The New York herald., 1879-02-15
CONSPIRATORS UNMASKED.
PRESIDENT GowEN, OF THE READING RAILROAD,
ATTEMPTS TO PREVENT A GREAT STRIKE IN
THE COAL REGIoNs-wHAT HAS BEEN THREAT
ESED-wHoLEsAkE DESTRUCTION OF PROP


THE COAL REGIoNs-wHAT HAS BEEN THREAT
ENED-wHoLEsALE DESTRUCTION OF PROP
ERTy.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
PorrsyILLE, Pa, Feb. IA, 1873.
President Gowen, of the Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad. has written letter TO Chief Engineer Wht-
ing at this point. which will be published III fui
tomorrow. The first portion OF the letter refers TO
communication sent to him from this place OF
committee consisting of tobacconst, dentist and
wheelwright Relative to this he says:-
1t is difficult conceive what the three gentlemen
named have to do with the subject They certainly
have no connection with our company. We are not
in any manner indebted to any OF them, either for
tobacco. teeth or wheelwright work and there can
be no doubt whatever that If their own private
avocations do not require their personal attention.
friends that they should avoid the risk of
the conviction and punishment for conspiracy which
must always attend their efforts to assume the man
ogement of our affairs. A full examination of the
names and occupations of the various delegates who
attended the meeting on the l4th nit. VIII show that
but minority of those present have any connection
with our company
He then gives the list of those who attended
the meeting and continues
OF the above but sixteen out of the entire thirysix
are in employment and from all the information
| can gather am forced to the conclusion that the
movement does not in any manner originate with our
men. but has been got up in the interest of other
ideness and forcing it to bear the burden of such
restriction of production will enable other coal
fields to secure good market and keep their men
employed while We are idle.
THREATENED DEPREDATIoNs
Already some twelve or fourteen persons. all Of
whom members of the knights OF Labor. have
banded themselves together to burn breakers
and commit depredations upon the property of
the company whenever the proposed strike
ordered by their association commences
This body Of men. known among themselves the
McNulty's Gang. have been meeting at the house Of
T.l,,, (.,rira nf f1n M. tnhi (nnlf
No. Colliery OF course, it would be an easy thing
TO arrest all of these men and punish them for the
even to make any toward carrying
their threats into effect, without it being known
Molly Maguires the present association is entirely
too large and composed of too uncongruous
elements ever to do so much mischief. and have
but little doubt that the great majority OF the mem
bers are at heart good. well-meaning men. who
follow the leaders without knowing how easily they
may be led into error.
And as evidence that the great majority Of the
really good citizens and sensible persons. it
may be stated that on Saturday last at a
meeting of the District Assembly, held at
Frackvflle. when each delegate cast a number of
votes equal to the numbers whom he represented,
motion strike for the 81 so basis defeated by
u vote of 2.027 to 535, and the action of the
Potts meeting to stop work ., on the 10th
not completed by the 18th reconsidered, and it
was determined to take no action until the Goth. by
which time it was we'll known, all the wages would
have been paid 1t might. therefore, be entirely safe
for us to ignore the whole matter under the belief
that no injury can result to us from it..
GET RID TROUBLESOME MEMBERS
We certainly do not CLAIM the right to interfere in
any manner with our men joining any society they
think fit to become members Of but if any se-
cret society makes direct attack upon
us we must decline to have anything
do with it's members. and therefore, if any attempt
should be made at any of our coleries either the
18th or Doth of the month to carry into effect the
threat of the Pottsville meeting. you will at
dismiss from the employment of the company all
members of the knights of Labor who may take part
in it, You will find enclos ed carefully prepared lists
the members of the order in the principal districts
in the country, and within a few days will for
ward you copies of other lists. which will COM
plete the membership in our region. !!
trust that if the opportunity is offered
to you you will make OF It to
get rid of all troublesome men and all agitators.
With steady work, fair wages and cash ayments you
should be able to make selection from the very best
men in the entire coal region, and to secure tho
services of Industrious. respectable and God-fear-
ing men, who will feel that their welfare ia
identified >-Gith that of the company, and who will
aways5e glad to reciprocae the feelings of friend
ship and good will with which we desire to regard
all of our employees -7.a4t.
f. Tbs letter win create . tremendous sensation
among the working classes Of the region generally,
but among those who belong to the Knights Of Labor
in particular 1t will show them that all their plans
known and will prsbably have the effect of break
ing up the order, at least in this county.