Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-21

he Knights Of Labor is an organization ''
, protect labor, not only on railroads ou
also in mines and fsctoriesY
: Mr.. Powderly-"We attempt to do tnat
, Our organization is intended to be an cd
ucstionsl one. We aim at having oul
members study the conditions BY Wnlcf
they are surrounded not only their Owl
condition but the men for whom they
work" .,
Mr.. Buchsnon-"In order to pave the
way to intelligent actionT
Mr.. PoWderly-"Yes, SIR. l nave
claimed that it ia no more than right to'
both TO meet on equal terms and to have
a thorough understanding of the wants ol
each other, and il seems TO me that until
they do that they cannot properly hx up
their differences.
The Chsirpsn--"I do not ask you to
divulpe any of the secrets of the knights
of Labor, but you have stated that the OBJ
iscts of the society are to protect the labor
ers of the country 80 far as possible against
the exsctions of incorporated capital;
Mr.. PoWderly-"To protect not only the
laborers of the country, but
TO PROTECT THE NASUFACUTRERss4s WE'LL.
| We desire that the manufacturers shall be
in such a condition that they will be able to
paw good wages. We have no quarrel
with legitimate enterprise. lfyou discover
tha; members OF the Knights of Labor
along the railroads have violated the Law o.
the land or It's own laws land the com
mittse will discover that tact) We will be
ready to assist in Furnishing them. az we
are upholding their rights. When l
said / was willing to expose
everything in connection with the organl-
cation, if those who manage the railro tds,
or il one man in particular would do tts
same thing. | spoke fairly and truthfully.
have no objection to showing up every
thing connected with the order. its secrets,
signs, passwords, and everything else. l
am willing to ls7 everything before the
committee and before the world l want
it understood that so far as our Executive
Board is concerned. | have from OVER
four thousand Assemblies
LETTERS OF ENDORSEMENT
of secret circular of inins which (since it
was issued) has been made plblic. These
letters bear me out in what have said, so
that YOU can understand froU the tenor Of
=, "irculsr, the character of osr organize
,;no @ Nn-" sta,sd that our organization
was willing to meet ~ ,' c'A!es'Sos oGtoio ;
the courts had no idea that ~"H HaN'us
q wrong statement.
| believe that the Law OF the land Is
higher than any organization, and when
msu violates the law Of the land, either ss
g Knight of Labor or as private citizen,
or as q member of a corporation, he should
be punished for il, and that his connection
vito al organization should be no shield
for him. | have thought, on the other hand,
ths; the man who violates the law and who
is worth millions Of dollars
SHOULD SUFFER TIE sANE AS THE POOR
MAN.
| have made that statement and the people
have seen fit to see in it an invitation to
anarchy. If that is anarchy then wha. in
the mama Of God, ls lsw?'
Mr. Barns-"The country generally land
doubt not properly seems to place a
good deal of confidence in your integrity
your intelligence and your patriotism
Being disposed to consider questions prac-
ticsily ask il you have given thought to
the question of q legislative remedy Tor the
evils to which you have alludedY
Mr.. Powderlg-"I have never worked 1t
out properly. | have thought it over. but |
have not followed it to it's conclusion"
Mr.. Burns will you be able during
the sitting of the two committees TO give
Us your views on the question OF
REMEDY
for The wrong2'
Mr.. PoEderly-"l think / will be able, !
because you will have an eikcial declara'
ton from the men Of our organization on
that point"
Mr.. Burns-"I would suggest further
that il may be we'll to consider what in your
Judgment can be consti .utionslly done and
what might be done aud what ought to be
done by amendments to the constitution.
Mr.. Powderly-"I shall do so, and
thank you ioI the suggestion"
Nc. Craiu-I find it stated in the bill
Of grievances produced by you that the
men asked for redress time and time again,
but in vain. That the Executive Commit
tee of the Knights of Labor sought to settle
the matte, and that the reply ot the General
Superintendent OF the Missouri Pacific
Railway refusicg to agree TO q conference
a. proposed, can be produced"
Ne. Powderly-"Yes; | sm tod also
that along the Iron Mountain railway and
along the other roads in parts of Texas the
AND FoRENEN ARE INTER
EsrED IN COMPANY STORES,
snd that tha men are compelled to deal in
these stores. Ths emoloyes are not told
in so many words that they must deal
there, but they are reminded that it is TO
their interest to do so. If murmur OF
complaint is to reach the ear of
the president of The company it must
90 through the Superintendent, and men
will be discharged as soon as be utters q
word of com plant. The men whose money
is invested in the railroad know nothing
about this. In many places double prices
are charged in these stores"
Mr.. Buchanon-"Will you bs able to
urnish specigc instances Of this kipdp'
Mr.. Po#derly-"Thec committee will find
proofs of all these things. The men also
com plain that convicts are broug ht from the
peniteutiary in Texas to work on the rail-
roads, and that striped suits may be seen
side by side with honest labor in track re-
pairing. That statement has been made
to me by members Of the committee
Mr.. Buchanon-"You promised to furn'
ish the committee with some views as TO
LEdIsLATIvE REMEDY
for troubles Of this kind. Will you also
10 considering that question take into
view the complex nature of this gov
ernment, and the divided response
b;lity between Federal and State
legislation so ss to make your suggestion
such as the National legislature can duly
set upon|
Mr.. Povderly-"I will do &C"
Nr. Crsiu-"The principle on which
YOUR orgsnrz alton is based, is that OF
bringing capital aud labor into closer re-
1...anS'