Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-25
DEPEw AND THE CENTRAL STRIKE.

vestigation to stop the mud throwing by In
viting their accusers into the courts.
DEPEw AND THE CENTRAL STRIKE.
The issue between the New York Central
management and the Knights of Labor has
reached the stage of deadlock, and bids fair
to remain there until some new influence is
introduced to break it. Mr.. Powderly and
his followers continue to recite their reasons
for believing that men were discharged for
being active in the Knights of Labor, and
offer to submit that question to arbitration.
The management. under young Mr.. Webb's
guidance, declare thst the men were dis
charged for cause; deny that the Knights
were struck at. and decline arbitration on
the ground that there is Dothing to arbi-
trate:
This deliverance on the part of the COM
pany is taken by good many Eastern jour
nails as final; but it overlooks entirely the
fact that it is possible to arbitrate the ques-
tion as to which statement of the facts is
correct If the New York Central manage
ment should produce evidence before an
impartial tribunal showing that the
discharges were made ~for the good
causes alleged, the Knights OF Labor would
be left without ground to stand on. If the
proof should show that the allegations of
the knights Of Labor are correct, the
foundation OF Vice President Webb's asser-
tions would be cut away. That this issue is
proper one for arbitration is asserted by an
authority which the New York Central
management certainly cannot impeach. Mr..
Chauncey M. Depew, President of that
corporation, declared the propriety of ex-
actly such an arbitration when the national
arbitration bill was pending in Congress in
1886, as follows:
Suppose man were discharged and went to
his local labor assembly, complaining that it
was without cause. they would not dare order
..'.,,, ssAe om Iner ,sr,; .nS . .;. - u,d nn. sms
tain anti them en- And sunnose thew Complained and
an arbitration was had and it was proven that
the man was discharged for cause? That would
settle his case, for public opinion would not for
moment tolerate strike Wnen tne strikers
uau oeeD Snnoso y ~ 81 ~ o,t,o, h.na :. ,vare
nroven ,hat the man was discharped merely
because he was member of trade organiza.
ton, as they often claim. No employer is going
to stand up before the country and say he will
not employ men VINO are members Oh UaaeS
unIoNS'
MI Depe" is s1il tne Iresioen'
OF the new YORK Central raiiroao;
but 1t is exactly the sort OF arbitration when
he declared to be proper and benehclal IN
1886 that his heutenants are refusing In
1890. Precisely the issue which he deslg-
mated in the words just quoted as the vital
one to be determined by an impartial arbl-
tration is at stake between the officials who
are running the road in Mr.. Depew's ab-
sence, and the striking employees. One side
offers to submit it to arbitration and the
other side refuses; and the side which re
uses is the corporation whose presluent
made the uttersnce in favor of arbitration
which we have just quoted.
1t is not to be understood, however, that
Mr.. Depew has been induced to recant his
expressions in favor of a liberal policy.
Other cards NAV still be played in this game
before it is ended. 1t is not likely that Mr..
Depew's subordinates have undertaken to
reverse his policy and trample his principles
under foot, in his absence and without his
consent. That would be singular example
of corporate discipline, of which we may
acouit the Vanderbilt management. But
the chances offered to Mr.. Depew by adopt
ing the course of going away and letting the
energetic Webb try to squelch the knights
of Labor had a more than ordinary scope.
If the defeat of the Knights could be sue
cessiully accomplished in his ab-
sence. it would be a victory for the
corporation without much odium for Mr..
Depew. If the fight should become too
bitter it left course open to that ambitious
and astute gentleman which has been here
tofore referred to in these columns, and
out