Connecticut western news., 1890-08-27

lsss they forfeited their manhood and abandoned thear privileges e citizens of . free country by renouncng their right to join their fellows In aE organization calculated to protect their just rights without intrenching upon those of others, the district executive board had no alternative but to order . strike, which they did. The most earnest efforts of the grand officers to secure . hearing for the discharged mon were unavailing. On Wednesday morning MT. John Devlin, of the general executive board, and myself waited on Nr. Toucey, general manager. and endsavored to have the matter arbitrAted or investigated. 1r. Toucey was emphatic in his refusal Mr. Webb reiterated what Ar. Touoey had said It was sug- gegtsd to him that disinterested parties hear and detsrmine; 1t was also suggested that during the Investigation the strike be declar0d o6 and the investigation proceeded with. That was refused. Thsn Ar. Webb refused my proposition that he at with mo in the presence of the men who were discharged and allow me to question them In his presence that I might know tho facts of the case and b. better able to arrive at . decision.
 The Rights of Employee.
 MT. Powderly then refers to the silence of Mr. Webb whom asked If he considered that the public and the employees had no rights that he was bound to consider, and MT. Powderly continues:
 The public may have formed erroneous ipn- prossions of the position of tho knights tu the controversy. We do not pretend to dictate to tho company that 1t shall not diocharge em- ployea, but In all fairness the discharged man should be told why he | dismissed. During the Labor of New York were active in tho passage of the weekly pay bill.
 The African in the Fence.
 The committee of the knights representing the employees of tho New York Central railroad were met ct Albany by tho attorney of the railway and brow beaten, questioned and terrorixed. Some of the members of that committee who were at khaa lime hv hn ARfF were discharged without any given cause. There is not . doubt in the minds of the committee that these men were singled out for endeavortnR to secure the passage of the above mentioned law. Aftsr thoroughly investigating the causes which led to the strike, and after making every e6ort In their power to induce tho company to arbttrate or to submit to an investigation by impartial mon the question ct issue, the general executive board have by . unanimous vote determined to stand by the men who, whether their strike was oppor- tune or no, had no alternative consistent with their manhood.
 The Plan of the vanderbilts.
 MT. Powderly believes the Vanderbilts intend to destroy the knights if they do not yield, and he insinuates that Messrs. Webb and Toucey have not told the truth during the controversy. He adds:
 Under the circumstances such surrender would be unmanly. It would be oowardly and unworthy of tho sons of men of two hemispherss, who struggled and died for the rights of humanity. We did not seek the quarrel The general sx- ecutive board knew nothing of 1t until 1t was thrust upon them, and now that we have tofaoe 1t, we ask of the entire order of the Knights of Labor to como to our assistance with the means to win the strike. We arc not craving for sym for away down in the hearts of the American people, could they all be heard on this question, the sentiment is on our side and in our favor.
 We have to fight power which owes its lofty bearing to the wealth 1t has piled up from the labor of the employees of the road Untold mill- Ions gre at its command, and we want money to carry on the struggle. We not only ask of Knights of Labor to come to our aid, but we ask 1t of all members of organized labor. It Is our turn now; 1t will b. yours anon. To be co easily vanquished is to invite any company to repeat the experiment.. We not only ask labor organi- sations, but we ask of tho great public away be- yond our organizations of labor to come to our relief. We arc fighting against power far mors dangerous than that which Laid down It's arms st Yorktown 100 years ego. Then the fight was with one king.
 The Fight of the People.
 Today 1t is against . hundred, ono of whom said in an after dinner speech not long ago, thers gro fifty men in this country who have 1t in their power to control tho currency of tho United States, control her commerce, and at . dayt no. ttce stop every wheel in tho whole territory of the United States. Tho struggle b fer moro mo- mentous than 1t was during the American revo. hutton. Then our fathers fought for liberty, now we arc fighting to maintain it. Then the enemy was a000 miles away, today he ia eutrenched in our own dominions. He has hia fingers around our legislatures. He stands at the doors of congress to bar out legislation iu the interests of the masses. He presumes to dictate to the executive of the nation. He attempts to strsngie or corruptl tho judiciary. And he does all of these by no shadow of divine right, but by the power of money wrung from fhah han iuch hnc If Iaho from the mortgages of the farmers of tho land; wFung from the business of America; wruna from the vefy hearts of tho best and noblest ol the nations poor. It is against such power q this-s power that cares for no right but its owr that we struggle, and whether we win or loss in the present contest, the battle will now go ou until that power Is weakened forever, or the public is damned" Question the opportune ness of the battle, you will but it's justice can not but be apparent to every disinterested per son. It is not because of . few cents moro day or some paltsy concessions to the men required that this strike be precipitated. Its origin hel wy beyond these considerations.
 The Real Animus.
 The real animus lies In the fact that our ordel has boon struggling with tho questions which concern the control of trnsts, corporations and syndicates by the government of the people. Tho allied forces of the Knights of Labor and the Farmers Alliance are marching on to Washing ton to secure Legislation favorable to the whole people. They are going there to secure tho re- peal of certain unjust laws, which stand in the way of progress, and which antagonize justice. It is fn the hope of turning our attention away from these matters that this warfare is made on part of the allied forces. It b to weaken us whom VIC can do them tho most harm and the | country the greatest amount of good that thess annoyances arc visited upon us.
 The Pinkerton Men Denounced. MT. Powderly says the knights arc not the disorderly mob the papers would make people believe; that their law abiding con- duct has won the public's admiration, and he bitterly denounces the use of Pinkerton | and his men. He adds:
 It was not necessary to call upon them, and yet hireling mob of the worst characters in the land | have been qusrtered upon the people of New York to terrorize her citisens to provoke men to anger and wrath, to shoot down those who asked for the right to be heard in their own behalf. The l conduct of the men since the strike began has | been most orderly and commendable, and until | It oloses no Knight of Labor will be found in au unlawful aot of any kind. We are pledged to maintain the law.
 l We will obey the legal commands of the state, | but not of the corporation which dedes public opinion and has no regard for justice whom deal | Ing with its employees.
 l Consolidation end arbitration con dsal with thl most intricate questions of dlspute. 0fa11Au d ministsetion demonstrated how vel ashi1ea a1io1 eoa14 ' 1arlsgsf. WI Qee og1e4 VI al x & s;sss,