The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-04-29
LABOR INVESTIGATION.
A NUMBER OF WITNESSES BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE,

AiNAa bhA hNHiN ANH'''''H9 = wv Wv"
sponslbIe for the Present strike,
WASHINGTON, April 9A-'so great was the
crowd about the room whore the labor In
vestlgating committee Is taking testimony
that 1t became necessary 10 exclude the mis-
cellaneous popuace. A deputy sergeant-at-
arms was stationed no tho door and only
members Of congress, witnesses and repre-
sentatlyes Of the press were admitted until
The jam was over,
Frederick Turner, Of Philadelphia, general
secretary Of the Knights Of Labor was the
ilrst witness 10 testify, lie related what he
know Of the conference between Messrs,
Gould and Powderly In regard to arbitra-
tion IL contained nothing new Then no
made some statements In reference 10 the
Knights Of Labor rs an organization Tho
average membership Of local assemblies was
about 100, he said An assembly could not
be- organized with less than ten members
while some Of them had a membership Of
5000, Asa body the knights did not move
IN politics
Mr. Parker, Of the committee, produced
petition officially signed by large number of
assemblies, asking congress 10 legslate for
The free coinage Of silver The witness said
the petition was not promulgated by tho
national organization; that ho had never seen
Il before, aud that thore was not q movement
In favor or against any special legislation by
the general organizations The witness was
present at u cpference with Nice-President
Hoxie of the Missouri Pacific In st. Louis, In
reference TO arbitration, lie loft for ~, Louis
on March 3lst, to see that the supposed agree
ment for arbitration was properly executed,
"Mr Hoxie treated NJ dscourteousy, and
stated that ho would treat with us only IA
American cltlzons,n said Mr., Turner "and
not as officers Of the knights Of Labor"
In reply 10 q question by Mr., Grain, the
witness stated that the general executive
board oronlcers had nothing todo with order
ing strikes; that they had no authority 10 or
der strikes; they could approve or dlsapproye
strikes; and aid or refuse assistance 10
strikers The general officers negotiate tho
settlement Of strikes NJ, Hoxic, In refusing
b. negotiate with officers Of the Knights Of
Labor said he only wanted 30 per cent Of
The men who had been In the employ of the
Missouri Pacific; that he had been compelled
a year before 10 sign an agreement reducing
the hours Of labor and increasing the num-
ber Of men; now that the contract was
broken ho would avail himself Of the OPP
porMnity of decreasing the number Of mon
and increasing the hours Of labor
Mr., Hoxio refused TO take back In the em.
ploy Of the company any striker who was a
Knight Of Labor although he took back
strikers who were not knights, All knights
were refused work, whether they had been
strikers or not One OF the causes Of the
strike was thnt the men were worked more
hours than they were paid for Martin
Irons, secretary Of District lOl Knights OF
Labor, ordcredr<ho strike, II Mr., HoSie had
agreed 10 take bacS all Of the employees who
were members Of the Knights Of Labor who
were not guilty Of destroying property tho
strike would have ended at the time Wit
ness visited st. Louis, 1--WE wanted peace,"
Bnid the witness "and not strike. But tho |
strike should have been made In January |
Inst, nj the time the first bill Of complaints |
was laid before Mr. Hoxic Tho aggrioyod |
knights allowed the matter 10 run on, how
evor until the public could soo nothing 10 /,
Justify the strike"
"HOye 30 per ceut OF tho men been taken !,
back y inquired Mr., Grain.
"Mr Gould says 10 por cent Of the mon
who went on the strike are at work.
"Mr Hoxic,n said Mr. Grain, "claimed 70 !
be willing TO take back Knights Of Labor Is !
Il true that ho was willingr
"No,n replied the witness, "for while Mr. !
Hoxio was claiming 20 be willing TO take back
striking knights, his suporintondents were ro' ,
fusing 10 do 40 When man applied for !
work he was asked II he was Knight OF /,
Labor, aud upon answering aliirmatiyely ho !,
was told he was not wanted
Mr. Turner said there were number OF !
assemblies of Knights Of Labor composed Of !,
colorcd mon In Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ar a.,
kansas, Texas, etc, aud two or throo hun T,
drcd assemblies composed Of ladies'
1--WE arc trained 0id he, mot 10 believe /,
IN strikes, and strikes occur generally ON ac- F,
count Of parties refusing 10 meet each othor,h /
"s the strike over" inquired Mr. Grain
al don't think so,n replied the witness "our !
pooplo are not at work. The witness ro- !
ferrlng 10 tho arbitration bin before con-
grcss, saId that ho agreed with President |
Cleveland that thoro should bo n permanent !
tribunal for arbitration; that II would DO /,
better than temporary arbitrotoS selected |
under excitement, ofton, rs they would be |
under the bill before congress, He would !
Ike 10 500 arbitration made compulsory
al think the proposition Of congress bettor !
than TINT Of the president said Mr., Grain, |
Hfor the arbitrators selected under our bill |
would be citilons In the vicinity of the labor |
troubles aud they would fool an interest In !
tho differences satisfactorily and |
Would you, as an advocate
OF compulsory arbitration bo willing 10 |
comply with an arbitration order that would |
put you 10 work nj a dollar u dayi'
al would, replied tho witness ~ believe |
that compulsory arbitration Is the only kind
Of arbitration that win succeed"
allow would you force the railroads 10 ar
bltnteN
~ don't know how wo would compel u rail-
road 20 nrbitrate Thoarbitroton law should,
however affect both sidcs,n
Mr. Mcdowell, recalled, stated that, In his
opinion, arbitration must bo voluntary and
upheld by public opinion, He did not on
dorrc the position on the subject oxpresscdby
tho president
Mr., Powdcrly stated 10 the committee that
Mr. Gould was mistaken In some ports Of his
testimony. He (Mr, powdcrly) never told
Mr. Gould that he would deprive the striking
assemblies OF the Knlghts of Labor In tho
southwest Of their charters for any reason,
He had no authority 10 deprive any assembly
OF Its charter for disobcying his ordos Mr.,
Powdorly dIsavowed all responsibility OF tho
trouble IN tho southwest He was notrospon-
sIble for u, aud had acted 10 stop II as much
ns he could. He also stated that ho had never
dealt IN stocks, and was not froquenter OF
brokers offices; ho never went 10 brokers' Of
fees, and he know Of no man In the orgoniEa-
tion who was dealing In stocks, Ho refuted
the insinuaton by Mr. Hopkins that he (Mr
Powderly) or any other officer of the oxecu-
tive board, or any man prominently connect.
od with tho ORDER was spcculoting on the
strength Of the strike.
Mr. Mcdowell made u statement similar 10
that of Mr. Powderly concerning the insin-
uation by Mr. Hopkins that he or any ono
..H.N - 1.