Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 August 1890 — BEFORE THE BATTLE. [ARTICLE]

BEFORE THE BATTLE.

A FULL STATEMENT OF THE STRIKERS’ CASE. The Chief of the Knights of Libor Appeals to the Public to Stand by tne Workingmen In Their Great Fight with Capital. Mr. T. V. Powderly, Grand Master of the Knights of Labor, has issued the following appeal to the public: To the People: For some time the management of the New York Central and Hudson Elver Rall*oad have been discharging employes who have been active In labor affairs. It happens that all those who have been dismissed are members of the order of Knights of Labor, and have at one time or another been officers of the order, or have served on committees which waited on the officials with a vlow of presenting grievances. These discharges became so frequent and were so clearly evidence of a settled purpose on the part of the company to disrupt and destroy the organization of the Knights of Labor on tho Central System that the Executive Board of District Assembly In which the Knights of Labor upoiF *h« system are enrolled, found It necessary<t«srtill a special meeting in New York to consider the situation. >A» In the meantime the Executive Board, having been apprised of the condition of affairs, sent one of its members, J. J. Holland, to New York with instructions to use all possible efforts to bring about an amicable adjustment ors tho difficulty. On his arrival in New York, after a conference with representatives of the District Assembly, he waited upon H. Walter Webb, Third Vice President and acting manager of the company. Mr. Holland stated to Mr. Webb that he had called to endeavor to adjust the unpleasantness existing between the company and its Knights of Labor employes. Mr. Webb denied that there was any trouble existing between the company and its employes. Mr. Holland told him that he, as a member of the General Executive Board of tho Knights of Labor, had come at the request of the men, through tho organization to which they belonged, District Assembly 240. Mr. Webb frequently declared that he would not discuss the matter with any one not an employe of the company and closed the interview by saying: "I don’t care to state what preparations we are making for a strike. We are making such preparations as_ would seem reasonable and proper to any’prudent railroad man. But I dou’t believe there is going to be a strike. I can’t believe that the men will act in the ill-considered manner in which it is alleged they will act. Should a striko be ordered, I am pretty confident that neither tho Federation nor tho Knights would move many of our men from our service.” ' Finding all efforts to effect a peaceful settlement of their grievances Impossible, and being convinced that It was only a question of time when they would be one and all discharged unless they forfeited their manhood and abandoned their privileges as citizens of a free country, by renouncing their rights to join their fellows in an organization calculated to protect their just rights without intrenching upon those of others, the District Executive Board had no alternative but to order a strike, which they did. Ou Wednesday morning John Devlin, of the General Executive Board, and myself waitod on Mr. Toucey, General Manager, and endeavored to have the matter arbitrated or investigated. Mr. Toucey was emphatic in his refusal. On the afternoon of that day Mr. Webb was visited and he reiterated what Mr. Toucey had said. If was suggested to him that disinterested parties hear and determine; it was also suggested that during the investigation the strike be declared off and the investigation proceeded with. That was refused. Then Mr. Webb refused my proposition that he sit with me in the presence of the men who were discharged and allow me to question them in his presence that I might know the facts of the case and bo better able to arrive at a decision.

During the session of the State Legislature the Knights of Labor of New York wore active in the passage of tho weekly-pay bill. The committee of the knights, representing the employes of the New York Central Railroad, wore met at Albany by the attorneys of the railway and browbeaten, questioned, and terrorized. Some of the members of that committee, who were at 0 the time employed by the New York Central, were discharged without any given cause. There is not a doubt in the minds of the committee that these men were sihgled out for endeavoring to secure the passage of the above-mentioned law. After thoroughly Investigating the causes Which led to the strike, and after making every effort in their power to induce the company to arbitrate or submit to an investigation by impartial men the question at issue, the general executive board have, by a unanimous vote, determined to stand by the men, who, whether their strike was opportune or no, had no alternative consistent with their manhood. Everything that could In honor be done to terminate the strike on an honorable basis for the men was done, and the alternative of unconditional and absolute surrender on the part of the men or a protest against the tyranny of the officials of the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad was presented to us. Under the circumstances It would be unmanly. It would be cowardly and unworthy of the sons of men who struggled and died for the rights of humanity. We did not seek tho quarrel. The General Executive Board know nothing of it until It was thrust upon them and now that we have to face it we ask of the entire order of the Knights of Labor to come to our assistance with the means to win the strike. We are not craving for sympathy. We are not in need of moral support. We have to fight a power which owes its lofty bearing to the wealth it has piled up from the labor of its employes; 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 groat public beyond our organizations of labor to come to our relief- It Is not because a few cents taore a day or some paltry concession to the lien was required that this strike was precipitated. The real animus lies in the fact that our order has been struggling with the questions which concern the control of trusts, corporations and syndicates by the Government of the people. The allied forces of the Knights of Labor and the Farmers’ Alliance are marching on to Washington to secure legislation favorable to the whole people .and secure tho repeal of certain unjust laws. It is in the hope of turning out attention away from these matters that this warfare is made on this part of the allied forces. The conduct of the men since the strike begun has been most orderly and commendable, and until it closes no Knight of Labor will be found in an unlawful act of any kind. We are pledged to maintain .the law. We will obey the legal commands of the State, but not of the corporation which defies public opinion and has no regard for justice when dealing with its employes. Conciliation and arbitration can deal with the most intricate questions of dispute. The unchristian attitude of the New York Central officials is best illustrated by the manner in which they violate the laws of the land through their agents. During the strike Robert Pinkerton Is the agent of that railroad company. He advertises for men, they respond and are hired without regard to qualifications or manhood. Apparently the brute alone, is sought for, and such creatures as will do any deed of desperation are best appreciated. Adolph Polleshek came to me Aug. 16 and made an affidavit that he was hired in New York by the New York Central Railroad as a watchman and sent to Albany, and upon arriving there was handed a commission appolntlug him a deputy sheriff without expense to the county, and given a club aud pistol aud told to use them. Polio-

