The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-03-31
WHEELS WON'T MOVE.
A Mixed State Of Affairs Regarding Settle
ment Of the Strike.
Gould Declares Master Workman PowderIy
Misinterpreted Him, and That the
Whole Matter Rests With Vice
President Hoxie.


this morning that the strikers in st. Louis
would not go to work until they received
positive and official notice from Mr.. Irons,
Chairman of the Executive Committee, Dis
trict Assembly No. 101. Mr.. Powderly was
called upon. and found to be in bed. When
asked about it, he said: 'I have received
no word that the men will not obey orders
If they have not heard from Mr.. Irons it is
tecause there has been delay in delivering
the telegram which we sent last night. The
men will certainly go to work, and Mr.
Irons will positively give them the order"
In an interview this morning, Mr.. Gould
said: "My telegram TO Mr.. Hoxie was pre-
pared before my conference with Mr.. Pow
derly yesterday, and was not the result of
anything Powderly said. In it is expressed
the stand which the Missouri Pacific has
taken from the beginning; that is, that the
company is always willing to arbitrate any
differences it may have had with its own
employees. Mr.. Powderly seems to have
assumed, from that telegram, that / have
agreed to the plan submitted by the Execu.
tive Board of the Knights of Labor Satur-
day providing for the appointment of an
Arbitration Committee, three members of
which are to be appointed by myself and
three by the Knights of Labor, and these
two to Jointly choose seventh member
Now, most emphatically deny that there
was anything in NV telegram to Mr.. Hoxie,
or that there was anything said at the con-
ference yesterday, to warrant any one TO be-
ieve that /, for moment, assented to any
such plan. l Will appoint no members of
any arbitration committee. The whole mat
L.. al. IL Il t.
he can arrange a basis for arbitration
which will include both sides of the ques-
ton, / will make no objection, bat the
whole matter will have to be arranged with
him. am now preparing a letter to Mr..
Powderly, which will clearly set forth my
position as outlined above"
Mr. Hoxie has telegraphed to Mr.. Gould
saying that the men have not resumed work
this morning, as they were ordered to do by
Mr.. Powderly.
Mr.. Powderly is i'll this morning. When
asked why Mr.. Mcdowell came away from
the meeting with Mr.. Gould so soon this
morning he said: "Oh he only came back
for some papers. that's all. He is down there
now."
Mr.. Mcdowell went to the Astor House for
the second time, and took Messrs Hayes and
Bailey with him to Mr.. Gould's office, where
they are now discussing the situation.
Mr.. Gould has delayed sending the letter
to Mr. Powderly which he has prepared, as
il is now thought that a personal interview
between the two gentlemen can be arranged
for this afternoon.
The spirit of exultation which filled the
hearts of the Executive Board of the Knights
of Labor this morning soon changed to grave
anxiety. When William o. Mcdowell called
at Mr.. Gould's office at $50 O'Clock this
morning he was not as favorably i'm pressed
with his reception as he was with the recep
ton accorded him at Mr.. Gould's house
Sunday. Mr.. Gould gave Mcdowell to un-
derstand that there had been a misconce p
ton of his telegram to Mr.. Hoxle which was
sent Sunday night.
Mr.. Mcdowell at once returned to the
AstOr House and conferred with the Gen.
eral Executive Board, and two OF the mem.
bers at once returned with Mr.. Mcdowell to
Mr.. Gould's office.
The conference there was short, and an adj
journment was had until 8 o'clock this af
ternOon, the hope being entertained that at
that hour Mr.. Powderly might be well
enough to attend.
AT 20, however, Messrs. Turner and Nc
Dowell entered Jay Gould's office without
Mr.. Powderly. At about o'clock the con-
ference ended.
Subsequently, inquiry at Gould's Office was
answered by the following statement, of
which Mr.. Gould was the author:
''Mr. Powderly has evidently misunder-
sent on Sunday night to Mr.. Hoxie. Our
position in this strike has been in condi-
ton for arbitration all of the time. We
have had an agreement with the workmen
for some time that all differences were to
have been submitted for arbitration before
any strike should be resorted to. Manager
Hoxie has this matter in hand. He has full
control and the matter must be settled with
him. We are just where we we're before our
Sunday conference"
Mr.. Could this afternoon sent the follow
ing letter to Mr.. Powderly, who makes it
public as a matter referred to in an interview
with Mr.. Gould. The letter is marked ''per-
sonal:"
MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY. /
New YORK, March %.
7. V. Powderly, ESQ.,:
DEAR sIR-The papers this morning publish the
following:
Jay Gould has consented to our proposition for
arbitration, and so telegraphed Wire President
Hoxie. Ord IT the men to resume work at once.
(Signed) I. V. PowDERLY, G. NJ. w.
They published an interview with you which
leads one to think that the officers of your order
in st. Louis may misconstrue your message into a
consent on the part of this company to conform
to the requirements contained in the letter from
the Secretary OF your order, dated Philadelphia,
March q, which, in my letter TO you OF the same
date, decline to consider.
You will remember that at our conference on
Sunday, said to you that the position of this
company was unchanged in this respect and that
the whole matter was left in the hands OF the First
Vice President and General Manager with the
instructions contained in my telegram to him
which was written before my interview with you
and read TO you at the time.
This telegram stated, I'VE see no objection to
arbitration of the differences between the en-
ployes and the company, past or future"
While feel confident that your understanding
OF this matter is the same my own, write you
this in order that there may be no grounds for
Misunderstanding hereafter.
Very respectfully yours, JAY GOULD,
President Missouri Pacific Railroad Company.
When this was received by Mr.. Powderly,
he wrote down these notes, which were taken
to the conference and read to Mr.. Gould:
Do understand. from your personal letter of
this date, that your company refuses arbitration
And must ! so telegraph Martin Irons?
When the committee arrived at Mr.. Gould's
Office he had gone out but they were re-
ceived by Second Vice President Hopkins,
who made this answer to Mr.. Powderly:
You must say distinctly to him, no, we do not.
He is not so to understand that letter. He is sim
ply referred to Mr.. Geuld's written communica-
tion TO him, which he is prepared 20 carry out in
every particular.
The committee then left Mr. Gould's office
and returned to the Astor House. and this
evening the following letter was sent TO Mr..
Gould's house by special messenger
AsToR HOUSE. NEW YORK, March %.
Mr.. Jay Gould, President Missouri Pacific Road,
DEAR sJR regret exceedingly that my sickness