Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-03
IN THE CAUSE OF LABOR.
New York Central Investigation Com
tinued Before the State Board.

NEW YoRK, Sept 3.-The state board of me-
diation and arbitration to day resumed its eff
forts to ascertain the causes OF the strike on
the New. York Central and Hudson River rail-
road Hamilton Harris. counsel for the rail-
eral Manager Toucey. Chairman Purcell asked d
him to give the board such information as he
possessed in reference to the discharge OF Mas
ter Workman E. J. Lee.
Mr.. Toucey said he had an interview with
Mr.. Lee some time ago. in the course of which
Mr.. Lee alluded to the watering of the CON-
panys stock-intimated that some one was
making good deal Of money and that he and
other men ought to have some of il.
In reply to question by Gen. Pryor the wit
ness said he did not discharge Mr.. Lee before
the talk about stock watering. Mr.. Lee made
certain demands on behalf OF some of the men
and they were refused.
Supt Voorhees, testified that he had nothing
to do with the discharge of any of the seventy
eight men. He was out of town for three
weeks before the strike.
Master Mechanic Buchanan testified that in
discharging Lee lie did SO by orders of Vice
President Webb and had no personal knowl-
edge OF the causes for his discharge OF the
seventy-eigh men discharged he knew the
causes for discharge in the case of two only,
Mallory and Conway. Mallory was discharged
for obtaining pass under false pretenses. and
Conway for neglect of duty Conway absen.ed
himself without leave and was several times
late in the morning and at noon.
Trainmaster ]. W. Stevens on being called
by counsel for the railroad company testified
that he had never told any employe Of the COM
pany that he must either leave the Knights of
Labor or leave the road.
Then Gen. Pryor called John Seery OF 2l9
East 36th street, who was employed under
Stevens. Seery testified that he went into Mr..
Stevens office to get some supplies, and Mr..
stevens asked him II 1t was true he had joined
the Knights Of Lalor. Seery told him il was
Then Stevens told him he should not have
joined without aquainting him, as he had helped
him to better his position. Mr.. Stevens further
said that he had better get out of the knights
or is might cost him his bread and butter Seery
understood him to mean that il he did not leave
the knights he would be discharged. Their
conversation occurred on August 1.
At the request OF Mr. Stevens he was recalled
He said part OF Seery's testimony was true and
part Of it was not. He did ask Seery if he be-
ionged to the Knights Of Labor and he told
him he ought not to join them without ac-
quainting him. This was on account of his
personal relations to Seery, he having got him
better position and more pay than he had
been receiving. He did not tell him his bread
and butter depended on his leaving the
knights, but when Seery asked him what
he ought to do he told him he must act on his
own judgment II Seery was his brother. how
ever, he would advise him to leave them, as in
case Of strike he would find himself COM
PEELED to go out with them. Gen. Pryor asked
the witness IL be had conversation with Con-
ductor VIM. Gibson in reference to his leaving
the Knights OF Labor.
Mr., Stevens said Gibson came to him with
his resignation from the Knights of Labor and
asked him to mail il for him. Tho witness
promised to do 30 and told Gibson he was glad
to see him taking that step. He never advised
any one to leave the knights of Labor.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Stevens testimony
Gen. Pryor announced that he had no more
witnesses to call here, but had a number in
Albany. The board decided to adjourn until
Friday at 10 a. M, when it will meet in Albany
at some place there to be selected later. Sec
retary Hayes Of the executive board Of the
knights Of Labor handed up to Chairman Pur-
cell u long list Of witnesses who are to be SUBJ
p9naed to testify in Albany. They are mainly
discharged employees Of the Central road