, 1890-08-28

LABOR would, were tne Clrcutnslhncts
changed In like manner, he made to
destroy tho organizations of the en-
gineers, fremen, conductors, trainmen
and switchnen. II successful, II rs only
o question of time when similar Efforts
will be made to seal the fatc OF the other
labor organizations.
Sixth-Webb by the course he has
pursued toward the Knights OF Labor
and representatives. of the labor organlza.
tions, has shown a total disregard of
those PRINCIPLES of citizen sovereignty
desired by every American worthy the
name, and considerd only his money
power and corporate power OF the COM
pany he represents. His acts, which
speak louder than words. say, In the
autocrat of New York, Tho public be
damned"
Seventh Webb seeks the support Of
this arrogant attitude toward the work.
ingmen and labor organizations, by as
Stunning that the New York Central IL
Hudson River railway Is private prop
erty and that his acts in the treatment
of his employees Is in no sense matter
of public concern, and that he can, with
impunity, discharge men and remand
them TO idleness and poverty, and rem
der them homeless wanderers without
giving any reason or explanation what
ever for his conduct, disregarding the
fact that the corporation for which
he plays autocrat is thing created by
the laws, in the making of which the
men he seeks to degrade have a voice,
which, once united, will bring him and
his corporation to the bar OF justice,
where his and the other millions he rep
resents will cease to he potential in de-
Gliding questions of the kind.
In view of the foregoing facts, the
supreme council puts upon record its
HaI uaI Of
the strike on the New York Central d
Hudson River railroad, for the causes
set forth by Powderly, also the efforts
made by Powdcrly to bring the strike
to an honorable termination. In this
general expression of approval of the
action of the knights of Labor, the
course of Webb Is as unequivocally
preme council, in the m after of the strike
has been exerted to aid the knights
of Labor through their representatives,
to- secure the recognition of their order
by the officers of rich and powerful
corporation, and to secure for working
men, the victims of autocratic power,
hearing, and to perform such other
kindly offices as were proper under the
circumstances, demonstrating their SYM
pathy and goodwill in aiding the
knights of Labor to bring the strike to a
close upon principles of right and JUS
tice. In this the council met with
failure, owing to the autocratic attitude
of Webb, and it now becomes necessary
for the supreme council to say that the
fnct that the order of the Knights of
Labor is not q member of the federated
orders of railway employees, the laws of
the supreme council do not permit It's
doing more than IL has done to aid the
Knights of Labor, and its inability to
participate otherwise in the strike is now
known and appreciated by Powderly.
Referring to the laws of the suprem
council relating to strikes, the matt
is conciscly stated as follows; In the
first place. II the member of the organi-
Zation, or any railroad, hayo griev-
ance it is submitted to the proper
officers of the road by the local grIev-
ance committee. In the event OF II
failure to obtain satisfaction OF the chief
executive officer, the order having a
grievance is called up, and in connection
with the committee seeks an amicable
adjustment OF the difficulty. If failure
still attends the efforts TO adjust
the trouble, then the supreme
council is convened at the headquarters
cf the railroad officials, with whom a con-
ference is requested, and its influence Is
exerted to obtain settlement just TO all
parties. IL failure still follows the eff
forts to remove the cause of complaint,
and the council, by unanimous vote,
decides that the grievances be such
gravity as to justify strike, it is
promptly ordered, in which event all
the members of the various organiza-
tions employed on the road where the
grievances exist, sviz., fremen, con-
ductUrs, trainmen and switchmen aban-
don their work.
In conclusion. the supreme council
places upon its records its high apprecia.
tion of the manliness of the Knights of