Huntsville gazette., 1886-03-20

the Strike - He Says the Knights are
Fighting the Public More Than They Are
the Company--The Effect Upon Manu-
} facturing Enterprises. 81 lna usie aA
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, March 16.--Mr
Jay Gould yesterday, speaking for the
first time respecting the strike by the
Knights of Labor on the Missouri Pacific
{ and the remaining portion of the Gould
Southwestern system, said to repre-
sentative of the Associated Press: 81 first
learned Of the strike while at Havana, and
have been advised by telegraph of the
character of the trouble, more particu-
larly since my arrival here. The strike
on our system was complete surprise to
me for two reasons.
1. We had acceded to all the demands
which had been made upon us by our en-
ployes and were supposed to be working
in harmony with them. ~.
"2. The present strike is made upon an
issue with which we viii have nothing to
do, and which we cannot possible arbi-
trate or control. a .fH4u
.''The present strike" continued Mr..
Gould, originates in the discharge OF as
employe named Hall on the Texas & Pa.
cific, which road is in the hands of the
United States Court. We have no more
right to attempt to control the working
of that system than the workingmen
themselves and would be as completely
in contempt to attempt to do SO as any
other outsider" Regarding another as
pect of the strike Mf. Gould said:
"The public may not be aware of it,
but the same issue was raised when some
men were discharged on the Wabash rail
wav at time when it was in the control
of the United StateSCourt. Mr.. Powder
". chief of the executive committee OF
the Knights Of Labor, called upon me to
secure the reinstatement of these men.
The subject was then fully discussed,
and | told Mr.. Powderly that !
had no power in the matter,
not even an advisory. without request
from the court. AT that interview /
told Mr. Powderly that if any grievances
existed among our men, ii he would
bring them to our attention we would en-
dcavor to right them. We recognized
The necessity of remaining OH good
terms with our people, to whom one-haD
of the earnings of the road 70 yearly.
s'The present strike came without no.
| tice and not in consequence of any griev-
ance cited against rs, and in view Of my
interview with Mr. Powderly. whom be-
| lieved to be fair-minded man, was ali
the more surprising to me-"
AS to the future, Mr.. Could said: .I
am advised that great numbers of the
strikers are not in sympathy with the
movement. and will return to work as
soon as assured protection by the civil
authorities. 1t is our intention to resume
operations asfast and as soon as this pro.
lection is aff0rded.o
In conclusion he declared that he did
not care to discuss other features of the
strike beyond the statement that tie COM
pany could not possibly join hands with
the Knights of Labor against the United
States, Supreme Court in their war on an
other system which he asserted the pres
.ut strike involved. Mr.. Gould further
asserted that the Knights of Labor had evil
| IDENTIFY discovered already, through pub
lic sentiment, that they were exercising
their power in favor of an Issue strictly
against law and order, and that it was
more of a war against the general public
| than the road; it was closing manufac-
| tories along the lines of the road and was
stopping the shipment of coal and other
commodities to points where the people
were liable to suffer great deprivation.
| 1t was more fight Of the public than
| the company, but the latter, in the pro
lection of its own lawful rights, would
exercise every lawful energy to meet the
demands of its patrons in opening the
road in all its departments.
! Mr. Gould stated that he was in receipt
! of telegrans from manufacturers and
| others along the companY's lines stating
| they would be compelled to shut down,
but at the same time placing no blame on
TIE <gulpany or its management.