Western Kansas world., 1886-05-01


wages.
A Pittsburg, Pa, dispatch states that
quarrel is imminent between the Knight o
Labor and the amalgamated iron workers.
st. Louis contractors have concluded t.
adopt the eight hour plan, and in the futur'
will pay their men thirty cents per hour.
The cases in the Chicago courts agains
the Lake Shore strikers have been dis
missed.
Arbor day was duly celebrated in New
York City on the 9th instant.
Heavy floods are reported in the vicinity
of Las Vegas. N. M.
THE LABOR TROUBLES.
Mr.. Powderlys Order is Revoked, and the
| Strikers continue their war against the
Missouri Pacific.
POwDFRLY ON THE STRIKE.
WARRINGTON, D. c., April 2O.-Mr. Pow.
derly appeared before the House committee
on Labor to-day and gave some details OF
the southwestern strike. He said: 'Iheard
from the men of the little abuses which do
not think the manager of the Missouri Pac-
iic railroad knows about. Along the Iron
Mountain road they have system Of taking
25 cents month from the wages of a man
who receives 81 day, and 30 cents from q
man who receives 81 a day, and SO on in
proportion for what they call a hospital fund
then the men claim as soon as they are TAX
en- sick they are discharged and denied the
right of entering the hospitsl."
''Yes, and am told also that along the
Iron Mountain road and along the other
roads in part of Texas, the superintendent
and foremen are interested in company
stores and that the men are compelled to
deal at these stores. The men whose money
is invested in the road know nothing about
this. In many places double prices are
will find proofs of all these things. The
men also complain that section
men are compelled to work
alongside of pemtentiary convicts.
Our organization aims to settle all differ
| ences by arbitration and reconciliation, and
that is the reason why we have difficulty in
managing it. 1t was never thought of until
anything to do with strikes. So too, boy
| cotting is something which we never legis-
lated on but once, and that was to restrain
| it, and our restraining influence will go fur
ther. Our general organization has never
given its general officers any power over
strikes"
MIR. Powderly further stated that the
hulRUlS VI lftDOI UdU uO QudTT0l W plCh
with any body and that he and the officers
of the order were ever willing to punish viol-
ators oflaw be they Knights of Labor or not.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 21.-Mr. Pow
derly again appeared before the committee,
to-day ana gave testimony. He said in re-
sponse to questions as to what the objects of
the order of the Knights of Labor were:
''To elevate its members by helping to ed
ucate them; 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, therefore, an
employer instead of an employee; to SO edu-
cate him by comparison of ideas ard by dis
cussing questions that help to educate, that
he may be able to deal and grasp subjects
which affect not only himself but his en-
ployers; that he may become better work
man, command better wages and by coop
Grating with his employers help him to such
profits that he may be able to pay better
wages"
Mr.. Powderly also gave history of the Or
| igin of the Knights of Labor. The organiZa-
ton was intended, he said, to take not only
| the man who worked at the bench or mine, but
every man who toiled by hand or brain in
any honest occupation. We left out one or
| two honest occupations lawyers and bankers
! because they feel they were fully capable
of taking care of themselves. We will not
take in saloonkeeper. Even if members
wife begins to sell liquor we make him
resign. 1t is a benevolent society and for
| the protection of all kinds of people who
toll, and is entirely within the law. Our
present membership does not exceed 5OO,-
GOO. Women are members of our organiZa-
ton on an equal footing with men. Women
| were first admitted in 1881. We claim that
if women perform equal work they should
receive equal pay. They manage their af-
fairs in such way as to reflect credit upon
them and to be pattern for the men. We
make no distinction in regard to color,
creed, sex or condition. Colored men sell
dom enter the assemblies of the white
members. They have assemblies of their
! own and are managing them very nicely.
WHAT GOULD SAID.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 22Jay Gould
appeared before the labor committee of the
house to-day and gave resume of the rail
Speaking of the number of men now en-
ployed and the business now being done he
said:
s'On the 18th of April" he began, 1--WE had
in the transportation department 3,307, in
the machinery department S97, in the en-
gine and fireman department 1.132 in the
car department 3,aj6, in the bridge depart
ment GA, and at our terminal facilities 397
men, total of 10,737 men, not including
our general offices. The operations of our
roads (and speak from twenty years ex-
regular and ordinary way. Trains are
all run and the business we were char
tered to do is being transacted regularly.
Replying to the questions, MIR. Gould said
his dispatch to Hoxie was not intended as an
order, but as aprecaution. He put the mat
ter in Hoxie's hands and held him response
BILE for results. He did not send Hoxie,
either on the Monday, Tuesday, or Saturday
preceding, any other kilograms or advice.
from the first. Continuing, the witness
said arbitration is getting to be very easy
and popular way Of settling difficulties be-
tween individuals and corporations, and be-
tween corporations and their individual en-
ployes. ! have always been in favor of arbi-
tration.
Inregard the employees of railroad compa-
ny as upon different footing from the en-
ployes of manufacturing or other private
two senses: first, as private organization,
and second, as public corporation, having
a contract with the state by which it has Ger
tain duties to perform.
Being asked why his views friendly to
arbitration were not carried out at st. Louis,
he said. Mr.. Hoxie has been always ready
to carry them out. That has been always
our policy. We are ready to arbitrate any
grievance between the company and its en-
ployes, but the Interpretation which Mr..
Povderly put upon it Was that the Knights
If Labor Were to step in and oversee this |
4rbitratio1. There are 1000 mem employ