The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-23

gentlemen and he reiterated what Toucey
had said in the morning. 1t was suggested
to him that disinterested parties hear and
determine. It was also suggested that dur,
ing the investigation the strike be declared
off and the investigation proceeded with.
That was refused. Then the following
proposition was made BY me: "'Webb,
could you not sit down with me in the pres
ence Of the men who were DISCHARGED and
SO that might know the facts of the case
and be better able to arrive ut q deoision?"
This Webb emphatically refused.
Devlin then said: "Do ! understand you
to assume that the public and employees have
and do you look upon the matter simply as
though the railroads were your own prop
erty? Because if you take that view of it
there ia no need of our saying anything
further
Webb hesitated and took refuge in silence.
pressions Of the position of the knights in
the controversy. We do not pretend to
dictate to the company that it shall not
discharge employees, but in all fairness the
discharged men should be told why they
are dismissed.
lature the Knights of Labor of New York
were active in the passage of the weekly
payment bill. A committee of knights rep
resentinR the employees of the New York
Central were faced in the legislature COM
mittee room at Albany bv the attorneys of
railways and browbeaten, questioned and
terrorized. Some members of that COM
mittee who were at the time employed by
| the New York Central were discharged
| without cause, or rather without any given
| cause.
| There exists not a shadow of doubt in
the mind of that committee that these men
were singled out for endeavoring to secure
the passage of the above mentioned law,
after thoroughly investigating the causes
which led to the strike, and after making
every effort i'll their power to induce the
| company TO arbitrate or submit to an IN
| vestigation by impartial men the question
at issue, namely, whether the men were dis
charged because they were Knights of La
Dor, and for the purpose of destroying their
organization, as they believe, or for just
cause and proper reasons, as the officials of
the company allege.
The general executive board has by unan-
imous vote determined to stand by the men
who, whether their strike was opportune or
not, had no alternative consistent with
their manhood. have no doubt but it is
the determination of the management to
destroy the organization of labor along the
line of the New York Central unless the or
ganization subsequently bends its knee to
the will of the Nanderbilts.
During the controversy Toucey and Webb
stated and repeated the statement that the
men were not discharged because they were
knights of Labor, and they ex; ect the pub
lie to believe them simply because they Say
SO.
Both these gentlemen deny certain thing
In relation to their conversation with me
which both Devlin and myself are prepares
to make affidavit to, that everything tina
could in honor be done to settle the strik
on an honorable basis for these mon va
done. The alternative of uncOnditiona
and absolute surrender on the part OF tn
men or protest against the tyranny OF tn
railroad officials was presented to us. Tn
der the circumstances such surrender woul
be unmanly. 1t would be cowardly and IN
worthy the sons of men whom two hemis
pheres struggled and died for in the riRh
of humanity. We did not seek the quarre
The general executive board knew nott
ing of It until it was thrust upon then
Now that We have to face it We ask the er
tire order of Knights of Labor to come
! our assistance with means to win the strik'
We have to fight q power which owes II
: lofty bearing to the wealth it has piled q
from the labor Of the employees OF the rOat
Untold millions are at its command, an
: we want money to carry on the etrugRl
We not only ask the Knights Of Labor
! come to our aid. but We ask 1t OF all men
bers Of all organized labor. II we are
easily vanQuished as to make the cOmpan
; repeat the experiment., VIC not only al
, labor organizations, bug Ne AK of the gree
! public away hsyond ouS organization I
labor to come TO our aide. We are dRhtir