The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-25
He Will Fight to the End, and Bring Suits
Against knights Of Labor for Damages
to Property and Loss of Business.
All Sufferers by the Strike Can Obtain
Redress by Taking Similar Action.
The Missouri Pacific Company Succeeds in
Moving Freight Train from st. Louis
The Kansas City Strike Adjusted.
JAY GOULD.

JAY GOULD.
No Room for Compromise knights To
BE Sued for Damages.
NEW YORK, March 24-The Tribune to-nor-
row will publish long interview with Jay Gould
in regard to the strike on the Missouri Pacific
railroad, the essential features of which are
herewith given. Mr.. Gould said:
There can be no compromise in this case, and,
so far as know, there has been no attempt to-
ward one by either side. There is no
room for a compromise, for the strikers
have confessed, in effect, that they have
no grievances against aour company. I am
bound to fight this question to the bitter end for
this very reason. The position is a simple one;
if we had interfered with the management of
the Texas Pacific we should have been in con-
tempt of the United States Court which has
charge of that road. The men on our own
lines have made no complaint against
US, but by striking try to enforce
the demands Of workmen on another road not
under our control. There can be no compromise
Of such a strike. l have asked the opinion Of
Judge Dillon as to our legal rights under such
circumstances, and his decision is that it is our
duty, not alone our right to prevent the inter-
ruption Of the business of the road by all legal
means He says that the company has clear
legal remedy against the members Of the Knights
Of Labor organization in suits for damages. and
we purpose to test this question in the
courts. We shall sue members Of the organiza-
ton, and in fact the papers in the case now are
being prepared in accordance with Judge Dillon's
opinion. We propose to recover damages from
every member Of the association who has any
property. great many employees of the Mis-
souri, Pacific, especially machinists and engin-
neers, have homes which they have bought out
of their savings. Some of the men are worth
$4,000 or $40, 900 apiece. They are responsible
long to the Knights of Labor. We will show
them that we intend to enforce all our legal
rights. and we shall bring suits against members
of the order who have property on other lines of
railroads and in other States. We
shall attempt to recover damages from
every member who has property we can attach
1t is time that these strikes should be settled
and this is favorable opportunity. propose
to fight it out on this line There is another
feature Of the case, and that's that every ship.
per and manufacturer, and in fact every person
who has suffered loss by this strike, has the same
legal redress as the railroad company has"
Mr.. Gould said that the position taken by
Vice-president Hoxie in regard to the strike had
been fully approved by the board Of directors.
The success Of the strike, he said, would unsot-
tie confidence throughout tho world, and these
workmen would be the first to feel its disas-
trous consequences. He had no news, he said,
which would lead him to suppose that tho strike
would extend to the East, and intimated that he
might ask for injunctions restraining working
Knights Of Labor from contributing to the sup
port of those on strikes.
Mr.. Gould then showed correspondence be-
tween himself, as president Of the Missouri Pa
ci1c company, and Dillon and Swayne, its solic
itors. Mr.. Gould writes under date Of the 23d
inst, setting forth the blockade of the road by
strikers and asking what the legal rights of the
company are, and particularly whether the
strikers are liable to the company for damages.
The attorneys reply as follows:
''Your letter states case of illegal conspiracy
and combination against the company accom-
panied with violence and force preventing it
from discharging its public duties and inf1icting
upon it and the community serious pecuniary
damages. 1t is the duty of your company to use
all lawful means in its power to this
end The law is we'll settled that
when an unlawful end is sought
to be effected all persons who work together in
any way in furtherance of such ends are con-
spirators and co-wrong-doers and each is liable
for the acts of all The body which directs the
illegal acts, as well all persons who aid, abet
counsel or assist in furthe-ing their accomplish
ment. are equally liable, and each 10 liable to
the extent Of the whole aggregate damages and
all or any may be sued therefor, and recovery IN
the civil suit in nowise affects the criminal
liabilityn