Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-04-15
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EEr. PoyVderiy's opinion Regarding
the state Of affairs Southwest.
New York Herald special
SCRANTON, Pa, April 7.--General Master
Workman Powderly was at his desk to-day,
looking nale and haggnrd, when the Herald
correspondent called to inquire after his
health. Although bearing traces OF his
severe illness, he was in cheerful spirits,
and deep In the work OF answering the
letters that lay heape1 upon his desk.
''You have heard OF the stormy time at
Fort Worth few days ago and at st. Louis
to-day 2" suggested the correspondent.
'Yes. The condition Of affairs seems to
be deplorable, but II IA not the fault of our
organization. The Order OF the Knights of
Labor is founded on peace, and can havo
no sympathy with law-breakers. whether
they be monoplists or communists. Tho
information have received is so meagro
and fragmentary, however. that l am not
prepared 10 say much on the situation as 1t
exists at the present.
evil the executive board undertake any
further negotiations looking to settlement
OF the difficulty, and do you expect to go
to the scene of the Disturbance"
SIN refusing to arbitrate the matter Man
ager Hoxie left very little for the executive
board to do. understand that the mem
bers who arc on the ground, taking this
view OF the case, have left the settlement to
the local assemblies. For my own part l
shall remain here TO attend to the pressing
duties which demand my personal atten-
ton. Had l remained at home instead Of
going TO New York, we would not have to
deal with one-half the misunderstanding
that afterwards arose.
''What do you think OF Congressman
| Curtin's proposition to have a committee OF
| Congress to investigate the cause of the
| Southwestern trouble ?"
sit has my heartiest approval, and sim
| cerely hope Congress will appoint such a
| committee, with instructions to make the
| investigation thorough, and report fear
lessly who is at fault in this conflict. A
/ great many Of the men engaged In the
| present strike were induced by the COM
| panies some time ago to make their homes
In the Southwest, and the entire story of
the treatment of those men should be
| brought out"
"Have you any idea how the strike will
end ?"
mo man can tell. 1t was undertaken
| without the authority of the General Exec
utive Board of the Knights Of Labor. We
tried to effect a peaceful settlement Of the
conflict by arbitration, but the actions of
Gould and Hoxle made such thing i'm
possible; and we feel that we are in no way
responsible for the result"
rs there any likelihood OF trouble on
other ltnesg'
mo, and believe am justified in say
ing that this is the last railroad strike you
will'ever see in this country. The present
conflict, bitter as II has been, has mad the
good result of teaching both sides useful
lesson-namely, that strike is the very
worst thing they can have"
"Will 1t affect the Knights of Labor 2"
at cannot. Our order Is founded on the
undying principle of Justice. We believe
in peaceable, common sense methods for
the settlement Of all disputes arising be-
tween employer and employed, and 1t can
not be weakened by any local outbreak that
general executive board OF the organlza-
ton. We intend that hereafter there can
be no strike until such time as the matter
in dispute shall be submitted to the highest
authority in the order and all efforts for the
arbitration of the difficulty have been ex-
hausted.