The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-21
BEGAN THE INQUIRY.
POWDERLY APPEARS BEFORE THE
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE.

Synopsis Of His Tcstimony-New York
Street Cars Going Once More--Another
shot at u Militiaman AT East st. Louis
Situation at Chicago-Kiot in New York.
WASHINGTON CITY, April 2l.-The com
mittee to inquire into the southwest lalor
troubles was cal.el 10 order at :l5 p M
Tuesday, and Mr. Powderly, grand master
workman of the Knights OF Labor orsani-
2ation OF the United States. took the witness
chair. Chairman Curtin asked Mr.. Pow
DERBY to state in general terms what he
knew about the causes of unrest and dis
turbances between capital and labor
Mr.. fowderly said the question was such
broad one and opened up so large field
Of inquiry that he preferred not to attempt
TO answer it without first terrifying himself
with papers and documents, which he had
not with him He preferred to
answer specific questions. Cover
nor Curtin then asked him
what WAS the cause of the disturbances ex-
listing in western localiti T. MIR. Powderly
said it had been enormously reported that
the strike was owing to the discharge by the
Missou. Pacific of man by the name Of
Hall, but this was only one of the
many causes that led to tho strike In
support of this he read the statement
put out by the St Louis Knights of Labor,
reciting their grievances, low salaries, long
hours of iervige, etc Mr.. Curtin then asked
the witness what were the object and aims
of the knights Of Labor organizations Its
object, Mr.. Powderly said, was TO prot act
labor against the exactions of employers The
aims OF the organization were entirely
peaceful, but of course liable to be misun-
derstood by it, members. He ISSUED the
committee that ii it were found that
knights of Labor in the west had violated
the laws of the land. the organization would
be as ready to help punish them as it is
to aid them in redressing wrongs, with
the organization the laws of the land
stand high above any organization or
corporation
When asked what was the attitude of the
organization towards strikers and oycotts,
Mr. Powderly said it aimed to adjust ali
differences by conciiiation and arbitration
1t bad never legislated on
strikes; but had recently legislated on boy
colts to restrain them. The matter of order
ing strikes were left to the local assemblies
| of the order.
Representative BurHes told Mr.. Powierly
that congress, tie committee and the peo-
pie had a great deal of confidence In wit
ness integrity, and asked him il he had
given thought to the question Of congress
sional legislation to remedy the evils com.
planned of by workingmen and would give
the committee his views the subject
Mr.. fowderly said he had given it con
siderably thought and had not yet worked
out the problem He thought though within
a month after he had time to look through
data at home that he could present the com
mittee with an intelligent and perhaps in.
tereSting statement on the subject
Mr. Powderly then presented and read the
| agreement of March 10, 1881 between the
Missouri Pacific company and its en-
ployes-the violation OF which by the
railroad company is alleged torhave been
one OF the causes OF the strike He also
went over some details of the recent strike
and western troubles, but presented nothing
new or remarkable At els the committee
without finishing with Mr. Powderly, ad.
| journed for the day.