The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1890-08-30
ar ALBAxY.
Tho X. Of l.. Meets to Investigate Il
Cases Of the Discharged Men.

wanted the fullest possible information
the causes of the strike, and they.
to hear the statements of such OF
the discharged mon as they had not been
able to see; second, they wanted to know
the exact condition of affairs at every
point-how many men were out; how
many. if any, had gone back; how many
the men on the strike were now men,
bers of the order, and what is the condi-
ton of the train service of the company.
all of the discharged men were
present as delegates, and ten of them
were prepared with proofs to show that
the reason for their. discharge wal be-
bause they were Knights of Labor. In
vestigation was then confined to those
ten men, audit was shown that until
their connection with the Knights Of La
Dor, there were no known charges Of
drunkenness, insubordination or incom-
petence. The charges were trumped up
against them. The cases of the poor
discharged men who are not delegates,
and consequently not admitted to- con-
ference, will be investigated later.
At the afternoon conference OF the
general executive board and d. A. GAG,
twenty of the men who were discharged
were admitted and closely questioned by
POwderly relative to the causes which
they thought led to their dismissal. It
is claimed many facts were brought out
which tended to show that the discharges
were the results of a preconcerted plan
to drop all prominent leaders in the cir
Gle of the Knights. Among those dis
charged were some who admitted that
when they were dropped, the reasons,
not included in Webb's statement, were
given, but entirely different ones. Sew
eral Of the men said they were charged
with characterization at. the time of their
dismissal, and added that the only act of
theirs which the officials of the road
could construe az n Of characterization
was where they had served on commit
tees which had waited upon officials OF
the road and presented grievances at
different times. Powderly said it had
been charged that the Knights of Labor
was q "foreign organization" and this
strike was the result of their machina-
tions. He asked the delegates present
who we're born under the American flag
to stand up. Sixty-seven delegates
arose, and, when those born abroad
were asked to rise, ten men re-
sponded. The men were asked what
sort of persons were filling their places
on the Central road. So far as they
knew personally, the general tenor Of
their remarks was that their places were
mostly filed by former employees who,
had been discharged for incompetency,
.intoxication and dishonesty. A. pream-
bic and resolution was adopted calling
upon the state board of arbitration to or,
der q prompt investigation OF the exist
ing difficulties.
A MASS MEETING.
The meeting held in the rink tonight
drew a larger crowd than has ever be-
fore entered the building at n time.
No one could get in the hall after the
meeting was called to order. At least
1000 men were present. T.. v. Powderly
entered the hall amid enthusiastic and
applause. District Workman
Lee called the meeting to order, intro
Master Workman Dulin Of the
local assembly. Later he introduced A.
Wright, member Of the general exec
utive board, who was followed by 7. B.
Mcguire, and T. ". Powderly. At
the conclusion Of his remarks Powderly
offered the following resolution, which
was adopted by q storm of unanimous
approvals: "Resolved, That it is the