The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-23
He Still Declines to Enter Into
Arbitration.
Causes Assigned fog The Discharge Of New
York Central Employees.
POWderly Willing to Enter Into NesOtia-
tiOlS for AYeftiDs Another Strike.
SarSent'S Opinion.


places with confidence of reinstatement
upon their own terms, are considering the
situation tonight in their local assemblies,
where they are joined in council by the
members of the Executive Board. Un-
doubtedly, 1t is true that the rank and file
of the men feel at present strong in the
near presence of their leaders. The
heads have been considering their
immediate interests, and the men
are pleased They feel reinforced and
more hopeful. The State Board of Arbi-
tration once more presented itself perfume
toriy to aid in settlement and PGwderly
has FASTENED to accede, but the railroad
has declined. There is growing belief
among the persons who are following the
course of events closely that there will be
no furthe striker.
THE NEXT MOVE.
1t was rumored that possibly the next
move would be the ordering out of all
mechanics along the line of the Central
Railroad On this point Webb was ques-
toned.
Anticipating" he said, "some ten
days ago that by allowing the men en-
ployed in our various shops to remain l
was furnishing ammunition to the Knights,
! at cnce ordered the shops TO be closed,
and directed that only enough men be re-
tanned TO perform the actual necessary re-
pairs that were required each day. AT the
present time we have GO00 cars in course of
construction at West Albany"
THE MEN HAVE BEEN LAID OFF.
State Arbitration Commissioner Donovan
this afternoon sent letter to Vice-Presi-
dent Webb stating that it having come to
the knowledge Of the State Board of Medi-
alton and Arbitration that another strike
was seriously threatened on the lines of
the company, he is instructed by the board
to again communicate with Webb and in
vte joint conference in the offices of the
company between Webb and the representa-
tives of his employees with view of de-
vising some means, either by arbitration
OF such other methods as may be mutually
agreed upon, whereby the threatened strike
may be averted and the abrupt interruption
of travel and transportation of freight be
prevented.
PowDERLY's STAND.
A similar letter was sent to Powderly.
Powderly in his reply stated that the Cen
eral Executive Board Of the Knights of
Labor is willing to comply with the request
and holds itself in readiness to respond at a
moments notice. Powderly says: 1--WE hold
ourselves in readiness to do any honorable
thing to terminate the strike or avert an
other one, and sincerely hope that either
arbitration or such other method as may be
agreed upon will have the desired effect"
Webb responded thus: The further
strike referred to by you will not take place.
as the efforts of persons who have left our
service may or may not meet with success.
l believe that such effolts will fail.
| am not aware OF any difference
or grievance existing between the company
and its employees; and l must assume that
the conference suggested by you was de-
signed to be between the officers Of the
company and the officials OF the Knights of
Labor. These officials represent not our
employees but the persons who have left our
service and have not asked to be re-em-
ployed, but who, through these same officials
of the Knights of Labor, have asked
that the discharge by the company of GER
tain persons be submitted to their lnveStiga-
tion, aud to arbitrate by some tribunal to
be selected in some way, the request of
which have felt 1t to be my duty to de-
cline. l shall take every means in
my power to prevent the interruption
Of passenger and freight tr afic, and if the
constituted authorities prevent lawlesS in
reference with our operatives, l do not
anticipate any interruption. For the above
reasons it seems to me inappropriate and
unnecessary to have the conference sug-
gested by YOU"
wEBB's STATEMENT.
Webb comes forward tonight with pre-
pared statement, evidently prompted by
Powderly's manifesto. Webb starts out
u thac ctnfn h.N, boo.
discharged by this company because he was
a Knight of Labor. or member of any
other organization" Then, for the first
time since the beginning of the contro-
versy. Webb names the list of Offenses,
among which are those because Of which
the knights of Labor are said to
have been discharged Webb continues:
The company discharged the men irrespec-
tive of their membership in the order of
the knights of Labor, for drunkenness,
incapacity, breach of duty, insubordination
and for lack of sufficient work to employ
them, and it will continue to do so when
ever the proper occasion arises. 1t would
be a moral and probably criminal neglect
of duty for me TO omit to discharge switch
towerman for drunkenness, when upon his
sobriety ana fidelity TO duty depends the
safety of life and limb of some millions of
passengers transported annually by this
company. What private or public business
can be carried on that Is subject to dlcta-
tiOn from workman, that this shall be per-
formed, only this or that amount of work?
What employer can tolerate insolence and
insubordinatiou, based upon the belief
that the offenders will be supported therein
by the secrat organization to which he
belongs? The foregoing gives, without set
ting forth the name or place OF employ
meut, the causes which called for the dis
charge of the men referred to in Powderly's
appeal. For these discharges and to avert
a threatened strike l have been called
upon by Powderly and his associates
to consent to the mOnstrous absurdity
of satisfying by some kind Of
arbitration or investigation persons other
than the constituted authorities of the COM
pany that these causes existed. This de-
mand, as long as l occupy the posi-
tion with which l am intrusted I feel it to
be my duty to firmly decline" To this Webb
attaches his signature.