The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-15


Dowell, whom you brought with you
to our recent conference, letter in
which he says: BY yesterdays mail
| received letter written by Mr.
Powderly, addressed to you, inclosed
in letter addressed 10 me. With
this l hand you the letter addressed
to you by Mr.. Powderly and a copy CT
Mr.. Powderly's letter to me, inclosing
the same The following is a copy of
the letter Mr.. Mcdowell cent me as
coming from you:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
ORDER OF KNIGHTS OF LABOR
OF AMERICA,
OFFICE OF GENERAL MASTER WORKMAN,
SCRANTON, Pa, April Is, 1886.
My DEAR Mr. MCDOWELL inclose
you letter which you are to resd and
deliver to the man for whom it is in
tended. do not care whether you
deliver it in person or through the
medium of another; l only ask that it
be placed in his handle. II you have
succeeded in effecting a settlement
with him, do not give it to him. If
you think there is prospect
of an immediate settlement do
not give it to him, but if tuch
is not the case, then | want it placed
in his hands. Allow him to either
consent or make a reply. If he con-
sents to an honorable settlement, then
the letter will never see the light of
day, but il he does not 80 act then it
will be published to the world, and
from the time he opens up the ball in
a legal way we will continue to wage
the battle with him. His wealth
cannot save him If this fight is begun.
Let no one know of the existence of this
letter until after o'clock Of the day
you deliver it. Then, if he m axes no
reply, let it 90 to the world. Let him
know the limit of time allowed.
sincerely hope that there will be no
necessity for its publication. Hoping
for the best, | remain very truly
yours, T. V. PowDBRLY.
RECEIVED YOUR LETTER
TO me, dated Scranton, Pa, April II,
1886, at the same time and by the
same agency that l received your fore
going letter Of instructions to Mr.. Nc.
D0well. The animus aud purpose of
your letter to me cannot be fully un-
derstood without knowing the con-
tents Of that one. l was peremptorily
notified at the same time that must
answer your letter by 5 O'Clock to-day,
and l was graciously given until that
hour to respond. Your letter to me
embraces two subjects, one relating to
me personally and the other to the re-
lation of the knights Of Labor
to railroad company of which
am the president and, in
some degree, the representative
Of its public and private duties. l
shall refer to the first subject very
briefly. The circumstances above
given under which your letter was de-
livered, as well as its tenor aud spirit,
place the purpose in writing it be-
yUnd any fair doubt. 1t would seem
to be an official declaration that the
Knights of Labor had determined to
pursue me personally unless the Mis-
souri Pacific Company should yield
to its demands in What you call the
strike ON that road. In answer to
THESE Personal THREATS,
/ beg to say that I am yet an Ameri-
can citizen. l am past forty-nine years
Of age; was born at Roxbury, Della
ware county, this Slate. began life
in lowly way, and by industry, tenn
perance and attention to my own bust
ness have been successful, perhaps
beyond the measure of my deserts. If,
az you gay, l am to be destroyed by
the knights of Labor unless will
sink my manhood, go be it, For
tunately, l have retained my
early habits of industry. Ny
friends, neighbors and busin ess asso-
Cistes know me well, and am quite
content to leave my personal record in
their hands. II any of them have
aught to complain OF, l will be only
too glad to submit to any arbitration.
II such parties, or any Of them, wish
to appoint the Knights Of Laber, or
YOU, as their attorney, such appoint
ment is quite agreeable to me, but un-
til such an election is made it will
naturally occur to you that any inter
ference on your part in my personal
affairs is, to say the least, quite gra.ui-
GUS. Since l was nineteen years of
sge l have been in the habit of en-
ploying in my various enterprises
large numbers of persons, probably at
times as high as $4,000, distributing
often 100000 or 100000 per
month to different pay rolls. 1t would
seem a little strange that during all
these years the difficulty with the
Knights OF Labor should be my first
and only attempt to connect me per-
sonally with the late strike ON the
South western roads, or any RESPONSE
bility therefore, is equally gratuitous,
as you we'll know. 1t is true, l am
the
PRESIDENT OF THE MISSOURI PACIFIC,
but when this strike occurred l was
far away on the ocean and beyond the
reach of kilograms. ! went away re-
lying 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 president and
cognizsnt Of this arrangement with
you, in my absence, sent you promptly
when the present strike broke out the
following kilograms:
NEw YoRE, March 6, 1886.
7. V. Powderly, Scranton, Pa:
Mr.. Hoxie telegrsphs that the
Knights of Labor on our road have
struck and refuse to allow any freight
trains to run, saying they have no
grievances, but are ouly striking be-
cause ordered to do so. II there is
any grievance we would like to talk it
over with you. We understood you
to promise that no strike would be
ordered without consultation.
A. L. HOPKINS.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, March S, 1886.
A, l. Hopkins, Secretary Missouri Pacific
Railway, New York:
Have telegrsphed president for par
hculars, Popers say the strike wac