, 1890-08-21

Webb, In his reply, granted the in
terview, but mt the same time wished
that the matter be presented to him in
writing.
Powderly replied the next day saying
that he had been called away from the
city, and that he was obliged 10 commit
TO paper what ho would rather discuss
In person.
He says; III am correctly informed
old and faithful employees OF tho New
York Central have been summarily dis
missed from the service of the company
because they were active mem bers Of
the Knights of Labor. IL is represented
charge they were faithful to the interests
of the company, and had not one
word of discrodit. They were dis
charged for being knights of Labor If
liberty was valued so highly that men
offered up life and treasure and sacred
honor to gain IL, surely their children
whould not be blamed tor striking for II.
is to be determined. Who is to de-
termine2 You may feel that you are
right, Both are partisans, and IL an i'm
partial verdict is TO be rendered, Impair
tial men mus. arrive at 1t by hear
ing both sides, and then
Judging. Tho men are willing
TO submit the case 10 such arbitration,
and wall not be unreasonable. viii you
consent to do the same2 IL you will
agree to submit this matter to arbitra-
ti0n we can meet and arrange tho de-
tails, and agree rs to how the parties
may bo selected. Tho newspapers that
| report you are refusing to admit that
arbitration can onter into the settlement
of the trouble, but your letters lead inc
| to believe that you were misquoted, and
| still hope for speedy termination OF
the strike through arbitration OF the dis
| putcd question.
"Hundrecis of cases that have been
peacefully and quietly adjusted through
the Intervention Of the knights Of Labor
although not heralded broadcast as
they would have been had they ended
In strikes-provo that our aim Is to
avoid strikes rather than to precipitats
them. The interests OF the public re-
quire that the freight and passenger
traffic should work smoothly. The In
terests OF tho company require exactly
the same thing, and, in addition, that
such traffic prove remunerative, the in
terests of the working people are tho
same as others. But their rights to or
gani2e and select the organization
they wish to belong to is fully
as dear to them rs their pecuniary in
teresls can possibly be. Here is an
organization, tho aim of which is to
! advantages, called upon to defend its
dismissal had worked only in an educa-
tional and legislative direction. Surely
we have right to question why they
were discharged. Each man, no matter
how humble, is as much part
of the public as any other man. True.
the New York Central is tributary to
the comfort and well being of the COM
munity. but the community gives to
the CORPORATION in question lis strength
and wealth. and OF that oommunitv M
len st 30 per cent. ara not working people
and belong to that same element of So
ciety that dare not organize for their
own welfare. some one has said since
this began: Money is not everything in
the world He was a railroad director.
/ believe, He spoke truly, for liberty
Is far dearer to the laborer, and that Is
wha he strupples for. and that is what
Is denied him,
"rhe whole question hinges uponsthe
| discharge of the knights OF Labor be-
cause they are such, III IL can be shawn
that these men were working injury TO
their employers, right minded men Will
say 'nat ,hoy were troa'eu as they ue-
cause tho raiiro,d con,,amS has seu euro ,or
thing TO gain and nothing TO lose from
an Investigation. Ii they deserved dis
missal from the service OF the company.
none oi US VIII ASK ior their relnstate,
heca,,s. of ,neir connso,ion T' a;,b ai;,b'a,ea ,sa
Kni1hts of Labor IL sbouId
be known, for if il is tbs
policy of the New York Central that no
knights of Labor are to be employed.
then statement to that effect will clear
up all doubts, and there can be no future
misunderstanding. There will be moth
ing then to arbItrate, so long as You
hold to that opinion. The interests OF
the pu bic. the interests OF the owners of
the company YOU represent. and the
rights OF the men to organize for self.
protection, are all involved in this con-
lest The policy of the knights of
Labor is to work peacefully in
the line of duty and legislative
reform. 1t is not the policy of the in
stitution. no matter what its enemies
may saw to enter hastily upon a strike.
The present strike may be pointed TO i'm
refutation of that last assertion, but, un-
til an investigation into the causes is
had, that must remain as it appears "
,
MR. WEBB Reilly
othis communication from Powderly
Vice President Webb replied as follows:
Replying, have to say that
no nersons DISCHARGED from mi. com
nor, s,ior,o An,n,s, al .as....,
pNn' r,o, w -; 80 I,,.., W