The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-08-23
STUBBORN AS A MULE
Yanderbilt'S officials Won't Recognize
The Knights Of Labor.
Webb Make a Statement In Reply
to Powderly's Manifesto No
Prospect of a Settlement
of the Strike.

places with confidence of reinstatement |
upon their own terms are considering the |
situation in their local assemblies, where |
they are joined in council 10y members Of |
the executive board. Undoubtedly il is |
true the rank and file Of the men feel at
present strong in the near presence Of !
their leaders. The heads have been con-
sidering their immediate interest
aud the men are pleased. They
feel reinforced and more hopeful. |
The state board Of arbitration once
more presented itself perfunctorily to aid
the settlement. powderly has FASTENED
To accede, but the railroad has declined.
There is n growing belief among persons
who are following the course Of events
closely, that there will be no further
strike. II was rumorcd that possibly the
next move would bc the ordering ont II
all mechanics along the line of the Cen.
trail road On this point Webb was ques-
toned.
anticipating" he said. "some ten days
ago that by allowing the men employed in
our various shops To remain, ! was fur
nishing ammunition To the knights, at
once ordered the shops 10 he closed and
directed that only enough men be- retained
| To perform actual necessary repairs that
were required. At present We have fully
| 600 cars in course Of construction at
| West Albany, and Loo men Ia We been
| laid or.
State Arbitration Commissioner Dnno-
| van this afternoon sent "A letter 10 Vice
| President Webb, stating: at having come
| To the knowledge of the state board uf
| mediation aud arbitration that another
strike seriously threatened the lines of
your company, | am instructed 10y
the board Ia again communicate
with you and invite joint conference
| in the ollicc Of your company between you
| and the representatives of your employees
with view to deyising some means,
either by arbitration or such other method
as may be mutually agreed upon, where
by the threatened strike may be avcrted
aud an abrupt interruption OF travel aud
Transportation Of freight bc prevented
A similar letter was sent tn Pnwdcrly.
| Powderly in his reply stated the general
executive board of the Knights of Labo.
is willing TO comply with the request aud
holds itself ~ readiness To respond at a
moments nsAsce.
Powderly says: 1--WE hold ourselves ~
! readiness To do any honorable act la
hope arbitration or such other method AS
may be- agreed upon will have the desired
effect"
Webb responded thus: "1he further
strike referred To by you will ar will not
take place, as the efforts Of the persons
who have left our service may or may
not meet with success. ! believe that
such efforts will fail. | am not aware
of any, difference or grievance existing
between the company and its employees,
and must assume that the conference
suggested 10y you was designed tn bc be-
tween the officers Of this 60 npany and the
officials Of the Knights Of Labor. These
officials represent, not our employees, but
persons who have left our service aud
have not asked to he re-cmployed; but
who, through these same officials, the
| Knights Of Labor, have asked that the
discharge 10y the company Of certain per-
sons bc submitted Ia their Investigation,
and To arbiirate 10y some tribunal Ia bc Sc
lected IN the same way. This request |
have felt II To- be my duty To decline
| should take every means IN my power tu
prevent interruption tD passenger and
; freight traffic, aud il the constituted an-
thoritiDS prevent lawlcss interference
with our urcpativcs | do not anticlpat"
any interruption. For the above reasons
, il seems tome inappropriate aud uunvc.
essnry tO have ia" conference suggested
by the company.
Webb comes forward tonight with
"A prepared statement evidently
4. prompted 10y the Powderly manifesto.
Webb starts out with the statement
: that mo man has been discharged 10y thi-
company because lac was "A knight oI
Labor or member Of any other organiza
ton" Then. for the first time since th,
/ Of l.s Wall
names the list of olIensrs. among which
are those because of which the knight,
Of Labor are said to have been discharged
The company discha pycd the men, Webb
Y continues, irrespective ~ their mcm
o bership M the order Of the knights %
4 Labor, for drunkenness, tnCapacity
!, breach Of duty, characterization, and 10
lack of sufficient work To employ them
: and il will continue To do so whenever
proper occasion arises. II would he
u moral aud probably "A criminal ncglec
of duty for me to omit Ia disclarg
e switch tower man for drunken
u ness when upon his sObri"ty an'
i fidelity 10 duty depends the safct
life aud limb of some millions of passcn
gers transported annually by this com
pauy. What public or private busiucs
y can bc ear ed on subject to the dictatioi
y from "A workman that this shall br pcr
a formed or that shall notH What en-
q ployer can tolerate insolcnce and insuh
!, ordination, based upon the belief tia
= the Offenders will be supported thcrci
by a secret organization tp which h
y belongs The foregoing gives, wlth' u
= setting forth the name or place of on
\ pl,Nmcut, the causes which called for ia
u discharge Of the men referred 10 In Pow
dcry's appeal. For these discharges an
10 nVprt A threatened strike, | have bee
called upDn 10y powdIly an
Is his associates to consent
= the munstruus absurtlity oi satisiyin
e by some kind Of arbitration or iuyostlg.
~ ton, persons other than the constitute
"a authorize. 81 this company, that thcs
d, causes rNl-lrl; "A demand which as bon
a. occupy the position with which ! ~
entrusted, feel It to boz my duty Ia lrml
decline, "lnl 10 this Webb attached h
a. signature.