Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-22
THE INVESTIGATION.
EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE CON-
MITTEE YESTERDAY.
Mr. Mcdowell Describes the Objects Of the
Knights-of-Lsbor Organization, aud
Tells other Things.
rBy telegraph to The pispaich.l

eating Committee was held in the room
Of the House Committee on Elections
q large, airy spartment--which was
crowded 10 It's utmost capacity by
nevspsper.mep, persons directly inte-
rested in the inquiry, and spectators
attracted thereto by feeling Of curiosi-
ty. The hour Of meeting was fixed at
1890, but it was nearly an hour later
When the committee was called 70 or
Ger.
William o. Mcdowell, a rather I'M
der. sized gentleman with = high fore
head crowned with a suit Of dark hair,
and looking about the age Of thirty
eight, which be stated he was, was
sworn and examined. lie stated be
was a manufacturer Of machinery. He
was lay member OF the Knights oil
Labor, but held no official position.
Chairman: Without divulging any Of
your secrets, will you please state what
are the objects of that organization
Witness To elevate members by
helping them to educate themselves :;
by helping them to save that which the
average workman has wasted through
bad habits /; to lift him from the condition
into which he has fallen through such
habits, and make him thereafter an en-
p)oyer instead Of an employee; to so
educate him by comparison Of ideas and
by discussing questions that help to
educate that be is able to deal with and
grasp subjects which affect not only
himself but his employer, that he may
become q better workman, command
better wages, and by cooperating with
his employer help him to such profits
that he will be able to pay better
wages.
Chairman Are there any injunc-
lions on the Knights of Labor under
which the public could not know all
that you state!
Witness ] do not understand that
there is nything in the rules Of the or
ganization which prohibit any member
from telling just the facts that have
been brought out by your question.
In response to a question by Mr..
Grain witness made statement cover
irg all the details OF the attempt TO ar
blirate between the Knights OF Labor,
represented by Powderly, and the Mis-
sour Pacific. represented by Gould.
He read letters which passed between
those gentlemen on March 9th. and
which have already been published.
Witness not having copy Of one Of
The letters, General Swsyne rose and
said that as counsel for the railroad
company he would be glad to supply a
copy.
MIR. Buchanan said that while he did
not object to the admission Of papers
in possession of any body, he did not
wish it 10 be understood that the com
mittee had taken any action in regard
TO parties being present by counsel.
The Chairman {: We have no counsel
here.
General Swayne apologized for having
addressed the committee in the capacity
Of counsel. He had thought it was
an understood thing that counsel was
in attendance.
Witness then proceeded with his
statement. After the delivery OF Mr..
Powderly's second letter to Gould he
saw Gould personally, and that gentle
man expressed a desire to meet Pow
deIly and himself on the following
day. They met Gould on the follow
ing day at ii O'Clock, and were re-
ceived in the parlor. Hopkins Joined
in the interview. Gould expressed
himself so strongly in favor Of srbi;ra-
ting the difficulties that it seemed to
witness that an agreement was sure to
be reached. They met again in the
evening, and Gould produced and
read TO Powderly, as result Of the
mornings conversation, telegram he
proposed to send to Hoxie. Gould read
the telegram down to the words " We
see no objection TO sroitrating any
difficulties between the employees and
the company past or future" and then
asked Powderly if it was satisfactory
50 far. Powderly answered in the
affirmative. Gould said Then let it
erd there"
Witness suggested that Gould should
I put the telegram into the form Of let
ter TO Powderly, and POwderly agreed
that If the General Executive Board
approved Of the rest Of the letter the
men would be ordered back to work.
After Powderly left Gould placed the
letter in WITNESSES hand, with the un-
Outstanding that if the order to go to
work was issued the order and letter
were 10 be given TO the press that night.
The order was issued, and it and the
letter given to the press, He after
wards saw Gould and told him tina:
Chairman 0'Neill, OF the House Labor
Cou mittee, had met the Executive
Committee, and the committee had q
copy Of the proposed arbitration bill.
They discussed the bill together. the
iccs being that if the bill passed arbi-
trstion could be had under law, and
If not passed the bill would be a basis
OF al FILTRATION. Towards the end of the
interview Gould received q telegram
which seemed to disturb him, and be
said there was something wrong in St.
Louis.
Witness said A.: Don't at this stage
split hairs. Tell Hoxie, in taking the
men back to work, TO be blind"
Gould wished TO see Powderly, but
that gentleman could not 60, and wit.
ness and Turner went to see Gould,
with the question from Powderly, " Do
| understand from your personal letter
Of this date that your company refuses
arbitration, and must | so telegraph
Martin Irons?" Gould was not in,
and Hopkins answered by saying, d" No,
We DO not be is not so TO understand
| that letter"
Witness proceeded with the his
tory Of the negotiations for settlement,
and read kilograms which have already
been published.
Mr.. Buchanan inquired whether in
fact an order for the men to 20 to work
had been issued by the Executive
Board as the result Of the negotiation: