Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-08-30
to can e. sgpeci.l meeting in New York to

to call special meeting IN New York C
consider the situation.
In the meantime the executive board hay-
ing been apprised of the condition of affairs,
sent one of its members, Mr.. J. J. Holland
or New York, with instructions to use all
adjustment of the difficulty. On his arrival
IN New York. after conference with the rep
resentativeS of the district assembly, IN the
course of which he obtained q full knowl-
edge of the trouble from the standpoint Of
the men. he waited upon Mr.. n. Walter
webb, third vice president and acting man
ager OF the company. Mr.. Holland stated
to Mr.. Webb that he had called to endeavof
70 adjust the unpleasantness existing between
the company and its knights of Labor en-
ployes. MIR. Webb denied that there was
any trouble existing between the company
and its employees. Mr.. Holland told him
that he, as member of the general execu-
tive board of the Knights of Labor. had
come at the request of the men, made through
the organization to which they belonged, dis
trict assembly 246. Mr.. Webb frequently
declared that he would not discuss the mat
ter With any one not an employe OF the con-
pany and closed the interview.
Finding all efforts to affect peaceable
settlement of their grievances impossible,
and being convinced that it was only ques-
ton OF time when they would one and all be
discharged, unless they forfeited their man
hood and abandoned their privileges as citl-
zens OF free country by renouncing their
rights to join their fellows In an organization
calculated to protect their Just rights without
intrenchIng upon those of others, the district
executive board had no alternative but to or
der strike, which they did. The public
is already acquainted with the details of the
affair.
The most earnest efforts of the general
officers to secure hearing for the discharged
men were unayaiing. On Wednesday morn
ing John DeVlin, of the general executive
board. and myself waited upon Mr.. Toucey,
general manager, and endeavored to have
the matter arbitrated or investigated. Mr..
Toucey was emphatic in his refusal. On the
afternoon of that day MIR. Webb was visited,
and he reiterated what Mr.. Toucey had said.
It was suggested to him that disinterested
parties hear and determine: it was also sug-
gested that during the investigation the
strike be declared off and the investigation
proceeded with. That was refused. Then
Mr.. Webb refused my proposition that he sit
with me in the presence of the men who
were discharged and allow me to question
them III his presence that l might know the
facts in the case and be better able to arrive
at decision. Mr.. Devlin asked if he was to
understand that Mr.. Webb assumed that
the public and the employees had no rights
that he was bound to consider, and if he
looked upon the matter simply as though
the railroad was his own private property.
If 50, there was no need of saying anything
further. Mr.. Webb hesitated and then took
refuge in silence.
''The public may have formed erroneous
impressions of the position of the knights
in the controversy. We do not pretend to
dictate to the company that it shall not dis
charge employees. but in all fairness the dis
charged man should be told why he is dis
missed"