Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1886-03-25
THE RAILROAD STRIKES.

ST. LOUIS, March 22.-Governors Marina
duke and Martin held their third confer.
ence with Vice President Hoxie yesterday
afternoon. at which the proposition sub
mltted Saturday by the Governors was again
discussed, and formal reply on the part
OF the railway officials was made. The fol-
lowing correspondence is the substance OF
the proceedings of the conference:
ST. LOUIS, March 20, 1885.
II. NJ. Hoxie, First Vice President:
DEAR SIR: On the 18th inst. the under
signed met at Kansas City to discuss the very
serious condition of affairs in the States OF
Kansas and Missouri, growing out of the late
str Ike on the lines of the Missouri Paclnc
railway. and the resulting obstruction OF tho
commerce of the two States.
While at Kansas City we were visited by
discussing with them the various phases of
the strike, we consented to visit you and
urge continuation of the terms of the
agreement made on the 18th of March, 1885,
and: If deemed advisable, recommend such
modifcations of said agreement as might be
thought just to all concerned.
Here follows the agreement made by the
ofhcers Of Missouri and Kansas in 1855 and
acceded to by the railroad
II will be observed that the recommends
ton OF the officers Of Kansas and Missouri
embodied only two propositions, viz:
rirst-That the company restore to it,
same wages paid them in September, 1884, in
and,
Second-To restore all striking employees
70 the1r several employments without preju-
dice to them on account of said strike.
TO these conditions Captain Hayes added
third, viz:
That hereafter said rates would not be
changed, except after thirty days notice
thereof. given in the usual way.
After careful investigation we are unable
to find wherein the Missouri Pacific Railway
company has violated the terms and cOndi-
tons OF the agreement made on the 18th OF
March, 1873, touching its employees in our re-
spective States. No complaint has ever been
made to the Governor OF Missouri, based on
an alleged violation of said agreement and
but one has ever been made to the Governor
of Kansas, and that. on investigation. proved
to be without foundation and was withdrawn
by the party making it.
We are, therefore, forced to the conclusion
that the strike" of March g. 1885, could not
have been and was not based on violation
or the terms OF the agreement of March Is.
1919, by the management of the Missouri Pa
cific Railway Company in its dealings with its
employees in Missouri and Kansas.
We recognize the fact that the Missouri
Pacific Company may justly claim that the
strike of March 6, 1885, relieves it of the OBJ
CATION it assumed in the circular of March
Il, 1885: but, nevertheless, anxious that ami
cable relations be restored between the Mis-
sour Pacific Company and its employees, and
especially, that the far more important in
terests involved in the mighty commerce of
the states of Missouri and Kansas should
not continue to suffer, and that the great
highways Of business and travel should be
at once reopened to the public, we would
respectfully, but earnestly suggest and rec
Ommend that the agreements embodied in
the circular OF March H. 1885, be restored
and continued in letter and spirit, and that
the Missouri Pacific Company re-employ IN its
service all of its Old employees without preju-
dice to them on account OF the late strike,
so far as the business of the company will
Justify their re employment.
We make these suggestions and recon-
mendationS in the interest, as we believe.
alike of the company and its employees, and
more especially the greater interests OF the
commerce II,aessf and people of the two States.
Governor of Kansas.
JOHN S. MARMADUKE,
Governor of Missouri.
HOMES REPLY.
The following is HOxieS reply TO Gov.
ernOrs Marmaduke and Martin.
l beg respectfully to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your communication of this date,
stating that after conference at Kansas
City with delegation of our employees you
consented to visit the undersigned and urge
the continuance of the agreement between
yourselves and other State officials and the
management of this company on March l5
1885. and if deemed adv sable recommend
such modification of such agreement rs
might be thought just to all concerned.
note with pleasure your conclusion after
investigation that the agreement of March
u, 1885, has been kept invio ate by the Mis-
souri, Pacific Railroad Company, and that the
present strike could not have Teen and was
not based on a violation by the management
of this company of the terms of said agree
ment; and have carefully considered your
recommendation that this agreement which
you cOncede to the Missouri Pacific Railroad
Company is DO longer under my obligations
to observe towards those OF its employees
who have abandoned it's services since the
should restored
and continued.
On March 10, 1856. this company inserted in
the newspapers on its line, and posted in
public places upon its prope -ty the following
advert Sement:
Good and competent men will be EN-.
plOyed without reference to their past or
present relations to this company, or their
connection with any society or organization
open, seret, secular or otherwise. Such as
are accepted will be paid the rate of wages
recommended by the Governors and other
State officials of Missouri and Kansas, when
the labor troubles of March, 1885, were ad
justed, the same as have been paid by this
company since that date"
The above notice was designed as q cOntin.
uance so far as the rate OF wages is concerned
of the agreement of March Is, 1855, and is
still in force, thus anticipating the recon-
amount which employees should be paid.
In addition to the foregoing action Of this
company. which is in accord with your rec
nendations as to wages, the company is
of wages equal to that now being paid by
railway companies in the same section of
country.
The further provision of said agreement
relative to notice in case of reduction of
wages is not Objectionable to this company
and will be continued.
Your next and final recommendation that
this company re engage in its service all of
its old employees without prejudice to them
on account of the existing strike, so far as
the business of the company will justify
hair ~n.n am \ ~ N n
company with these qualifications:
The men who have been engaged under the
advertisement of March 10, 1885, will be con-
tinued in our employment. We can not re-
engage or continue in our employ any
persons who have actually engaged in
the destruction or injury of the companys
ton or injury. We shall give preference to
thnaa Of car late employees who have families
and VINO owa homes on the lines of the road.
Il is to be remembered that the loss of traffic
raused by the present strike will, to con-
siderable extent, reduce the necessity of en-
ploying as many men in our shops as hereto
fore.
Thanking you for the consideration you
have given the subject, and trusting your
action will result in an early resumption of
traffic am your eXcellencies' most obedient
servant,
[Slgnedl H. NJ. HOx1E.
After the close Of the conference Gov.
errors Marmaduke and Martin repaired to
Hurst's Hotel, where Martin Irons, chair
man, and several members of the executive
committee of District Assembly 1O1 Knights
of Labor, were in session, and presented to
them the result of their conference with
Mr.. HOXie. Both Governors made brief
speeches to the committee, strongly urging
them to accept Mr.. HoXie's terms and ap
pealng to them to end the strike at once
The last New Hampshire Legis-
lature passed law providing that any
person resident in the State not under |
guardianship or legal restraint, who