Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-08-30
APPEALING FOR AID.
Master w orkman Powderly Issues
an Appeal to the Public,
Asking for Money to Aid the Knights In
Their Struggle with the Central Mama
gers-Ho Also Addresses n Letter
to Grand Chief Engineer Arthur.

to Grand Chief Engineer Arthur.
ALBANY, N. Y, Aug. 90. The Central
road for the first time since the strike
began, yesterday ran the work train to-
West Albany, taking up about fifty
mon. 1t came back again with about the
same number. The train usually car
ries 600. Tho road has succeeded in
clearing up five of the West Albany
freight tracks and sent three long trains
of general freight and oil to New York
and four west. Green switchmen at the
bridge approaches have narrowly es-
capped causing serious injury and bad
collisions. The trains run very slow on
the grades near these switches. Su-
perintendent Bissell said yesterday:
"We have had much success and can
congratulate ourselves that we are get
ting busy again. The freight moved to-
day was valuable and we are clearing
up all of our yards quite rapidly. There
are indications that the new men are all
right and we will soon be in prime run
ming order"
Tho Knights have issued the following
bulletin:
"The outlook is extremely encourag-
ing. The new men that tho company
are importing from Philadelphia, Bos-
ton, Chicago and other large cities under
a misrepresentation of facts are DESERT
ing in large numbers. They refuse to
be made party to our defeat. If they
keep on deserting at the present rate,
the company will not have corporals
guard left. To their credit it can be
said that they are not all scabs, for when
they learn how they have been deceived
they refuse to work. The company Off
cials are at their wits end to keep few
trains moving, even going so far as to
send trains back and forth from East to
West Albany, thereby creating the inn
preston that they are moving freight,
but the public is not to be hoodwinked
by this scheme"
New York, Aug. 22.-Following Is
Mr.. Powderly's appeal:
To the People: For some time the manage
ment OF the New Y orll Central 4 Hudson River
railroad have been discharging employees who
have been active in labor affairs 1t happens
that all those who have been dismissed are
knights of Labor. and have at one time an
other been officers of the order. have served
on committees which waited on the officials
with view to presenting grievances. These
discharges became so frequent and were so
clearly evidence OF settled purpose on the
part OF lne company 10 disrupt anu destroy lne
organization OF the knights of Labor on the
Central system that the Executive Board of
District Assembly No. 2t6, in which the knights
of Labor upon the system are enrolled found it
necessary to call special meeting in New York
TO consider the situation. In the meantime the
Executive Board sent one OF its members, j. j..
Holland. to New York with instructions to use
all possible efforts to bring about an amicable
adjustment OF the difficulty.
On his arrival in New York. after confer
ence with the representatives of the District
Assembly, in the course OF which he obtained n
full knowledge of the trouble from the stand.
point OF the men, he waited upon Mr. Walter
Webb, third vice president and acting manager
OF the company. Mr. Holland stated to Mr..
Webb that he had called to ondeavor to adjust
the unpleasantness existing between the com
pnny and the Knights of Labor employees. Mr..
Webb denied that there was any trouble exist
ing between the company and its employees Mr..
Holland told him that as member of the Cen
eral Executive Board OF the Knights of Labor
he had come at the request of the men. Mr..
Webb declared that he would not discuss the
matter with anyone not an employe of the COM
pany and closed the interview. Finding all
efforts to effect n peaceable settlement OF their
grievances impossible and being convinced
that it was only question OF time when they
would one and all be discharged unless they for
feited their manhood and abandoned their priv
lleges as citlzens or tree country by renounc-
ing their right TO join their fellows in an organ
ization calculated to protect their Just rights,
the District Executive Board had no i.terna-
tive but to order strike which they did.
have no doubt that it is the determination
of the management to destroy the organization
of labor along the line of the New York Cen
tral. unless that organization subsequently
bends ts knee TO the will of tho Vanderblts.
We ask the entire order of the knights of La.
Dor to come to our assistance with the means
TO win the strike. We are not craving for SYM
Pathy; wv we 81 are rem, not IN need "a, OF moral support
bearing to the wealth 1t has piled up from the
labor of its employees: untold millions are at
its command and we want money to carry on
the struggle. We ask all members of organized
labor to come to our aid. We not only ask labor
organizations but we ask OF the great public
hpN pIir mia zpti nf nj IN 10
our relief. H..
The General Executive Board will conduct
this contest with all of their ability and with
out violence. To do this we require funds and
that Mt once. Public spirited citizens who be-
lieve in fair play are asked to contribute to the
liberty fund in aid OF the striking employees of
the New York Central railr ad. Send all con-
to John w. Hayes, No. 8il North
Broad street, Philadelphia.
Mr.. Powderly has also written the
following letter to Mr.. Arthur, Grand
Chief Engineer of the Brotherhood Of
Locomotive Engineers:
There is mt present strike Of the New York
& Hudson River railroad. In this strike is in
voved Il principle which you can not afford to
ignore and the principle is that OF fair play.
Many of the men on strike are fremen and be-
long not only to the knights of Labor, but also
to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen.
They are contending for the right to maintain
their organization. They are now at stand
still and in some instances their places are be-
Ing filled by members OF the Brotherhood of Lo-
CpHuoltNc I.uBlHecTS WHO HuFe SIeDpcu uOWn
from the footboard to pick up the shovels which
were dropped by the firemen. Are you willing
that this should continue! Are We to under
stand that this action is to receive the sanction
of tile organization you represents The knights
of Labor desire to know where you stand on
this question, for you are authorized to voice
the sentiments OF your order
We desire to know where to place It, Shall
I be clasSed among the organizations of In
iustry or among the allies OF capital? II your
members continue to do the work of liremen we
shall know that 1t is with your consent and the
'uture will he plain before us. We do not ask
'or your official sanction of the strike; we only
lsk for fair treatment at your hands The man
who takes the place of another in this contest is
untrue to the cause of organized labor. The or
yanization which approves OF such conduct
must be regarded in the same light, and we
want to know from your own lips where
% assign the Brotherhood OF Locomotive En-
slneers In the roster OF organizations, We have
asked the other organizations of railway cm-
'loyes to take sides with us. They are respond
ng nobly and the future OF labor seem, to in
ticate that between us all there will be q far
better understanding than ever before, but
'our voice must be heard either on the side of
he railroad or the men. Which will it be? /
emain, very respectfully yours.
JnwpEprv