Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04
The Decision of the Federation,

TERRE HAUTE, ND, August 27.-The exec
ntive council of the federation of railroad
employees has issued its decision on the mat
ter of participating in the K. of L, strike on
the Vanderbilt system. The decision recites
The history of the trouble and says:
First-That the position of the knig hts of
Labor as set forth by T.. V. Powderly, gen.
sral master workman, and the general execu-
i've board of the knights of Labor, meets
With our unqualified approval.
Second-That the course pursued by II.
Walter Webb toward Mr.. Powderly and the
knights of Labor, notwithstanding his de
elarations to the contrary, evinces a purpose
20 disrupt and destroy labor organizations
on the New York Central & Hudson river
railroad, as was done by Austin Corbin on
;he Philadelphia d. Reading.
Third-That the policy of II. Walter Webb
vas despotic to an extent that outrages every
principle OF American citizenship. and if
generally adopted would, if successful, re-
luce American workmen to degraded con-
lition.
Fourth-That H. Walter Webb, by the
employment of Pinkerton thieves, thugs and
nurderers, vile wretches from the slums and
6rothels of New York and other cities, to
Kill workingmen because they dared to pro-
scSJ d{sdluSb Ills Tule anu StTlko IOE tneII
nights, is crime of such enormity as will
associate the name of H. Walter Webb for
ever with those who, dressed in little brief
authority, have used their money to secure
power to degrade their fellowmen.
Fifth-That the effort now beng put forth
oy II. Walter Webb to destroy the Knights
Of Labor would, were circumstances changed
IN like manner, be made to destroy the or
yaniZation of engineers, firemen conductors,
Tralnmpp and suIfrbman and IF Snncassfnl
It Is only question of time when a similar
effort will be made to seal the fate of other
abor organizations.
Slxth-That H. Waiter Webb, by the course
ne has pursued towards the Knights of Labor
and the representatives of labor organiZa-
lions, has shown total disregard of the
principles of citizen sovereignty, degrading
every American worthy of the name, and
considers only his money power and the cor
porate power of the money he represents.
His acts, which speak louder than words, say
in the language of ". HI. Vanderbilt, once
the autocrat of the New York Central, ''The
public be damned"
Seventh-H. Walter Webb seeks to support
his arrogant attitude toward workingmen
and labor organizations by assuming that
the \. \. c. & II. Il. railroad is private prop
erty, and that his acts in the treatment of his
employees Is In no sense matter of public
concern; that he can with lmpunity dis
charge men and remand them to idleneSs
and poverty and render them homeless wan
dcrers without any reason or explanation
whatever for his conduct, disregarding the
fact that the corporation for which he plays
autocrat is thing created by laws, in the
making of which the men which he seeks to
degrade have voice, which, once unified,
will bring his corporation to the bar of JUS
hce where his millions and the other millions
he represents will cease to be potential in
deciding questions of right.
In view of the foregoing facts, the supreme
council puts upon record its unanimous and
unqualified approval of the strike on the n.
7. {. Il II. r. r. for the causes set forth by
I. V. Powderly, general master workman,
as also the efforts made by Mr.. Powderly to
bring the strike to an honorable termination.
In this general expression of approval of the
action of the K. of L. the course of Vice
President Webb Is as unequivocally con-
3emned.
In conclusion, the council says that it has
eXerted its power to aid the K. of L. in its
strike by its sympathy and moral support,
and to bring it to a close upon principles of
right and justice; that the council met with
failure, owing to the autocratic attitude of
II. Walter Webb, but that owing to the fact
that the Knights of Labor is not member
of the federated order of railway employees,
the laws of the federation do not permit it
doing more than ii has done to aid the K. of
L., and it cannot participate otherwise in
the strike.