The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-21
THE LABOR QUESTION.
MR.. POWDFRLY BEFORE THE
HOUSE COMMITTEE.
The Aims and Objects Of the knights
OF LabOr-GrleVances Of the
Werkingmen.

difficulty Of obtaining the uss Of
cCnveD ent room in the Capitol tn
committee had to hire one in an ada
cent building-the Cjngressiona
Hotsl-st which the accommodation
we're very deficient. The hour o
meeiin was fixed at IL o'clock noon
bat IL was 80 o'clock before the com
mi tee got b work. Ii consists Of Elk
Gov. Curtin OF Pennsylvania, chair.
man; Messrs. Burns OF Missouri,
Grain of Texas, Cultivate OF Ohio,
Stewart Of Vermont, Parker of New
York and Buchanan OF New Jersey.
All the members wers present except
Mr.. Stewart, who is absent by leave Of
the House. Among the prominent
persons in attendance were, as repre-
sen alives Of the Knights of Labor
T. v PoEderlv, grand master work
man; J W Hayes and William o.
Mcdowell, m ambers Of the Executive
Boaid, and Frederick Turner, grand
secretary; as representative of the
railroad interests: Wager SWaine,
counsel. aud as representatives. Ct the
Women's League Of America: Mrs.
Charlotte Smith and three other
ladies'. A corps Of stenogrsphers was
on hand to make full report Of the
proceedings for the railroad compa-
nice
Mr.. P0wDRRLY
was the first witness, and as such,
Was ssoTn by the Chairman. He is
very far from filling, at least in out
ward appearance, the typical idea OF
the torney haI ded fon of toll. On
the contrary, he appears 10 be a quiet,
reserved, delicats looking gentleman,
who has spent some fifty years OF ex-
i-tsnca in an easy, contented way.
he dresses plainly, is closely ahaven,
except as to lonR, dropping nous
taohe; wears spec a lies and has a high
intellectual forehead.
The Chairman, addressing him.
said: You understand that this
committee ia raised by the House Of
Representatives for the purpose, il
possible, of getting down 10 the rea.
soDh for the unrest and disturbance
which now exists in the country. and
especially as to the conflicts between
labor and capital, and between the
employer aud the employee. This
committee is fully sensible Of the
course YOU have taken in your pre-.
v'ou7 life, and OF your disposition to
reconcile the unrest OF the people.
Therefore, we ca you as the first wit. |
Lees. Be pleased now, to give 10 the
committee, in your own language,
our impressions as to this matter"
The examination Of Mr.. Powderly
eK'ended over the history Of the re.
cent strike and troubles. 1t was quite
Z 1teresting, but presented nothing new
or remarkable.
while i was in the West" said
Mr. Ppwdelly, 81 heard from the men
of little abnse which do not think
he manager OF the Missouri Pacific
.ailroad knows anything about. Along
lhe Iron Mountain railroad they have
system of taking % cents month
Z ON the wages Cf a man who receives
~ day, and 80 on in propoit on, for
Y hat they call hospital fund. Then,
the men claim that as soon as they are
AIKEN sick they are DISCHARGED and
ARE denied the right OF entering he
b 9fpitsl. Then there are instances.
Fhich can be proved, where me n have
n de contracts 10 buy land from the
,omrany on regular yearly install
nents, and where, having paid ali but
he last insisl'ment, they were dis
'na'ged ION the employment OF the
company. In that section 4 the coun.
W 1t Ia ditf, rent from the East. Men
annot go into the next town and Get
S'tnat on, and the consequence has
' that, in at least one particular
!" lie man was obliged TO remain
q that he lost his property. The
.'r i'm that there are teyeral In. |
s"..' VI that kind. I
haiIman-Can Won have wit.
't called before the committee TO
npse faCts2 I
Powderly-Undoubtedly II l Q
I" or ectly informed.
lr Bnchanan-In your INQUIRIES q
nave found that these causes of !
] potent existed2 O
VI Powdtrly-Yes. II
The Chairman-Will you state The U
1rposs OF the organization of the 8
nights OF whether is pur- 8
oses are the protection tf the inter q
! a abor, and whether il is peace o
Il In i's action2 II
Mr. Powde'ly-The aim of the or Z
lnisaiion Of the knights Of Labor Ia
benz IL the laborer and to secure a '
otter ieeli & between him and his I
nplnyer, All our methods aye peace c
H. We never counsel anything of a
client nature. A member of the or
i1isatiOn may, once in a while, COM y
IL acts OF violence. We cannot help
lat. II is matter beyOad our con- g
oil; because, when men feel that they
ave endured wrong, there Is no law .
hich Can properly restrain them. 6
The Chsirmsn-Dn ! understand
vat the Knights OF Labor as an or
lniEstiOn do protect labor, not only j
4 railroads, but also in mines and !
Ctories2
Mr.. Powderly-We attempt to do
lat; our association is intended to be p
n educational one. We aim at hav- I
x our members study the conditions /
y which they ara surrour d d, not 4
My ther own condition but those tf
le men for whom they work. c
Mt Buchsnan-In order to rave l
le way 10 intelligent action? r
M Powderly-Yes, sir. | have /
aimed that il is no more than riVht l
II both 10 meet on equal terms, aud /
tave a thorough unders' snding of v
le vents Of each other; and it seems n
me- until they do that they cannot {
-onerly fix up their differences. I
Tho Chair--I do rot ask Won 10 di-
llge shy of the secrets Of he Knights [
Labor. but you have stated thai the
j acts # he society is to protect the
borers Of the country so lar as pos.
BILE Gg,il s. the exscions Of incor- G
)rs'ei esp tai. 5
Mr.. Powder y-To protect not only Il
e abor OF the country but TO rliect 4
ufers as well. We desire the y
shall be in such a con- n
lion that they will be abe TO pay u
'od wages. We have no quarrel 1
Ith lCgitimete enterprise. II YOU u
cover t a. Knights of Labor along o
g raiio ds have violated the Law of .
G land or its own laws tard the COM y
idee viii discover hat iaaI) we W 4 II
o. ig dy to ss, Isl in Furnishing tn, m y
M rr., In r-rb. ldsp., tL,s- ri