Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-19
THE RAILWAY STRIKE.
The Situation Practically Unchanged.
tBy telegraph 10 tho DIspa,ch.l


lBy telegraph 10 tho Dispatchl
NEW YORK, August 1s.-The Executive
Committee Of the Knights of Labor who
have been IN session now and then at the
st. Cloud Hotel since Friday noon last,
finished their deliberations and presented
the result of their consideration OF the
strike on the New York Central railroad
to Third Vice-Prcsident Webb this morn
ing.
Messrs. Wright and Holland. Of the Ex-
ecutive Board, called on Mr.. Webb. and
Mr.. Holland said: Mr.. Webb. this com
municati0n which hand 10 YOU contains
the result Of the deliberations of the Ex-
ecutive Board Of the Knights OF Labor and
anent the trike on your road. | wish you
would read il carefully and let us know
what you think Of 1t as soon as You can
Mr.. Webb replied as follows: Gentle
men, ! shall read your communication care
fully and reply tOIt just as soon az ! nave
finished reading it. / shall probably have
my answer ready by o'clock, after when
! shall forward it TO You"
Messrs. Holland and Wright babe Mr..
Webb good-day aud left the Office.
There is no material change to-day IN
the affairs Of the Central road. Both pas
senger and freight trains are being dis
patched as usual.
Mr.. WEBB RTPLrEs TO THE BOARD.
NEW YoR6, Augustls.-M Powderly left
for Buffalo last night, but his encourage
kept that fact a secret until it was an
nounced be had arrived in Buffalo.
Mr.. Webb wrote a reply 10 the com
municatiOn which he received from the
Executive Board. The reply was placed IN
a sealed envelope and addressed to Mr..
POwderlv at the st. Cloud Hotel and was
delivered by Mr.. Webb's private secre-
tary. Its purport cannot be learned.
The railroad people have suddenly become
rs reticent as the Executive Board of the
Knights.
NUNS THE WORD.
Mr.. Webb stated that in consideration OF
o communication received from the rail-
road authorities at Buffalo he had decided
to withdraw good number Of Pinkertonn
men. At o'clock to-day Mr.. Webb said
that he had determined to Withhold all IN,
formation from the newspapers till he had
heard from Mr.. Powderly.
THE CORRESPONDENCE.
New York. August 1S.-The correspond
ence that passed between Nice-President
Webb of the New York Central. and 4. v.
Powderly. grand master of the Knights OF
Labor. shows that Mr.. Powderly wrote
Wee President Webb requesting an inter
view for today TO which Webb replied,
suggesting that the matter 10 be presented
be put in writing, but granting an inter
view If POwderly 40 wished. Yesterday
Powderlv replied that being called away
from the city he was obliged 70 commit 70
paper what he would rather discuss IN per-
son.
POSITION OF THE MEN.
Powderly states the position Of the men
in this reply in these words II am correctly
informed. old and and faithful employees
of the New York Central and Hudson
River railroad have been summarily DIS
charged from the service OF the company
because they were members of. and active
in. the Knights Of Labor. 10 Is represented
to me that up to the time Of their dis
charge they were faithful to the interests
Of the company and that not one mark OF
discredit stands against the industrial re-
cord of any Of those who We're discharged
prior TO August 8, 1890. That in brief IS
the statement OF the men.
REASON OF THE STRIKE.
The frequency of dismissals LETT but lit
tie room for doubt in the minds of the men
that thew were all IN danger OF discharge
AT a moments notice. and hence the strike.
The whole question hinges upon the DIS
charge Of Knights of Labor because they
are such. Ii It can be shown that these
men were working injury 20 their employers
right-minded men will say that they were
treated as they deserved. If they were dis
charged for cause. the New York Central
and Hudson-River railroad has everything
10 gain and nothing 10 lose from an inves-
tigation. II they deserved dismissal from
the service of the company none OF Us
will ask for their reinstatement. If. how
ever. they were displaced because of their
connection with the Knights OF Labor It
should be known. for If 10 Is to be the poll
cy of the New York Central and Hudson
River Railroad Company that no Knights
of Labor are TO be employed, then a state
ment 20 that effect will clear up all doubts
and there can be no future misunderstand-
ings. There will be nothing then 10 arbi-
trate so long rs you hold that opinion
Mr.. POwderly concludes by saying the
men are willing 10 submit their case TO ar
bItration and asks Mr. Webb's consent to
do the same.
NIB. wEBBs REPLY.
To this communication Vice-President
Webb replied have received this
morning the communication addressed 10
me bv YOU rs general master workman OF
tho Order Of Knights of Labor. Replying
thereto. have 10 say that no one of the
persons discharged from this company
prior TO August 5th and referred 10 inyour
communication was discharged because he
was q member of your order. The lmme-
date superiors Of each Of said persons re-
ported to the division superintendent or
superintendent Of motive power in each
case good aud sufficient cause for the
discharge Of such persons, and | am IN
formed that the division superintendent
or superlntendent of motive power lnyes-
ticated each case prior 10 the discharge
and the facts Of such discharge have been
reported 10 the management Of the com
pany. They were further investigated
and the action Of the division superin-
tendent or the superintendent OF motive
power fully approved.
ARBITRATION DECLINED.
"Themanagemento of this company DO not
deem It consistent with its continuance
and prosperity in business and with the
discharge of the duties 1t owes TO the
people TO submit the propriety of It's action
in the discharge of any OF Its employees %
arbitration. 1 have read your communica-
tioE with care and | think the foregoing
answers the point presented by You and
defines the position of this company"
THE FREIGHT SERVICE COMPLETE.
Mr.. Webb said tonight that the freight
service was complete. and that everything
was working smoothly between here and
luUdiD- All the lit4bnb AbLtlffA DoN-
day had been cleared up and had left foi
it's destination. The places of all the
strikers had been filled, and there was not
SINGLE vacancy on the road.
THE BUFFALO SITUATION UNCHANGED.
BUFFALO. August lS.-The great strike il
Buffalo remains unchanged to-day. The
switohmen are still firm. and not freight
train is moving. The passenger trains are
running on time and no disturbance Is an
ticipated. I'VE are going TO fight 1t out Il
it takes all summer remarked one of tn
switchmen. " If Burrows had used us ever
courteousiy the other day when We asked
for an interview the situation might have
been different, but. sir, we have been treated
like dogs. The time is past when you car
drive American citizens"
AMYsTERIoUs MESSAGE.
Mr.. Lee, representing the Knights OF
Labor in this city. sent the following mys.
terious cipher dispatch to the New England
Protective Railway Union at Boston 10
day: Whatsoever. whatever. OF more.