The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-04-22
JAY GOULD's Reilly.
The following is Jay Gould'S reply to
Mr.. PoWderly:

NEW YoRx, April u. 1856.
| r. 7. PO'r6erly, Esq. g. W. w. X. Of L.:
DEAR SIR-At twelve O'Clock to-day re-
| ceived from Mr. VIM. II. Mcdowell, whom
| you brought with Won to our recent confer
! ences, p letter in which he says by yes
| terday's mail rece we'd letter written by
| Mr. Powderfy addressed to YOU inclo5ed in a
| letter addressed to me. With this hand
| YOU the letter addressed TO you by Mr..
| POwderiy. and copy OF Mr.. Powderly's let
| ter to me inciOsng the same" The follow
! ing is a copy of the letter Mr.. Mcdowell sent
me as coming from you:
! GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ORDER OF KNIGHTS OF
LABOR OF AMERICA.
| OFFICE OF GENERAL MASTER WORKMAN, (
SCRANTON, Pa, April Is, 1856. J
| Ny DEAR MR. MCDOWELL: l inciose vou
| letter which yOu are to read and deliver to
! the man for whom il is intended. I do not
| care whether Won deliver it in person or
| through the medium o. another. only ask
| that it he placed IN his hands. If vou have
| succeeded in efecting settlement with him
! do not give IL to him. IL yo1 think there is
| prospect of an Immediate setilem INT do
| not give it to him. But If such is not
| the case | want it placed in his hands.
Allow m eitherto consent or make a re-
| ply. IL he consents to an honorable set
| Element, then the letter will n-ver see the
! light of day. but il he does not so act. then
! it will be published to the world and from
the time he opens up the hall in a legal way
! we will continue to wage the battle with
him. His wealth can not save him il this
fight IL begun. Let no one know OF the
existence OF this letter till after five o'clock
of the Gav yoI deliver it Then. IL he
makes no reply let it 90 to the world. Let
him know the limit of the time allowed. l
sincerely hope that there will be no more
necessity for its publicity. Hoping for the
best remain very truly yours
Tow. 0. Mcdowell, Esq., New YORK
"T thus received your letter to me dated
Scranton, Pa, April II, lSS;.' at the same
time and by the same agency that l received
your foregoing letter of instructions to Mr.
Mcdowell The animus and purpose of your
letter to me cannot be fully understood
without knowing the contents of that one. /
was peTem ptOrily notified ut the same time
that must answer your letter by five o'cloS
o-day. and was grsciouslT given until that
hoIr TO respond.
Your letter to me embraces two subjects
one relating to me personally and the other
to the relation OF the knights of Labor to q
railroad company OF which 1 am the presi-
dent, and, in some degree. the representa-
tive of its public and private duties l shall
refer 20 the first subject very briefly The
circumstances above given, under which
your letter was delivered, as well as its
tenor and spirit. place the purpose in writ
ing it beyond any fair doubt. It would seem
to be an official declaration that the KNIGHTS
sonaIly unless the Missouri Pacific COMPANY
should WELD to its demands in what
you call the strike on that road.
In answer to these persons threats beg to
say that am yet free American citizen. I
am past forty nine years of age. and was
born at ROxbury, Delaware County, in this
industry, temperance and attention to my
own business, have been successful. per
haps beyond the measure OF my deserts. IL,
as you say. am now to be DESTROYED b. the
knights of Labor, unless I will sink nv
manhood, so be it. Fortunately, I
have retained my early habits ~ in
dustTy. Mr. friends. neigh bors and business
associates, know me well. and 1 am quite
content to leave my personal re cord in their
hands. If any of them nave aught 70 com
plain o.. will be only too glad to submit to
any arbitration. II such oarties. anv of
them, wish to appoint the Knights OF labor
or you as their attorney. such appointment
is quite agreeable to me. but until such an
election is made it viii naturally occur TO
you that any interference on Your part
in my personal affairs is, 20 say
the least. quite gratuitoGs Since L
Was nineteen years of age have
been in the habit of employing in my
various enterprises large numbers Of per
sons, PROBABLY at times as hign is fifty thnu-
sand. distributing often three or four million
dollars per month to different pay rolls 1t
would seem little strange that during all
these years the difficulty with the kGignt= OF
Labor should be my first Any attempt 70
connect me personally with the late strike
on the Southwestern roads, or any r=spnnsi-
biiity therefor. Is equally gratuitous, as you
well know. IL is trle am the presi lent
of the Missouri Pacific. but when this strike
occurred was far away on the ocean, and
beyond the reaeh of kilograms / went
away relying on your promise made to me
last August that there should be no strike on
that road, and that if any difficulties should
arise you would come frankly to me with
them Mr. Hopkins, the Vice President of
this company, who was present and cog
infant OF this arrangement with you, in my
absence sent you promptly when the pres
ent strike broke out tue following tele-
grams:
NEW YORK. March s. 1885.
To I. v PowDERLT, SCRANTON, PA: Mr..
HoXie telegraphS that the Knights of Lab or
on our road have struck and refuse to allow
any freight trains to run, saying that they
nave no grievances, but are only strik ing
because ordered to do so IL tners are any
grievances We would like to talk il over with
YOU We understood you to promise that
no strikes would be ordered without con
sultation.
ISignedI a. Z HOPKINS.