The Portland daily press., 1886-04-15
Business Meeting in st. Louis Seek
ing to Settle Troubles.
Interesting Correspondence Between
Mr.. PoWderIy and Jay Gould.
Notes and Comments on Labor
Troubles in Various Localities.

RocKLAND, April lathe Courier Gazette
says: For some weeks there has been an unset
tied difference between A. G. Gay g. Co., lime
manufacturers of this city, and the local assem-
blies of Knights of Labor. The trouble was
somewhat as follows: Last fall the firm discharg-
ed one of its employes-his place being filled by
another-the cause for the discharge assigned by
the firm being that he was not a good workman
for the position This spring, however, the
knights demanded that the discharged employe
be reinstated and the one employed in his place
discharged. This the firm refused to do. The
matter was placed in the hands of a special COM
mittee of the Knights. who decided that the bet
ter way out of the difficulty would be to put an en-
tirely new man at work there, and this was done.
The assembly on Hurricane Island presented
the company with schedule of wages last week.
Superintendent White reports that the schedule
was fair in the main. He requested few changes
so that the Hurricane Company might be upon
the same basis as its neghbors. The action OF
the Assembly upon the request has not yet been
announced The conference vas very friendly
and pleasant the Knights showing a disposition
to settle matters amicably and fairly.
ST. LOUIS, April IA Shortly before midnight,
Cass Jones, the man who was shot through the
hip at last Fridays shooting in East st. Louis,
died from the effects of his wounds Jones was
shot while standing just across from the place
where the deputy sheriffs on the Louisville s.
Nashville directed their fusilade. This makes
nine deaths, and another victim is not expected
to live
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and Chicago
q Alton roads seem to be in the best condltion SO
far as their ability is CONCERNED to handle freight
The Louisville & Nashville and Cairo. Short Line
have been busy making up trains this morning,
and it was expected that they would succeed In
sending them out later in the day.
NEW YORK. April 14.-Jay Gould said this
morning that he did not think the news from st.
Louis was of special interest, as the system was
working along in about the ordinary way. When
asked if he had discovered in what way the mem
bers of the Central Labor Union proposed to boy
colt him, replied that he had not and confessed
that he was rather curious to know. Looking
down at his clothes, he remarked, have worn
this suit two winters. and / guess can get along
with it while longer if the tailorS boycott me.
Then, you know, raise almost everything eat
on my place at Irvington, so needn't be alarmed
about getting food.
ST. LOUIS, Mo, April 14.-Atamass meeting Of
citizens last night called to consider the railroad
situation in the Southwest, committee was ap-
pointed of three representatives of the business
int s as sy es 6se
the railroad employees, with authority to endeavor
to bring about speedy adjustment Of the rail rail
ness men, Knights Of Labor and others.
NEW YORK, April 14-Fresh correspondence
between Mr.. Powderly and Jay Gould will be
published tomorrow. Under date of April 18th,
Mr. Powderly writes to Gould from Scranton, as
follows:
The events of the past 4s hours must have de-
monstrated to you the absolute necessity of
bringing this terrible struggle in the Southwest to
a speedy termination You have the power, ALL
thOrity and means to bring the strike to an end.
r ode od t IN my EG ena e ne
the General Executive Board of the Knights of
Labor have done the same, Everything consist
interest of peace, and no false notions of pride OF
dignity have swayed US in our dealings with you
or the gentlemen associated with you.'
After alluding to the recent interview with
Gould, the letter continues:
you can settle this strickland its longer con-
tinuance rests with you and you alone. Every
act of violence and every drop of blood that may
be shed from this time forth must be laid at your
door. The Knights of Labor were not founded to
promote or shield wrong-doing, and today the
Knights of Labor, as an order, stands between
your p aana aa r az om wg e 70 & e
glance to our order; we leave that to themselves.
We will not allow any claims which the order
their restoration to their former positions. The
order of Knights OF Labor asks OF no man to re-
You may deal with them as citizens, if you will.
We will surrender our right to claim these men
as members if they wish. But we will not sur
render our right to see this affair thoroughly in
vestigated.
You have said that the order of the knights of
Labor was conspiracy and secret menace, sc.
| am willing, as chief officer to lay everything
connected with our order bare to the world if you
will on the other hand lay open to the public the
means and methods whereby you have piled up
the wealth you control and allow the tribune Of
public opinion to pass in judgment on the two
and say which is the conspiracy. Do, you accept
adviser to proceed against every man connected
with the Knights of Labor for damages sustained
nn e o Degam bn lTo WeeKs sag sa a
once; lay claims for damages in every court
within whose jurisdiction Knight exists. Pro-
eeed at once, and in every State where you can
recover damages do so if the law will sustain you
in it. Let the majesty of the law be vindicated,
for 1t is just and right that it should be so We
willing to face you before the law and we will
fight you with no other weapons, and for every
violation of the law of the State or nation we win
enter a suit against you. Do not under
crusade against you. On the contrary we
wish to see the law vindicated. If you have
methods by which you have acquired your i'm
mense fortune then 1t is time that the many
offenses with which you are charged should be
refuted. You have remained silent under many
damaging charges of iniuring the State. We will
be your avengers, and If you have been wronged
medium Of the courts of justice. And let me say
right here that nolmoney will buy verdict at the
hands of these courts. There are people who say
and labor; that statement is false. This certainly
means war; but it IS war between legitimate
capital on one hand honest enterprise "a ana honest
court the fullest investigation of our act Do
you dare do the same?
don't write this letter to you either in spirit
of anger or revenge. For you personally have
no dislike. 1 believe that if allowed to follow
your own impulses in this matter you would have
had the strike ended ere this. Those who advise
you do not mingie with the, people aud they do not
care for the people. You have been warned that
your life is in danger Pay no attention to such
talk, for no man who has the interest of his
country at heart would harm hair of your head.
But a system which reaches out on all sides
keeping them out of the legitimate channels of
trade and commerce must die, and the men whose
money is invested in the enterprises which stock
gambling has ,throttled must make common cause
with those who have been denied the right to
earn enough to. provide for the merest
necessaries OF life for home and family.
courts do not speak rashly or ill advisedly.
| have taken counsel from the best legal minds of
the United States and we are prepared to face
you before the courts and now await your action
in the matter 1t is no threat. l play no game of
bluff or chance I speak for 100000 organized
men who are ready to pay out the last farthing
in order that Justice may prevail; You have it in
your power to make friends of these men by act
ing the part of a man and by taking this matter in
your own hands. Will you do So and end this
Strifa in tha interest Of humanity and Our COM