The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-04-24
LABOR lNQUIRY,
secretary Turner's Testimony PowdsrII
UOutrAdIuvS aould's Statements,

secretary Turner's Testimony POwdsTlJ
UOntrAdlovS Gould's statements.
WASHINGTON, D. O., April $50 great
was the crowd about the room where thu
Labor Investigating Committee is taking
testimony that It became necessary 10 ex
clude the miscellaneous populace to-day
A deputy seTgeant'at.lrms was stationeC
at the door, and only members OF Con
gress, witnesses and representatives o.
the press were admitted until the Jan.
was over. Frederick Turner, OF Philadel-
phia, General Secretary OF the knights Of
Labor, was the hrst witness to testify. HI
related what he knew Of the conference
between Messra. Gould and PoWderly, In
regard to arbitration. 1t contained moth.
| ing new. Then he made some statements
in reference to the Knights Of Labor as al
organization. The average memberBhip
Of local assemblies was about 100, hG said
An assembly could not be organized with
less than ten members, while some Of
them had membership OF 5000. AS o
body the Knights did not move in poll
tics.
The witness was present at a conference
with Vice President Hoxle, OF the Nilsson.
Il Pacific, in st. Louis, In reference to ar.
bitration. He left for st. Louis OH March
81, to see that tho supposed agreement fol
arbitration was properly executed. "Mr.
HoXis treated us disCourteously, and
stated that he would treat US only at
American citizens" " said Mr., Turner, "and
not as officers Of the Knights Of Labor"
AS TO ARBITRATION.
The witness, referring to the arbitration
bin lbeiore Congress, stated that he agreed
With President Cleveland that there
should be permanent tribunal for arbi.
tration; thatit would better than tempo.
rary arbitratora seleCtedunderexciteme1lt
often, as they would'b be under the bill be.
fore Congress. He would like 10 see arbi.
tration made compulsory.
II think the proposition Of Congress
better than that OF the President" said
Mr.. Grain, "for the arbitfators selected
under our bill would be citizens in the
vicinity OF the labor troubles, and they
would feel an interest in sdjusting the dill.
ierenCes satisfactorily and permanently.
Would you, as an advocate OF compulsory
arbitration, be willing 10 comply with an
arbitration order that would put you TO
work at q dollar day?"
~ would" replied the witness. II be.
lieve compulsory arbitration is the only
kind Of arbitration that will succeed"
GLOW would you force the railroads To
arbitrate7n
~ don't know how we could compel a
railroad company to arbitrate. The RIbl.
tration law should, however, affect both
sides"
Mr.. Mcdowell, recalled, stated that In
his opinion arbitration must be voluntary,
and upheld by public opinion. He did
not endorse the position on the subject
expressed by the President yesterday.
Mr.. PowdOrly stated to the committee
that Mr.. Gould was mistaken in some
parts Of bis testimony Yesterday. He
(Mr. Powderly) never told Mr.. Gould that
he would deprive the striking assemblies
OF Knights Of Labor In the Southwest oI
their charters for any reason. He had no
authority 10 deprive an assembly Of its
charter for dis0beying this order. Mr..
Powderly diBavowed all responsibility oi
the trouble In the Southwest, He was not
responsible for II, and acted TO stop II
as much % he could. He also stated that
he had never dealt In stocks and was moi
q frequentei Of brokers Offices; he never
went 10 brokers' offices, and he knew eI
no man In the organisation who was deal.
Ing in stocks.
MIR. Powderly also refuted the inainua.
tion Of Mr.. Hopkins yesterday that he
(Powderly) or any other officer Of the
Executive Board, or any man prominently