Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-03-20
He Says that the Strike is Unjusti
fable and was begun
Without Cause.

Unions and organizations OF Its ein
ployees as have shown disposition t
carry out in good faith their undertak
ings, and ss it has had in the past cor
tracts with your organization
and its representatives have here
tofore had conferences with yoursel
and other members of your executiv
committee it is but Just and courteou
that l should give you the reason TO
this company now declining to NEE
yourself and its executive committee
which would have been done before thi
strike was Inaugurated. The usual oh
ject of such meetings between the rail
way companies, through their represen
tatives and the committees Of their EN-
ployes, is either to discuss such differen
ces as may have arisen in order that al
understanding may be reached of th,
rights aud details existing between then
and such mutual concessions made Al
will avoid strikes and losses resulting
therefrom, or on the other hand to settl,
and compromise such differences be
tween the parties after the grievances Of
the employees has been presented and
tually been had to strike as the only
remedy. In the present ease neither Of
the above reasons for conference exists
but the anomaly is presented of strike
which is without a redressable griev.
ance,. which was entered upon without
notice to the company, and which has
resulted in the wanton and malicious de.
struction OF this companys property by
violence and incendiarism and the almost
total stoppage of its business by threats,
intimidation and force. A review Of the
history of the past year is essential to a
full understanding Of the present condi.
tions. The differences between the
company and its employees resulting in
the strike of March, 1885, were settled
by the voluntary intercession Of the Ex.
ecutives of the States of Kansas and
Missouri, and not with your organiza.
ton. The agreements subsequently, en-.
tered into with the committees Of your
organization have been faithfully carried
out by this company. Minor grievances
under these arrangements have from
time to time been conceded by the man.
agement and adjusted in manner ap-
parently satisfactory to the petitioners,
and for the sake of peace and harmony
this company has repeatedly, on demand
of your organization made changes in
its staff by removals OF officials entirely
satisfactory to the company, but object
ionable to some of your members. In
our meeting with you of last August in
New York your committee then stated
that no grievances or complaint existed
against the Missouri Pacific Railway on
the part OF your organization through
noncompliance with contracts then ex.
isting, but that it was necessary to util.
ize your organization upon the Missouri
Paci 9 road to force the adjustment Of
difficulties then pending with another
Similar action has been
taken by your organization in three in
stances within the last eight months.
First, in threatening that numbers of
your organization upon the Missouri Pa
cifio Railway would strike if it contin-
ued to exchange business with the Wa.
bash road. Second, when the members
Of your organization compelled strike
Of a portion of the employees of this COM
pany in carrying out your boycott
against the Mallory line at Galveston,
Texas. Third, in the present instance,
when the existing strike was forced upon
this company by the discharge OF one G.
A. Hall by the Receivers OF the Texas 4
Pacific Railway, road in the hands OF
the United States Court, and in the man.
agement of which this company has no
voice or control, fact which your or
ganization fully recognized when your
made application to the Re.
ceivers of that road for the reinstate-
ment OF said employees. Instances might
be cited where endeavors have been
made to use this company for the pur-
pose of boycottisg individuals who had
incurred the displeasure Of your organi-
zation and an especially aggravated case
of the failure Of your organization to
carry out its agreement was that of the |
workmen at the Palestine shop, who, |
IN the last days OF February, stopped |
work on account Of an alleged |
grievance, which was thereupon adjusted |
N manner to their entire satisfaction
10 they resumed work and agreed to con- |
.inue under the concessions made by the |
but within ten days thereafter |
lgain left work on the demand Of your
In ordering the present |
'trike it was without any grievance what |
over against this company. These con
.inued stoppages of the work of this |
company without cause have become so
requent that, believing the future will |
30 as uncertain as the past, it cannot 4!
consent to renew the agreement thus |
and arbitrarily abrogated by |
1our organization and longer submit to
{ the management OF our bust |
sess. This company through its |
representatives is, and always has been,
wiling to meet the public through
or individuals on matters Of |
public concern, and if yourself or other
intelligent citizens can suggest practical
whereby the present situation
,an be changed and traffic permanently
-esumed, this company will be pleased |
;e meet yourself and others, as citizens,
but not as representatives of your or.
yanization. to discuss the pending diff. |
,ulties, or any other matters Of public |
interest.
In conclusion, desire to emphatical. |
" state that the responsibility for the |
iuture continuance Of the present uu-
ustifiable strike will not rest with the |
of this company; but mas
much as your organization has commit |
ed the error of striking first and en-.
ieavoring to negotiate afterwards, it has
he power to and should end the present
roubles by permitting such Of our
ormer employees and others as desire to
work to do so. without fear Of threats
md Intimidation, leaving this company
rec to resume it's operations and adjust |
With its employees, as it is at all times
eady and willing to, any grievances they
nay have. (Signed)
II. M. HoxIE,
FIRST Vice-President Missouri Pacific
Railway.
PowDERLY's REPLY.
KANSAS CRY, March l9.-The follow.
ng reply was ssnt Mr.. Hoxie from here
o-night by Mr.. Powderly;
KANSAS Cry, March 10.
70 II. ~ Herie, First Vice President, |
81. Louis, No.,
Since you will not meet me as General
Master Workman Of the Knights Of |
labor, / must decline to meet with you
n any other capacity, and the responsi.
,ility for the future continuance Of the |
trike must not DO charged to the
Knights of Labor, since the executive
'fiicor Of that order will not be per.
nitted to meet and cooperate with |
Tou in settling the strike. IL was my |
Intention, had You consented to meet /
nth nae, to endeavoR to effect such a set
loment as would prevent impoaition
'eing praoticed upon the employees Of |
our company by subordinate officials,
nd put an end TO strikes on your lines
b. the future. (Signedl
PowDRELy.
Mr., FowderIy when seen at late
oue BY an Associated Press represen. !