Huntsville gazette., 1890-08-30
honorabIc peace between the employes and

| the purpose of Walter Webb, third vice presi-
dent of the comp ptny, to make war upon the
knights of Labor, and ultimately upon all
| labor organizations represented on his
road, sought conference with the supreme
| council OF the United Order of Railway EN-
ployes. The request of Bfr. Powderiy was
! granted to the extent that four members of
| the council, the chief executives OF the Fed :
GRAFTON, met in the city of Buffalo, viz f. p.
Sargent, grand master of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Flremen and President OF
| the supreme council; Geo. w. Howard,
| grand chief of the Brotherhood OF Railway
Conductors and vlce-president of the su-
preme council; S. L. Wilkinson, grand
master of the Brotherhood OF Railroad
Trainmen, and Frank Sweeny, grand master
of the Swtchmen's Mutual Aid Association.
At the conference with Mr.. Powderly at
Buffalo the members of the supreme coun-
Gil become satisfied that the off, cials OF the
road, by every consideration OF fair and
honorable treatm ant of labor organizations
| should meet Mr.. Powdery and adopt some
just plan for the adjustment OF she grev
ance OF the striking employees. This con-
| clusion having been reached, the members
of the supreme council In response to the
| request of Mr. Powderly extended their
journey to the city OF New York to afford
such aid as was in their power to bring
about a settlement between Walter Webb,
third vice president Of the company, the
official having full authority In all matters
pertaining to the strike and T.Y. Powderly.
| general master workman OF the knights OF
Labor, having the authority to negotiate
| such arrangements might end the dis
pute.
An interview having been secured, Mr..
| Powderly sought to have the men dis
charged heard in their own defense In the
presence OF Mr.. Webb and himself. This
fair and honorable proposition was refused.
| Mr. l.rly
was also refused There were other propo-
stions made by Mr. Powderly, having for
their object the honorable settlement of the
trouble, all of which were refused ON the
part of Mr.. Webb. The members OF the su-
preme council, while in Buffalo and the
city of New York had ample opportunities
to thoroughly inform themselves upon all
matters concerning the strike. They saw
and heard both sides. They appreciated
the gravity of the situation, and compre-
hending impending consequences to labor
organizations, deemed it advisable to con-
vene the supreme council for deliberation
and such conclusion facts should war
rant. In response to the order of f..
p. Sargent, president of the supreme
council that body was convened in the city
Of Terre Haute, Ind, on Saturday. the 23d
day of August, and remained in session
until noon on Monday the 25th..
In king their report to the council, the
members who wont to New York to confer
| with Mr.. Powderly found all the statements
made by him fully corroborated by the
facts. In an interview with Mr.. Webb he
refused to entertain any proposition look
ing to a settlement of the difficulty. He
would not arbtrate any question or make
any explanation or concession whatever
with re- ard to the discharged employees.
He claimed the right TO discharge employees
at will without seeking explanation or CIV
ing to the victims of his power any reasons
for his despotlc action. He would manage
his road t. suit himself without reference
to any rights claimed by its employees or
any rights claimed by labor organizations
to interfere in the matter to protect their
members.
The council, having heard the statements
Of its members who had visited New York
for the purpose of ascertaining the true
condition of affairs. exhaustively discussed
every important proposition and arrive at
the conclusion, as follows:
| First, That the position of the Knights OF
Labor as s. ct forth by T. V. Powderly, gen
eral master workmen and the general ex
ectutive board Of the Knights of Labor
meets with our unqu uified approval.
| Second, That the course pursued by Ill.
| Walter Webb towards Mr.. Powderly and the
knights of Labor, Notwithstanding his dec
laratons to the contrary, evincos purpose
to disrupt and destroy labor organizations
| on the New York Central & Hudson River
| railroad as was done by Austin CorDi on
the Philadelphia & Reading.
Third, That tho policy OF H. Walter Webb
Is despotic to an extent that outrages every
| principle of American citizenship and IL
| generally adopted would, II successful, re-
duce American workingmen to the degrad-
| ed condition OF serfs.
| Fourth, That III. Walter Webb, by the EN-
ployment OF Pinkerton thieves, thugs and
murd erers-viIe wretches from the slums
,.fe. - ft,nr ttnQ
to kill workingmen because they dared to
| protest against this rule and strike for their
rights, is guilty OF n crime of such enormity
as will associate the namo OF III. Walter
w ebb forever with those who, dressed in a
little brief authority, have used tn 'ir money
to secure power to degrade their fellow
| men.
forth by II. w alter Webb to destroy the
knights OF Labor, would, were circum-
stances changed, in like manner be mado
to destroy the organizations Of engineers,
iremen, conductors tralnmen and switch
men, aud IL successful, it is only ques-
tion of time when similar effort will be
made to seal the fate of other labor organi-
cations.
| Sixth, That III. Walter Webb, by the
course he has pursued towards the Kn ights
Of Labor and the representatives of labor
organizations. has shown q total disregard
OF these principles OF citizen sovereignty,
dear to every American worthy of the
name, and considering on V his money
power and the corporate power of the com
| pany he represents, his acts, which speak
louder tn an his words say, in the language
of w. III. Vanderbilt once the autocrat OF
the New York Central: Tho public be
damned"
Seventh, III. Walter Webb seeks to sup
port his arrogant attitude toward working
men and labor organizations by assuming
( that the New York Central Il Hudson River
, railroad is private property, and that his
acts in the treatment OF his employees are ir
no sense a matter of public concern; thai
he can with impunity discharge mer
and remand them to idleness and poverty
and render them homeless wanderers nth
out giving any reason or explanation what
ever for his conduct, disregardng the fac
, that the corporation for which he plays au
tocrat is thing created by laws, in Tho
making OF which the men he seeks to de-
grade have a voice, which, once unified
| will bring his corporation to the bar of jus t.
ice, where his millions and the other mill
ions which he represents will cease to b,
potential in directing questions Of right.
In view of the foregoing facts, the suprem
council puts upon its record its unanimou