Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-09-05
Investigating the Central Strike.

New YORK, Sept. 1.-The state board
of arbitration began it's investigation
to-day as to the difficulties existing be-
tween the New York Central and the
Knights of Labor. Webb was the first
witness called. Webb said he was third
vice president of the New York Central
& Hudson River railroad, and had charge
of the operation Of the road; the COM
pany had no controversy with it's en-
ployes. On the evening of August 9Th a
large number of employees left and their
places had been filled; the alleged cause
was that seventy-eight members out of
10000 had been discharged; they were
discharged for good cause, but only seven
of those men applied to the company for
information as to why they were dis
charged; subsequently a gentleman from
another state called and wanted to know
why the men we're discharged; witness
declined to give reasons; this gentleman
was Holland. Upon being cross-exam-
ined by Gen. Roger Pryor, Webb said he
had nothing to do with the road outside
of the transportation and operating de-
partment; Depew was abroad; witness
SON OAo 10 ou loDOIU5 IIOlu
members of the secret service of the CON-
pany; those reports are not in e~xistence;
they conveyed to him the charges and
evidence; the charge itself was unsatis-
facory service; an engineer named Lee
was discharged for unsatisfactory service;
the man Lee was very arrogant and in
solent, and said he would tie up every
wheel between here and Buffalo if he did
not get some of the Vanderbilt money.
Continuing, Webb said several members
knew b cause for which they were dis
charged. He said their relations with
the knights of Labor had nothing to do
with their discharge. Lees prominence
IN the order was no reason for his dis
charge. Prior endeavored to find out if
b Knight OF Labor question had been
discussed by the board of directors, but
they declined to admit the question.
"That shuts us off" remarked Prior,
turning round to the Knights of Labor
executive committee. Webb said he had
arranged for the services of the Pinker-
ton men some time before the strike.
When asked about the date of the ar
engagements, Webb declined to answer,
by advice of the counsel. Webb did not
seek the protection of police authorities
prior to employing the Pinkertons. This
concluded his testimony. Webb was fol-
lowed by members of the knights of La
Dor who were dismissed from the New
York Central company's employ. Their
testimony went over the ground of
the supposed cause of their dismissal,
and the incidents connected Herewith,
already substantially covered in these dis
patches. j.. j. Holland and John Dev-
lin, executive committeeman, testified as
to their efforts to bring about a SETTLE
ment of the difficulty by arbitration. E.
j. Lee produced the correspondence that
passed between himself and T. V. Pow
derby. The latter advised him to move
cautiously, as he was competing with a
corporation that controlled millions of
dollars where the labor party controlled
cents. On August I'd Powderly wrote:
II regret to hear of the condition of at-
fairs. If there is to be trouble,
it will be when Mr.. De-
pew is away. advise
you to avoid a strike at all hazard, as
the order can't support you now" Cen
eral Master Workman Powderly was
next called. Pending the strike he had
had no interview with any of the roads
officials. He related his interview with
Webb and brought out nothing new.
This ended the examination for the day.