The Portland daily press., 1886-03-18
THE LABOR QUESTION.
Thirteenth Day of the Gould System
Strike.
Two Knights of Labor Fined for Ma
licIous Mischief.
New England Shoemakers Arranging
a Schedule Of Prices.
No Action Taken by the Boston
Street Railroad Companies.

GALVESTON, Tex, March ia special to
the News, from Waco, says: Great interest
was exhibited about the court room yesteT-
day, during the progress of the trial Of
James Murray and James A. Anthony, two
Knights of Labor, who were arrested on the
in disabling freight locomotive on the Mis-
souri-Pacific road. The engine was pulling
the last freight train which reached this
point from Fort Worth. The locomotive
was killed in the presence OF several persons
near the depot. The Knights watched the
progress of the trial with the keenest inter
est, and when the jury entered and the fore
man read the verdict, guilty as charged,
the Knights exhibited surprise. The pun
ishment was assessed at q fine OF 800 each.
Counsel for the Knights has been instructed
to move for a new trial, and if this is refus-
ed to appeal the case. Tne Knights claim
that inasmuch as no permanent injury was
done to property, the offence does not come
under the statute.
Citizens outside Of the circle of Knights
approve the verdict, not that they desire
these particular Knights to be punished, but
as a wholesome precedent indicating the
purpose of the authorities to punish offences
Hnder the State law.
ST LOUIS, Mo-, March 1.-THE thirteenth
day of the Gould system strike opens with
as little, if not less, hope of speedy resumps
tion of freight traffic as ever. Suburban
passenger traffic has been partially reinsta-
ted with the aid of policemen and deputy
Sheriffs, whose presence on the trains pre-
vents the Knights of Labor from influencing
the engineers to leave their trains. and the
effort will, it is expected, be made today to
run out all the suburban trains on their
schedule time.
Vice President Hoxie's reply to Martin
Irons, chairman of the Knights of Labor ex-
ecutive committee, inclines many to the be-
lief that the company will attempt no settle
ment with the strikers as body, but that 1t
will wait until the number OF new men en-
ployed on the lines shall be sufficient to car
~ on its business. Should this prove to be
true, it is understood by the Knights of La
Dor here that the order which called those
out, who are now striking, will be followed
by one which will cause every member OF the
order, employed upon the Gould road and
their Southwestern connections, to cease
work.
The situation so far as the East st. Louis
switchmen is concerned, remains unchanged
The men are at work as usual this morning,
and it is understood that their grievances
will be remedied without resort to strike
Iron Workers Discharged for Being
Knights.
CHICAGO, March ia special from De-
troit Mich, says that % employees of the
Eureka iron works at Wyandotte, who had
recently joined the knights of Labor, were
discharged yesterday. On asking for
an explanation they were Informed
that it was against the policy of this compa-
ny to employ members of labor organiza-
ton.
Roston's Street Railroad Employees,
Boston, March 1.-THE directors sof the
Metropolitan Street Railroad held protract.
ed meeting today to discuss the schedule of
time and wages presented by the Knights OF
Labor No decision was reached, and Presi-
dent Richards refused to tell what happened
at the meeting, stating that nothing would
be. given out for publication until the whole
that it would probably take week and
more to arrive at settlement.
Moody Merrill, of the Highland Railroad
Company, said to-day
81 had a very pleasant meeting with the Knights
of Labor committee. They are bright and sensible
men, and if all the Knights Of Labor are as Sensi-
BILE there will be no differences or difficulties be-
tween their organization and the highlanda L RAJ, al;
directors, but within a week the matter will be
brought up, and action will be taken thereon.
The matter of time will not create any differences
as the Highland road has always done right by its
employees.
Equalizing Wages of Shoemakers.
BosToN, March ia meeting has been
held here, which may bring about the impor-
tant result of equalizing wages in the shoe
factories throughout New England. There
were 200 delegates present, 80 Of whom were
from Brockton, and the others represented
almost every other town where there is an
Assembly of Knights of Labor in New Eng
land. The object of the meeting was to
form an association of knights of Labor,
which shall be made up wholly Of shoe
makers, the wish being to have none but
shoe operatives in the councils. The advan-
tage which the workmen expect to gain is an
eQualizing of prices making it impossible for
manufacturers in Maine to underseH the
manufacturers in Massachusetts. The meet
ing adjourned subject to the call of a COM
mfttee When they meet again it will be to
arrange prices on the Brockton standard.