sheV could scarcely speak the English language. It will be well to ask why bla ak commissions with the Sheriff’s’name attached are placed at the disposal of Robert Pinkerton to be placed In the bands of ignorant men,' who believe that under this authority they have the right to shoot citizens to death. In order to test this case still further, and to learn If all citizens would receive the same treatment, I telegraphed Sheriff Tap- ! pan, of Rensselaer County, asking him If he would swear In two hundred deputies to protect the lives of our members. He replied that he did not think the presentwltuation would warrant the appointment. W. Walter Webb applauds the action of the Pinkertons In shooting, and says they did right. The Knights of Labor bold themselves in readiness now, and will continue to hold themselves ready, to yield to the will of the public in this matter. The company, on the other hand, holds Itself above and superior to public opinion. I would here ask the men still in the employ of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad whether it be not to their interest to stand by and support those who are striking to vindicate the common right to organize. The General Executive Board will condifct this contest with all of their ability within the law- and without violence. To do this we require funds, and that at once. Public-spirited citizens, who believe in fair play, are asked to contribute to the liberty fund in aid of tho striking employes of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. Send all contributions to John W. Hayes, 814 North Broad-Street, Philadelphia. Pa. T. V. Powderly, G. M. W., K. of L. WHERE DOES ARTHUR STAND? Mr. .Powderly Calls on tho Head of tho Engineers to Define His Position. Powderly has written the following letter to Mr. Arthur, Grand Chief Engineer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers: There is at present a strike in progress on the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. In this strike is involved a prin- j ciple which you cannot afford to ignore, and the principle is that of fair play. Many of I tho men on strike are firemen and belong I not only to the Knights of Labor but to the i Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen. They j are manfully contending for the right ta maintain their organization. They are now at a standstill, and In some Instances their places are being filled by members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, who have stepped down from the footboard to pick up the shovels which were stopped by the firemen. Are you willing that this should continue? Are we to understand that this action is to receive the sanction of the organization you represent. The Knights of Labor desire to know where you stand on this question, for you are authorized to voice the sentiments of your order. The members of the various brotherhoods of railway employes are desirous of knowing where you stand, for on your answer, and we desire that it be a public one, depends the future of your association. We desire to know where to place it. Shall It be classed among the organizations of In- j dustry or among the allies of capital? If your members continue to do the work of firemen we shall know that it is with your consent, and the future will be plain before us. We-do not ask for your-offlcial sane-, tion of tho strike: we only ask for fair treatment at your hands, and that we.have I a right to expect. The man who takes J the place of another in this contest is untrue to the cause of organized labor. The organization which approves of such conduct must be regarded in the same light, and we want to know from your own lips where to assign the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in the rosterof organizations. Wo have asked of other organizations of railway employes to take sides with us. They are responding nobly, and the future of labor seems to indicate that between us all there is a far better understanding than ever before, but your voice must be heard either on the side of the railway or the men. Which will it be? I remain, very respeotfully, yours, T. V. Powderly. G. M. W., K. of L.

Brief Items of Interest. The German minors’ congress will meet at Halle Sept. 15. The Tilbury dockmcn’s strike has ended In a victory for the men. fcTHE Chemical Union will assume control of the European trade in chemicals Oct. 1. The French Government has sent relief to the storm sufferers in southeast France. A French syndicate has offered a loan to Uruguay to enable the Government to withdraw the paper currency. The Mexican Government has granted a concession to ex-Deputy Orisini, of Rome, for an exhibition of Roman art in the City of Mexico. The British Company in South Africa has had trouble with the King of Matableland, and a savage war against the colonists Is expected. English landholders, members of the Property Defense League, have issued a circular denouncing the socialistic tendencies of legislation in Great Britain. The Boston Gazette says that the estate of the late John Boyle O’Reilly will amount to $150,000. Marion Crawford keeps himself in fine physical trim by fencing and indulging in other athletic exercises. Young Mr. Thurman, son of Allen G. Thurman, is gray-haired and has but one arm. He lost the other in an accident many years ago. “Mose” Jacobs, a Des Moines (Iowa) newsboy, has a fortune of SIO,OOO invested in real estate. He is one of the best-known persons in lowa. William Walter Phelps effectively disposes of the story that he is to come home this fall from Berlin and run again for Congress in his old district. The young Duchess of Leinster, who has been called the prettiost woman in England, is tall and slender, stately and calm, with perfectly chiseled features. She is an aristocrat from crown to toe. The rumor that Freddie Gebhard and Lily Langtry were out is very much»conflrmed by the news from Paris that Lord Lurgan has settled $50,000 on the Lily, and is her most obedient in many respects.