Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-08-27
WHEELING, w. VA. THURSDAY MORNING. AUGUST 81 1885.
7faE KNIGHTS VS.. GOULD.
A Conference of Kailread 0ficia.s an
Knights of Labor.

A Confluence OF Railroad Ohicia,s and
knights of Labor.
New York, August 26--Jay Gould, A.
A. Talnisdge, General Mansger Of the Wa
bash road, General Manager Hoxie, Of the
Southwestern system and Capt. Hays, first
Vice President Of the Missouri Pacific rail-
road this afternoon received delegation
from the Executive Board Of the Knights Of
Labor which is here to effect q
settlement Of difficulties between the Wa
bash and Knights of Labor. From sources
near to the railroad men it is learned
that Mr.. Gould informed the committee that
the officials Of the Wabash were not opposed
to the knights of Labor as an organization
they rather approved Of it. The company
had never offered such Q proposition to the
men ss has been stated, IN effect that they
might break with the Knights as condi-
ton of employment. Talmadge, speaking
for them, explained that when the new man
sgement began nnder receiver many
changes we're eessitated-lessed lines
were got rid Of and expenses curtailed. The
failure of the wheat crops has been felt and
constituted pne cause for economy. The
committee suReestea as a means of
settling the &8cnlty thst all men employ
ed since June l6ih in the place Of union
men, be discharged and the old hands be
reinstated. Those who had refused to cut
fiom the organization Of :he Knights as
a condition OF being taken back June 18th,
when the shops reopened. The shops men
toned were those at Ft. Wayne, Ind, De
catur and Springfield, Ills, Moberly, St.
Louis and Sedalis, Mo. The executive
board oi the Knights to-day urged that the
shops were closed June 18th, opened two
days later and then when the old
hands applied for werh they were refdsed
unless they signed an agreement to quit
the Knights. Sixteen hundred nen refused
and we're SCeked out others replacing them.
The conference to day hinged on that if
officials would agree TO discharge those who
took the places Of those locked out, all
would be we'll. The committee demanded
an answer IN fifteen minutes, but the rail
way officials declined such rapidity Of de-
cision and stated that consideration would
be given the matter and an answer later on,
The committee of Knights then departed. Ex-
Mayor Powderly, OF Scranton, Pa, General
Master Workman Of the knights Of Labor,
was seen to night. He gave the substance
OF what was said by officers substantially as
above adding that Mr.. Talmsdge assured
the committee that he had not caused the
discharge of employees because they had re-
fnsed to sever their connection with the
Knights of Labor, and that he did not give
instructions to his assistants to discharge
the men who refused to sign agreement
of June Is. Mr.. Powderly added: IF
necessary we can present proofs that such
orders came from headquarters" The
gentleman continued and said that Mr
Tslmadge had asked for time in which to
consider the question and said he wonld not
feel justified while the road was in its pres
ent condition without consulting officials in
answering why the men were discharged
We will have another conference, said
Mr. Powderly, when a reply is expecte1
from The Wabash officials to enr demand to
reinstate the men discharged