The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-04-30
SPECIAL LABOR COMMITTEE.


III EC1Ak 4ADOAA AOA ~ A@A1s 4
Of General MASTER
Workman P.wderly.
Washington, April 2o.-The Special
Committee Of the House Of Representa-
ives 10 inquire into the labor troubles
n the south-west>held it, first public
|eesion to-day.
Among the prominent persous pres-
INT In attendance were, ~ represents-
ives OF the Knights Of Labor: i. vi
Powderly, General Master Workman Il
!. w. Hayes and William o. McDowell.I
members OF the Executive Board, and
Frederick Turner. Grand Secretary. Asl
OF the railroad Interests, Il
Major Swaine. counsel, and - repre-
.entatives Of the Women's Leauge OF
America. Mrs. Charlotte Smith and
three other ladies. A corps RI steno-
zraphers was on hand 10 make . full
report Of the proceedings for the rail-
road companies. Mr.. Powderly Was
The first witness. and as such was swornl
bv the Chairman. He is very far from
filling. At least in outward appearance.
the typical idea Of the horny handed son
Of toll. On the contrary ne appears TO-
be quiet, reserved, delicate looking
gentleman. who has spent some nifty
wears Of existence in an easy cOntented
way. He dresses plainly, 10 closely
shaved. except as TO long dropping
mustache. wears spectscles and has :
high intellectual forehead.
The Chairman. addressing him. said !:
"You understand that this committee IL
raised by the House Of Representatives
for the purpose. IL possible, OF getting
down to the reasons for the unrest and
disturbance which exist in the country.
and especially q 10 the conflicts between
labor and capital and between the en-
ployer and the employees. This commit
Itee is fully sensible Of the course you
have taken in your previous life and Of
your disposition TO reconcile the unrest
Of the people. Therefore, We call you
a. the fret witness. Be pleased now to
give to the committee in your own Ian
gusge your impressions as 10 this mat
ter.
awhile was in the West said Mr.
lPowderly, II heard from the men OF lit
tie abuses which I do not think thu
Manager Of the Missouri Pacific Rail
road knows anything about. Along tbs
Iron Mountain Railroad they have
system OF taking twenty-five cents
month from the wages Of man who re
ceives 81 day, ard fifty cents from th'
! wages OF the man who receives -
Idav. and 50 on. In proportion. for wha
they call . hospital fund Then, tn
linen claim, that - soon as they are tak
len sick, they are discharged, and are de
: MED The right Of entering the hospita
liThen there are instances. which can b
proven. where men have made contract
10 buy land from the company. on reg
J ular yearly installments, and whers
!! having paid all but the last installmen'
they were discharged from the employ
ment of the company. In that sectio
OF the country Il is different from th
, East. Men can not 60 into TIE mex
.ltown and get . situation and the con
sequence has been, IN IT least one par
ticular case, the man was obliged 10 re
, main so long that he lost his property
The men claim that there are several In
stances Of that kind"
II The Chairman Can yon have vii
nesses called before the committee {
show these facts?
i Mr.. Powderly-- Undoubtedly, If l q
} correctly informed.
j Mr.. Buchanan - In your inquiries 20
have found that these causes Of discou
T content existed?
j Mr.. Powderly Yes.
1 Chairman Will you state the purpos
}, of the organization Of the Knights z
/. Labor 80 whether its purposes are th
! protection Of the interests .of labor. an
/, whether II is peaceful in its action?
1 Mr.. Powderly- The aim OF the organ
ization Of the knights Of Labor is
; benefit the laborer and to insure bette
feeling between him and his employe
All our methods are peaceful. We nes
Ter countenance anything Of . violeu
character. There are exceptional case
but they are beyond our control.
Chairman DO ! understand that th
Knights Of Labor. as 90 organization. d
protect labor, not only on railroads, bt
Z also In mines and factories?
Mr.. Powderly attempt TO d
thar our Association IL intended to
an educational one. We aim ~ havin
our members study the conditions b
: which they are surrounded; not onl
|, their own conditions.
Mr.. Buchanan In order to pave n
way to intelligent action?
. Mr.. Powderly YES sir. hav
! claimed that il Il no more than right Il
I both to meet on equal terms and 70 hsv
4 . thorough understanding Of the wan
! Of each other, and 1t seems TO me th
! until they do thar they can not proper
! fix up their differences.
The Chairman ~ do not ask You
I divulge any Of the secrets Of the Knigh
I Of Labor. but you hsve stated the o|
I jects OF the society are 70 protect the !
Dor Of the country, 80 far A. possibl
: against the exsctions Of incorporate
: capital.
!. Mr. Powderly To protect not on
the labor Of the country, but 20 proie
the manufacturers ~ well. We desi
the manufacturers should bc In such
condition that they will be able to ~
!. good wages. We have no quarrel vii
legitimate enterprises. IL you discov'
that members Of the knights Of Lab
- - 49,