The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-09-03
BOARD OF ARBITRATION.
Official Mediation Body Begins
Its Investigations
INTO THE CENTRAL STRIKE.
vlcc President WeDb on tho Stand,
but His Evidence Dlscl0scs Moth.
Ing New - Mr. powdcrly's
letter Advising Caution.

] NEW YORK, sept. line state B0aIt
Of Arbitration begun It's investigation
here to-day as to the difficulties existing
between the New York Central Railroad
and the knights Of Labor. The first ol
tho parties interested to appear was
Third Vice President Webb. Mr.. Webb,
was the first witness called. ';,
Mr.. Webb said that he, was Third Vice
President, Of the NewEYork Central (
Hudson RIVER railroad, and had charge
OF the operation OF the road. Tho com.
pany had no controversy with i,s enl.
ployos. On the evening Of August Sth
large number Of the employees left and
their places had been Alled. The al.
legged cause was that tseventy.eight mem.
bers out Of 10000 had been dis
charged. They were discharged for
good cause, but only seven Of those men
applied to tho company for Information
AZ TO why they were discharged. Subse.
quently gentleman from another State
called aud wanted to know why the men
were discharged. Tho witness declined
to give the reasons. This gentleman
was Mr.. Holland.
Upon being crosse xamined, by Hon.
Roger Pryor, MIR. Webb said he had
nothing to do with the road outside OF
the transportation aud operating depart.
ments. Mr.. Depew was abroad. The
witness had discharged the men on re-.
ports from members Of the secret Rervice
Of the company. Those reports are not
in existence. they conveyed to him tn.
charges and evidence. The charge itself
was unsatisfactory service. An engi.
neer named Lee was discharged for un.
satisfactory service. The mau Lee was
very arrogant and insolent, and said he
would tic up every wheel between here
and Buffalo, il he did not get some Of the
Vanderbilt money.
Continuing, MI. Webb said several OF
the men knew the cause for which they
wero discharged. Their relations with
the knights Of Labor had nothing to do
with it. Mr.. Lee's prominence in the
order was no reason Tor his discharge,
Mr.. Pryor endeavored to find out II |
the knight Of Labor question had been
discussed by the Board OF Directors, bu,
the board declined to admit the ques.
ton. .y.,
''That shuts us off," remarked lIr
Pryor, turning around to the knights OF |
Labor Executive Committee.
Mr.. Webb said he had arranged for
the services Of tue Pinkerton men some
time before the strike.
When asked about the detail OF ar.
rangement, Mr.. Webb declined to
answer, by advice OF counsel. Mr., |
Webb did not seek the protection Of the |
police authorities prior to employing
PInkerton men. Ihis concluded his |
testimony.
J.J. Holland and John Devlin, of the |
Executive Committee, testified as TO their
efforts to bring about settlement OF the |
difficulty by arbitration.
+. j. Lee introduced the correspond. |
ence which passed between himself and |
Mr. Powderly. The latter advised him |
to move cautiously, as he was competing
with corporation that controlled mil. |
lions OF dollars where the labor party
controlled cents,
On August . Mr.. Powderly wrote: ~
regret to hear the condition OF affairs |
II there ia to be troubls it will be when
Mr. Depew is away. I advise you to |
avoid a strike at all hazards n3 the order
don't support you now. Act on the fol.
lowing suggestions: Select from your
men such as arc good and reliable, and |
secure places Tor them in the west. |
Then have them ask for shorter hours
at higher wages. This. the road will |
not grant. Then have them quit and |
take the new places secured for them,
Do this secretly and wait until Mr.. De.
pew returns. He is presidential can
d!date and would not care for strike on |
his ro4d."
General Master Workman Powderly
was next called. Pending the strike he |
had no interview with any Of the roads
officials. He related bis interview with
VII. Webb and brought out nothing new.
Thls ended the examination for the day.