and Frank Swceny. Grand Master OF the swtchmen's
Mutual Aid Association.
RESULT OF THE TALK WITH MIR. WEBB.
| At the conference with Mr. Powdcrv at Buffalo
the members Of the supreme Council became satisfied
the officials Of the road by every consideration OF
fair and honorable treatment Of labor organizations,
should Ir. PoWdery and adopt some Just plan Tor
the adjustment Of The grievance Of the striking en-
plove, This conclusion having been reached, the
members Of the supreme Council, in response 10 the
request Of Mr. Powderly, extended their journey 10
the city Of NcwYork, to afford such aid as was In
H. walter Webb third vice president Of the company.
official having full authority on matters pertaining
10 the strike, aud 4. V. POwderly General Master
Workman of the Knights pf Labor. having the anth9r %
ity TO negotiate such arrangements aS might cnd tiD
dispute An interview having been secured, Mr
PowdcrIy sought have the men discharged heard ~
their own defence, in the presence Of MI Webb ana
fused. Mr.. Powdcrly proposed arbItrauoh' wmch
Thcrc were other propositions made by Mr.. Pow
drry having for their object the honorable settlement
Of the existing trouble, all of which were refused on
'' TnS ps'' member, Of the supreme Council while in
| UuIralo and the city OF New York had ample op,
portuniteS thoroughly to inform themselves upon al,
| matters concerning the strike They saw ana nearu @
both sides. They appreciated the gravity o ,ne sua
tion and compromising impehu.ns % n,ono
labor organizations. deemed 1t advisable 10 convene
the supreme Couc for delDera'i2n ana Suc - con the
illusions facts should warrant IN response % 10 ,c
order o +. =. sargent. president OF the supreme
Iautc Ind. saturday The I'D day OF August, dos0
and remained I'm session until noon on Monday te -ot
In making their report to the council. the Nom
her, who went TO NewtYorl 10 confer with Mr.
Powdcrly found all the statements made ty MN MN I1,H NY
corroboratcd by me I,, III ,a @ nropositIon looking
Me6O W d fG Of 70 the S GcaI W lie would not arS
cSion % Whatever with regard to the discharged
Moves lie claimed tho right 80 discharge employees
at will without making explanation or gyhe 20 OH. tiic
victims of hi, power any reasons ior III, utHpoay p,,
action. lie would manage his road TO sun himSen I
without rference 70 any right csIned ny ,o. aoc.
| their members.
DIsApPRovING TIE ACTIONS OF MR.. WEBB
The co,ncl having heard the statements OF It's
members, who bad visited New York for tho purpose
of a,ccrtainlng the true condition of affairs, eX-
haustivcly discussed important proposition ana
| arrived at conclusions as follows:
|
set forth by r. V rowdcrly general master workman.
ard the General Executive Board of the Knights OF
| Labor meets with our unqualified approval
| second That the pursued by ii. Walter
Webb toward Mr. powderly and the Knights OF Labor.
| Notwithstanding his declarations 10 the contrary.
cvinccs purpose disrupt and destroy labor organz
tions on the New York Central and Hudson River. as
was done by Austin Corbin on the Philadelphia and
rhird That the policy OF H. Walter Webb IS dcspotc
| ttVaata cory
citizenship and Il generally adopted, would, II sue
ces,ful reduce American wOrllingmen to II degraded
FOURTH That H. Walter Wcbb'S action in the employ
mcnt Of Pnkeron thieves, Thugs ana murucicrs we
and other cities. TO XII worinsmen because they dared
to protest against his rule and 10 strike for Their
rights, l., a crime OF such cnOrmity aS VIII associate
tlc name of Ii. Waiter Webb forever with those VINO
dressed in little brief authority, have used then
money 10 secure power to degrade their fellow men.
Fifth. That the efforts now being put frth by H.
Walter Webb 10 destiOy the knights oil Labor would
were circumstances changed In like manner he macs
10 destroy the organizations Of engineers, nreheh.
cond .ctors ranmcn and switchmcn, and II successful
hc radc 10 seal the fate Of other labor organizations
sixth That II. Walter Webb, by the course that he
has pursued toward the knights Of Labor and the rep
rcentativcs Of labor organizations, has shown toai
disregard Of those principles OF seH & Io.eTegm and nS
considering only his money power and the corporate
power Of the company he; Represents, his acts which
,.peak louder than words. say. In the language Of
| central The public be damned
seventh H. Walter Webb seeks TO support his AFRO
CANT attitude toward wordngmen and labor organiza,
| tions by assuming that the New York central ana
hudson River Railroad is prva" property. ana tllt III,
acts in the treatment of his employees are IN no sens
n matter of public concern that he can with impunty
discharge men and remand them TO idleness and pov-
| crty and render them homeless wanderers with
ont giving any reason or explanation what
ever for his conduct. disrcgardlng the fact
MAJ the corporation for which he plays tho
antocrat is a thing created by laws. in the making OF
/ which the men he seeks to degrade have a voice.
which once unified will bring his corporation 70 the
bar OF justice. where his millions and the other
millions he represents will TO be potential In
deciding questions Of thIs Kind'
PRONOUNCED SYMPATHY WITH THE STRIKERS
In view Of the foregoing facts, the Supreme Council
puts upon record its unanimous and unqualified APP
proval OF the strike on the Newiorh CHhIrai ana
| Hudson River Railway for the cansc set forth by
~ Y povdcry General Master Workman. as also the
efforts made by Mr.. Powderly to bring the strike u
AN honorable termination. In this general expression
o ,nproval OF the action of The knights of Labor the
course Of Vice President Webb is as unequivocaliy
condemned. a., s.,o ,,orrcy &, tbe ,,a,tor .,
o ,tc has been exertcd to aid the Knights OF Labor