The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-23
DIDN'T HAVE TO TALK.
JAY GOULD GOES BEFORE THE
HOUSE LABOR COMMITTEE,
And After Letting the Members Know
That He Was Not Bound to Talk, Givss
His Testimony All the same-How II
Looks to the Wall Street Wizard.

That He Was Not bound to Talk 0ivss
His Testimony All the Same-How II
W., w,s
WASHINGTON Cry Anril e3-At IL
o,.loc. Thrr.a.,, ,,orr;n,, tho srac;al COM
mi,tee inyestigating the labor troubles rs-
sumed its work Mr. Law Gould. the rail-
road maqnate svas the witness examined.
A iarpe crowd of spectators was present to
see the distinguished personage He asked
for the reading of the resolution under
which the committee was acting, and
when it was read he stated that he
was president of tie Missouri Pacific
railway, and that there were no troubles
existing on his road in the states named in
the resolution He stated further that there
were 10, 1871 men in the employ OF the road
outside of the general Offices and that since
his departure from New YORK he had re-
ceived dispptch from ST. Louis stating
that all was quiet on the road; that ~
freight trains moved on 1t wednesday, tine
same being an increase over that date
of last year. He did not, there
fore, think he or his road came
within the provisions OF the resolutions
Mr.. Bufnes replied that the committee
would like to hear from him something of
the antecedents of the Missouri Pacific
Sat the date OF the resolution under
which you act" said Mr. Gouit, There
were no difficulties existing between my
company and the laborers This was said
for the purpose of informing the com
mittee that the statements about
to lie made, were made voluntarily. Mr..
Gould then entered into detailed statement
OF the organization of the Missouri Pacific
and quickly came down to the recent labor
troubles and the part he had taken in them
He stated, parenthetically, that all he know
of the cause of the trouble came to him
from his subordinates He was first ap-
preached by MIR. Powderly about the
approaching troubles and was informed
that there were differences arising on ac-
count of the wages fixed for the men. Mr..
Gould agreed to ad Just the differences and
stated that be would instruct Mr. Hoxie,
the vice-president of the Missouri Pacific.
In making this agreement he told MIR.
Powderly that he wanted it distinctly un-
| derstood that there should be no strikes on
| the Missouri Pacific and that in the future
when dissatisfaction arose MIR. Powderly
| would come to him and regulate an adjust.
| men. Man between man.
Mr. Gould was than March q on the eve
| of his departure for a cruise with his family
in the West Indies. Some time afterward
| Mr.. Gould learned from Mr.. Hoxie that a
| strike had been ordered by Mr.. Powderly
| and that no excuse could be given for it
that it was on account of a man named
Hall, employed by the Texas Pacific, which
| was in the hands of the United States court
| and not in the control-of the Missouri Pa
| cific At the time of the strike
the Missouri Pacific had l43l:
men in its employ, of which 8, III wer,
] Knights of Labor. These men were mo-
necessary to the operation OF the business
and if they had not resor,ed TO violence anf
taken forcible possession of the road not ,
train would have been missed But the,
seized terminal points and the business of tn.
| road was stoned 1T was forcible seizure'
said MIR. Gould Something the car O
| Russia. with his millions of soldiers behine
him, would not have dared to do
At this noint The statement of Mr Howl,
| concarning the strike which bas has,
r;ntad was read hv Can Swayns M,
Gould's attorney rhe statement showef
that the strike was on account of a fancie(
orievance with another road and al,ace,
that the knights ri Labor had assured Mr.
Hox;a inst bafors the s,rita that no eric,
anca ay;staa AGAINST the Miss,nri pac;Sc
Chairman Curtin asked what this ,na,
Hall had dome that 50 mpcb trouhIa va
made about him.
Gen Swavns read a statament shou;n,
that On Ian % 1874 tha Knigbts of roho
at Marshall Texas. at the inciniencv of tn
troub,e IN tina Texas Pacific had uronosaa
| schame for arbitratiny which was NO
feasible and which was rafpsa,
nv the receivers of that road and declarin,
that that refusal was the real cause of tn
strike and ali the other alleyed raason
were false The controvarsv oyar the eic
cbaroa of the man G. r Hall in the e,n
n,ov Of the Tsxas Pacific was,not the cane
| of thu strite and was hut a xuhtarf,as
The real cause. it dec AIRED. was the re,nsa
of the receivers 10 comply with an unreason
able demand
On March O a notice WAS nostad M,
Gould aaid Inv the oeparal snpar;n,ondo,,
Informing the men who were in the emnIo,
of the Missouri Pacific on March = and VIII
went ON the strike. that thew were dis
harged ms thew had Voluntarily lsft thai
nositions and thus several their connectio,
with the road Notices were also produce
making various announcements to the am
Moves, advertising for new men. etc all n
which have been widely nublisbad Mr.
Could then dascrihad tho acts of ,;o,aro
and destruction of property bv the striker
how they ..killed'' the engines, tore IN tn
track. etc and recited the attemnts If tn
yovernors of Kansas and Missouri In arb
trate the matter The report of Governor
Martin and Marmaduke of their investios
tion and conferen a with Mr. Hoxie was road
sbowino that in their o,inion tn. striL
was NOT on the around of violation of an
comnact with the emploves and knights 4
AMOR nv the Mis,our, Pacific mana yemen,
/ II think this eo,re,rondence shows " sai
Mr.. Gould. at the con fusion of the reaa,n
of some letterssbe,ween Mir. Hoxie and III
Knights of Iator. THAT we have lad tn
horses to the trough but they wouldn'
drink our shops were open, but the me
wouldn't go to work"
Then h. entered into an account of hi
conferences with Messrs. owderly and Nc
Dowell. of the knights OF Labor, which di
not differ materially from the statements @
| thas., ccf,tlaman baforp the co,nmitfan NJ,