The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-08-26
TIE FINAL DECISION
Of the United Order of Railway
Employees by the
SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE ORDER
Expresses Sympathy for the Striking Knights
but Can Give Them no Material Aid
Webb is Severely Condemned.

clal statement of the council given to the
Associated Press is as follows
HEADQUARTERS OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL
OF THE UNITED ORDER OF
RAILWAY EMPLOYEES.
To all Laboring Organizations:
MEN AND BRoTHERs.-O the night of
August7 strike began on the New York
Central 81 Hudson River railroad, involv-
ing about eighs hundred men in the employ
OF the same road, who were members of the
great labor organization known as the
knights of Labor. The reasons set forth
by Powdelly, chief executive Of the order,
may be summarized as follows:
The premptory discharge of between
fifty and sixty men, employees of the road
and members of the Knights of Labor
without giving them any reason whatever
Tor their discharge. Prior to the strike
the men through representatives of the
order to have their grievances adjusted,
but their appeals being disregarded strike
was inaugurated.
AT this juncture Powdely general mas
ter workmen OF the Knights of Labor,
entered upon the task of adjusting the
difficulty, and making such arrangements
as would result In an honorable peace be-
tween the employees and the officials of
the road, but his efforts were unavailing
Powderly, comprehending the purposes of
h. Walter Webb, third vice president of
the company, TO make war uoon the
knights of Labor and ultimately, iuvoled
sought upon all labor organizations represen-
ted on his road, sought conference
with the supreme council of the
United Order OF Railway Employees. The
request of Powderly was granted to the
extent OF four members of the council. The
chief executives of the federated orders
met him in the city of Buffalo, viz: f. p.
Sargent, grand master of the Brotherhood
OF Locomotive t'iremen and president of
the supreme council; George w. Howard,
grand chief of the Brotherhood of Railway
Conductors and vice president of the su-
preme council; S. f. Wilkinson grand
master of the brotherhood of Railway Con
ductors and vice president ofithe supreme
council; S. E.. Wilkinson, grand master of
the Brotherhood of Trainmen, and Frank
Sweeney, grand master of the Switchmens
Mutual Aid association.
AT a conference with Powderly at
Buffalo the members of the supreme
council became satisfied that the officials
of the road, by every consideration of
fair and honorable treatment by the
labor organizations, should meet Pow
derby and adopt some just plan for the
adjustment of the grievance of the striking
reached, the members of the supreme
council in response to the request OF
Pow 1erly, extended their journey to New
York and offered such aid as was in their
power to bring about settlement be
tween Vice President. Webb, the official
having authority on all matters pertaining
to the strike, and Powderly, having
authority to negotiate such arrangements
for the knights as might end the dis pute
n hau
Powderly sought to have the men dis
charged heard in their own defense in the
presence of Webb and himself This fair
and honorable proposition was refused
Powderly proposed to arbitrate, which was
also refuted, as were other propositions
made by POwderly, all having for their OBJ
iect an honorable settlement of the existing
trouble, all of which were refused on the
part of Webb.
''The members of the supreme council.
while in Buffalo and New York, mad ample
opportunity to thoroughly inform them
serves upon all matters concerning the
strike. They saw and heard both
sides. They appreciated the gray
| ity of the situation, and com
| pretending the impending consequence
| to the labor organizations deemed it advis
able to convene the supreme council for de-
| liberation, and such conclusions as the
order of Sargent, president of the supreme
council, that body convened in Terre Haute
last Saturday and remained in session until
noon to- day. In making their report to the
council, the members who went to New
| York to confer with Powderly found all
their statements fully corroborated by the
| facts. In an interview with Webb
! he refused to entertain any proposition
| looking to a settlement of the difficulty.
q yUn n OF 70 nt,tr
make any explanation or concession what
ever with regard to the discharged en-
| pioyees He claimed the right to discharge
employees at will without making eXplhna-
ton. or giving to the victims of his power
any reasons ior his despotc action. He
would manage his road TO suit himself.
without reference to the rights claimed by
| its employees, or any rights claimed by
Elabor organizations to interfere in the
matter to protect their members.
s.The council having heard the statements
of its members who had visited New York
for the purpose OF ascertaining the true
condition of affairs, eXhaustively discussed
every important proposition and arrived
at the following conclusion.
! .'1-That the position of the Knights OF
Labor as set forth by Powderly, general
master-workman and general executive OF
the knights of Labor, meets with our nm.
qualified approval.
! 2-The course pursued by Webb toward
Powderly and the Knights of Labor, not
withstanding his declaration to the con.
trary, evinces purpose to disrupt and de
stroy the labor organizations on the New
| YORK Central q Hudson River railroad as
was done by Austin Corbin on the Phila-
delphia & Reading.
3-The policy OF Webb is despotic to an
extent that outrages every principle OF
| on,,ipo n
adopted, would, II successful, reduce Amer
lean labor to degraded condition OF
affairs.
| '4-Webb, by the employment Of
| Pinkerton's thieves, thugs and murderers
| vile wretches from the slums and brothels
Of New York and other cities, to kill work
iingmen because they dared to protest
| against his rules and strike for their rights
is a crime OF such enormity as will asso
ciate the name of Webb forever with those
who, dressed III a little brief authority
have used their money to degrade theil
| fellowmen.
'.5-That the efforts now being put fortf
/ by Webb to destroy the Knights of Labor
would, were circumstances changed il
like manner, be made TO destroy the organi
cations of the engineers tiremen, con
ductors, trainmen and switchmen, and i
successful it is only question of time
when similar effort would be made to sea
the fate Of otner labor organizations.
.6-Webb, by the course he has pursued
toward the knights of Labor and represen
tatives of labor organizations, has shown
disregard of those principles of the citizens
sovereignty desired by all Americans wor
thy of the name, and considering only hi
money power and the corporate power O
the company he represents. His acts
which speak louder than words, say, in thu
/ anguaga of w. H. Vanderbilt, once th
autocraJ of the New York Central, 9TH
4 public be d.
s"7-Webb supports this arrogant attitud
toward working men and labor organize