The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-05-04
DlGNIFIED DOCUMENT.
Vice-President HOxie's Formal
Reply to the Law and
Order League,
In Response to the Inquiries
Made by the Committee
Sent to st. Louis.
His Guarantee That the Com
pany Will Treat En-
plOyes Fairly.


Vice President Hoxie to committee
of the Law aud Order League recent
Nv sent TO St. Louis to consult with
him and present the claims and the
interests of Sedalia. The letter EN-
braces about the same facts as those
given by the BAzoo on the return of
the committee, with the addition, per-
haps, of the emphat C statement made
+. by Col. Hoxie, that the management
of the Gould lines would not, as has
been charged by the strikers and their
sympathizers, take advantage of the
men returning to work by suRjecting
them to an unjust reduction of wages.
The letter is an able and dignihed
document and will at once commend
itself to the favorable consideration
of all thinking people, who will
doubtless agree with the committee
that it means better days for Sedalia
if only her citizens improve this
golden opportunity and continue in
the good work so well begun.
The committee which recently visited
ST. Louis reported the following
To the Lar and Order League
Your committee appointed to visit the
vice president of the Missouri Pacific rail-
way, in the interest of the City OF Sedalia,
beg leave to report as follows
The committee consisting OF MeSsrs
Stevens, Daily, Gentry and Wilkerson,
Barrett and Morey, went to st Louis and on
the 10th inst. called on Mr.. Hoxie, who re-
ceived them cordially, and conversed freely
upon the situation. The committee asked
no favors or promises from him, but SIM
DIV stated to him that the citizens of Sc
dalia were able and willing to give the
railway company such protection for the
persons of its employs, and for It's property
here, as it had a right by law to receive
and expect that the civil law was fully
enforced violations of the law would
surely be. punished, and all property,
whether private or corporate, would here
after be as safe Us a strict enforcement OF
law, and an overwhelming public s"nti-
ment in favor of law and order, could rem
der it.
Mr.. Hoxie stated that he had not in the
past entertained the most kindly feelings
towards Sedalia, but that he fully APP
preciated the action of the citizens here
during the recent troubles, was greatly
gratifed at the protection that had been
afforded the company from violence and
lawlessness, and that the citizens of Sc
dalia would in the future have cause to
congratulate themselves on the good re-
suits to the city that would follow from
their action. Mr.. Hoxie stated as to the
origin Of the present strike that he had ex-
pected it for soue time; that he became
satisfied that the leaders who had &C
quired power among the Knights of Labor
on the system had determined that a
strike should come, and that he was equal
ly determined that when it did come there
should be no cause for il, and had conse-
quently complied with each and every de-
mand that had been made upon him, until
he was required to perform an impossi-
bility, by reinstating a discharged en-
ploye of a road over which he had no con-
troll, and no connection with, and this fail
ure to reinistate the man Hall, upon the
Texas Pacific road, Mr.. Hoxie declares to
be the sole and only reason given him for
the late strike. Upon the question Of the
railway shops here, Mr.. Hoxie said that
the company had very important plant
here, and would never have any less, and
that he hoped to be able to make decided
increase as soon as the business of the road
should recover sufficiently to enable him to
do so that he had nearly as many men
now as he would need before fall, when he
expected to again have full force in the
Sedalia shops.
:. As to the employees who have left the
service of the road, he stated that he woul
re-employ as needed all OF them
who had not committed, or ad-
vised any illegal act, and without en-
curing as to their connection with the
Knights of Labor, or any other orgaIlrza-
ton, but that they must come to him, not
as members of any such body, but as
American citizens, standing on their own
rights, uncontrolled by committees, and
prepared to give hundred cents worth of
work for every dollar they get. To such
men he promises good wages and fair
treatment, ready ear to all complaints
and Just settlement of all grievances
On this last point we have communities
ton from Mr.. Hoxie, to the chairman OF
the executive committee, as follows:
ST. LOUIS, April 20, 1886.
DEAR SIR-Your favor stating that as
sertions are being to the men who are now
In our employ at Sedalia, 70 the effect that
this company "will as soon as il gets in q
position to do 90, reduce wages to stsrva-
don point" and asking Gin case it be the
intention of the company to keep the
wages Of the men employed in the Sedalis
shops, at the same rate that now exists,
could you not authorize us to % state, in
order that the public may be given an as.
surance that the present scale of wages will
be maintained"
L am glad Of an opportunity to respond
to the REQUEST of your committee, since i,
does not seek to impose conditions in con.
fict with the equitable rights of this COM
pany as an employer Of labor. The cor.
respondence before the public to-day is ar
expression of the willingness OF this man.
aeement to pay its employees "a rate oi
wages equal to that now being paid by
other railway companies In the same sec