Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-08-19
SHORT AND SHARP.
Is Webb's Reply to a Letter
from Powderly.
IT AMOUNTS TO A BOLD DEFIANCE.


aGcneral Strike Observation-Disclosures
Flstly Declined, but War on the
knights of Labor observation-disclosures
cant Meeting of Railway Brotherhood
Oficials-Portentous Cipher Telegram
Sent to Boston-The Freight blockade
at Buffalo Very Complete.
NEW York, Aug. 19-The proposed
interview between Vice President Webb,
of the New York Central, and General
Master Workman Powderly did not take
place yesterday. Instead the h. of L. ex-
ecutive board held meeting and formu-
lated communication to Webb, which
was delivered to him by committee from
the executive board. consisting of J. J.
Holland and A ". Wright, with request
that he read it carefully and let the board
know what he thought of it as sooE as pos
sible. Webb promised TO have his reply
ready by p m. and the committee took
leave of him. The h of L. board meet
ing took place Sunday, and Powderly left
for Buffalo Sunday night
The Preliminary Correspondence.
It was mooted question yesterday
whether the correspondence would be
made public before to-day, but that was
settled last night when Webb gave in out
for publication. In the statement issued
Webb says that on Saturday last Pow
derby wrote HIM stating that he expected
by Monday TO have completed his in.
quiry into the causes of the strike, and
he would be glad if an interview could be
arranged for Monday morning between
10 and IL O'Clock. He desired to discuss
the question of arbitration of the differ.
ences between the company and it.
knight employees, who were discharged
prior to Aug $ Webb replied. agreeing
20 the interview, but suggesting that as
the reports of interviews already had be
tween himself and Holland, Hayes and
Donovan on the same subject had beer
greatly misrepresented, il would be for
the interest of all concerned if the matter
which POwderly wished to present were
put in writing
General Strike Coming.
The Sun this morning says that the re-
suit of the deliberations at Buffalo has
not been publicly announced, "but two
members of the conference are authority
for the statement that general strike
will be ordered to-day on all the roads in
which the Vanderbilts own controlling
interest. These lines are the New York
Central, the West Shore, the Lake Shore,
ehe Michigan Central, the Canada South
ern, and the Chicago and Northwestern.
The Central VIII Fight.
Vice President Webb said 10 a reporter
last night after giving out the letters: II
don't know that | can add much TO what
! have written. We are in this fight to
stay We will not arbitrate We will
fight. Some of our men have been dis
charged for cause, and we will neither
take them back nor submit To arbitration
our reasons for discharging them They
were not discharged because they were
knights. That we have stated again and
again. We feel that we have the support
OF all right-minded men in our course"
Remarks by MIR. Wright
Wright and Holland, of the executive
| board, were unaware of the nature OF
Webb's replytO Powderly's letter until told
late last evening by the reporters. They
were unwilling TO discuss it, and said that
nothing could be done in the matter until
POwderly returned Wright said: 81 ex
pect the chief and the supreme council oil
the federation at 11:30 TO morrow morn
ing. As soon as they arrive they will GO
into session and will probably confer with
the general executive board of the knights
l have no doubt that they viii take prompt
action
Could Tie 1t Up for Year
When asked if there was any POSSIBLE
ity of the supreme council ordering a gen
eral strike, he said: Il cannot say what
will be done. Should they take that
action thin that we could keep the road
tied up for a year or So"