The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-08-30

The supreme council of the United
Order of Railroad Employees concluded
its conference on the New York Cen
trail strike, at Terre Haute, on the 18th
The following dispatch tells the story:
The Knights of Labor asked for bread
and their brethren of the United Order
of Railroad Employees, better known as
the Federation, have responded with a
stone. 1t is true that the morsel
is concealed in a jar Of honey.
but it will be none the more
digestible TO the Knights on that ac-
count 1t is common remark here to-
night that the final decision of the con-
ference could not have been more TO
Mr.. Webb's taste had the third vice
president of the New York Central and
his associates manipulated the wires
that controlled the twelve men who
compose the supreme body. The
unfortunate Knights are left to
their own resources. They are
not even offered the balm of
pecuniarv support, and their general
master workman is referred by the
chief of the federation to the press dis
patches for the official reply to his APP
peal. The outcome may prove death
blow to the Knights. At the same time
it is their vindication. The report of
the committee was taken up and de-
bated in detail. Douney, Of Chicago,
one of the representatives of the Switch
mems Union, distinguished himself by
two-nours' speech in which be
brought sledge- hammer arguments to
bear against the proposition to en-
broiI the United orders in Il strike,
~ NO If
the other side, and the debate, waxing
at times exceedingly warm, went on for
nearly five hours. Finally vote was
reached-just how it resulted numeri-
cally is known only to the delegates.
and will appear only in the secret rec
ords of the order, while the former are
as tight-mouthed as clans. 1t is be
lieved, however, that three delegates
from the Switchmen's Union, two
from the Conductors, two from
the trainmen, and one from the
tiremen. voted in the negative.
This would make the vote S to /, and it
REQUIRED the vote of two of the three
members representing each order to
decide which way that organization
should vote; but II also required a unan
imous vote of all four orders before
strike could be ordered. The delegates
brea.hed sigh of relief after the cru
cial test had been applied and then pro-
ceeded with alacrlty to prepare a gen
eral statement for the public regarding
the strike and the position of the feder-
alton in the affair.
MANIFESTO OF TIE COUNCIL.
TERRE IIAUTE. Ind, Aug. %, 1870
To all LCboIiitg 0rgdHjzntiOHs-Mc and
Brothers.: On the night of August !
strike began on the New York Central d
Hudson River Railway. involving about
5000 men in the employ of said road, who
We're members of a great labor organlZa-
ton known as the Knights of Labor. The
reasons set forth by L. V. Powderly, chIet
executive of the order, may be summarized
as follows:
The pcremptory discharge of between
fifty and sixty men, employees of the road,
and members of the Knights of Labor. be
cause they were Knights of Labor, without
giving them any reason whatever for
their discharge. Prior to the strike the
men involved sought, through the repre-
sentatiyeS OF the order. to have their
grievances adjusted. but their appeals be-
ing diSregarded a strike was lnaugurated.
At this juncturc L. V. PowderlN. general
master workman OF the Knights of Labor.
entered upon the task OF adj iuSting the
difficulty. and of making such arrange
mentS as would result in an honorable
peace between the employees and tie
oHCialS OF tilc todi, Dut MS tHoTlS were
unayaiing.
Mr.. Powderly. comprehcndng the pur-
pose of II. Walter Webb, third vice-prcSl-
dent Of the company, to make war upon
the Knights OF Labor. and ultimately upon
all labor organizations represented on his
road, sought conference with the Su
preme council OF the United Orders of
Railway Employees. The request OF Mr.
Powderly was granted To the extent
that four members of the council,
the chief executives of the feder-
atcd orders. met hlm in the city
of Buffalo, Y. y. viz: F. F. Sargent,
grand master of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Firemen, aud president of the sil-
prcmc council; George W. Howard. grand
CHIEF of the Brotherhood of Railway Con
ductorS, ard vice president of the supreme
council: $. +. Wilkinson, grand master of
the Brotherhood Of Railway Tranmen.
and Frank Sweeney. grand master Of the
Switchmen's Mutual Aid Association.
At the conference with Mr.. PoWdcrly. at
Buffalo. Che members of the supreme coun-
ell became satisfied that the officials of the
road, by every consideration of fair and
honorable treatment of labor Or@aniZa-
tons. should meet Mr.. Powderly. and adopt
some just plan for the al juStment of the
grievance of the striking employees. This
conclusion having been reached, the
members of the supreme council. in re-
Spouse to the request of Mr.. PoWderly,
extended their Journey To the City If New
York to afford such aid as was i'll their
power to bring about a settlement between
III. Walter Webb, third vice president of
the company. the official having full au-
thority in all matters pertaining to the
strike, and T. Y. Powdery. general mas
ter workman of the Knights of Labor
having the authority To negotiate such ar
engagements as might end the dispute.
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 re-
fused. Mr.. Powderly proposed arbitration,
which was also refused. There We're 9th
er propositions made by Mr.. Powderiy.
having for their object the honorable set
Element of the existing trouble. all of
which We're refused on the part OF Mr.
Webb.
The members Of the Supreme Council.
n lille in Buffalo and the City of New
York. had ample opportunities to thor
oughl, inform themselves upon all ma
tiers concerning the strike. They saw and
heard both sides. They appreciated the
gravity of the situation. and. cOmpre-
bending impending consequences to labor
organizations. deemed ii advisable 10 con
vene the supreme council for deiiheration
and such conclusions as facts would war
rant. In response to the order of +. L.
Sargent. president of the supreme council
that body was convened IN the city OF
Tcrre Haute. Ind. on Saturday. August %.
1890. and remained i'll session until noon on
Monday. August -.
In making their report to the council the
mcmbarS who went to New ork to con
fer with Mr.. Powderly found all the
statements made by him fully corroho-
rated by the facts. In an interview with
Mr.. Webb he refused to entertain any
proposition looking 10 a settlement of the
fIif not rib
question. nor make any explanation or
concession whatever. with regard 10 the
discharged employees. He claimed the
right To discharge employees at Will. with
out making explanation. or giving To the
victims Of his power any reasons for his
deSpotic action. He would manage his
road 10 suit himself. without reference to
any rights claimed by its employees. or any
rights claimed by labor organizations To
interfere in the matter 10 protect their
members.
In view of the foregoing facts. the Su-