The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-25

longs and which. when the public thor
oughly understand, will convince 1t that
Webb is wrong. Webb's position is directly
opposite to that taken BY Depew, his super
ior officer. Depew always advocated organ
ivation Of labor
To sustain this statement Sargent gave to
the associated press representative the fol-
lowing extracts from an address delivered
by Depew at meeting of the Fremen's
Brotherhood held in Tammany hall, May
15, 's7. Said Depew at that time: II be-
lieve in organizations just like yours for
protection, for charity, for sobriety and in
dustry. It 10 proper in these that there
should be organization for the simple rea-
son that business in this world cannot be
carried on in any other way; that railroad
people ought to be able to intelligently dis
cuss questions of the day, and should tell
the government they do not want import
labor" ''These expressions Of Depew," J"
said Sargent. 'show conclusively that he
was in favor at that time Of organized
labor. He believed in the right Of work
inRmen to 70 to the polls and exercise their
right Of franchise" Said Sargent:
active part in legislative afteirs
in the state Of New York during the
past year, much Of this legislation being
directly in the interest of railway employees.
and the New York Central being. one OF the
largest corporations, that would naturally
be affected by such legislation, and many
Of the employees going before the assembly
| in behalf OF the bills presented. The fact
that somo Of the men discharged by the
New York Central were participating in this
effort to bring about the passage Of these
shows plainly that the company is antagon-
| izing the Knights of Labor in its present
| action; for had the men been discharged for
drunkenness, breach of discipline and such
causes as are now claimed by Webb, he
have an investigation. am surprised
that mon should have been in the employ
Of the New York Central for fifteen or
| twenty years, and now be dismissed on ac.
count Of character. II 10 a sad commen-
| tary on the management OF the road. In
pew Sunday, May 25, 1883 (shortly before
the director sailed for Europe). he said to q
meeting OF the Brotherhood Of Engineers
at New Haven: .'.Ihere are few things
about the relations of the president to en-
ployees of the road which ] would like to
say. We both draw our salaries from the
same treasury; the president of the COM
pany has his duty to perform to stockhold-
ers Of the road. But this is not, as many
/ of you suppose his only duty. While he
must see to it that proper economy is main.
tanned and an earning power developed, NJ
must see that the public at all times get tht
best possible service, and that men IN tht
employ of the company are treated we'll. u
is his duty to march out and take BY the
throat and throttle any man who, II
his brief authority. treads on the toes
J of some one of the men under MIN
employ realize the security of their en-
ployment. and it gives to them an inde-
pendence which is their right. To any one
who reads these utterances Of Depew, un-
derstanding that he cannot help but be-
lieve that Depew, as president OF the New
Of his employees whenever they desired to
confer with him, and if any OF his subordi-
mates practiced any injustice, in his own
words he said, II could take them by the
throat and throttle them." Employees who
were discharged by the Central were denied
the management. They claim that they
have been mistreated by subordinate
officers, demanded redress, were refused {
hearing, and have now combined for pro
! lection, Just as advocated by Depew, presi.
dent of the New York Central. Powderly
ward and by honorable means tries 4
bring about an amicable adjustment. HI
is met by the acting president of the rOa(
and informed that the employees have M
rights IN the premises. he Also says ~
. and no questions need be asked. At New
) Haven meeting Depev went on record al
advocating the combining Of labor for 1T
i own protection. He said: Some time ags
! was working up some matters regardin,
the progress Of civilization. l learned on
laws came from Great Britain, whore prio
to one hundred years ago labor had NJ
) voice in her legislation. Statutes which VI
, found are enough to make the hair stand OF
the head Of bald man, and to read then
gives you such circulation Of the blood tina
you have 70 put a piece of ice ON your pulse
The Law Axed the wages and made it . Grim
for labor to meet and combine for its owl
protection" The Knights Of Labor, ~ q
organization, are combining to-day TO pro
, tect the New York Central employees, jus
what the president of that great c0rp0ra
tion has advocated, aud am in sympath
With tbs boys. While ! have never been a
advooato 01 strikes, Vhoso thero Vss Q "a