The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-05-01
GOULD TALKS.
The Railroad Magnate Before the
Congressional Committee.
While Claiming There Is No Strike On the
Missouri Pacific, He Consents to En-
tighten the Committee as to the
Company's side of the Dispute.


O'Clock this morning the special CON-
mittee investigating the labor troubles
resumed its work. Jay Gould, the New
York, railroad magnate, was the witness
examined. A large crowd of spectators
was present. He asked for the reading
of the resolution under which the COM
mittee was acting, and when it was read
he stated that he was President of the
Missouri Pacific railway, and that there
were no troubles existing on his road in
the States named in the resolution. lie
stated further that there were lO,737 men
In the employ of the road outside
of the general offices, and that since his
departure from New York he had received
a dispatch from st. Louis stating that all
was quiet on the road; that 200 freight
trains Moved on it Yesterday, the same
being an increase over that date last year.
He did not, therefore, think he or his
road came within the provisions of the
resolution.
Mr.. Bumes replied that the committee
would like to hear from him something of
the antecedents of the Missouri Pacific.
cat the date of the resolution under
which you act" said Mr.. Gould, "there
were no difficulties existing between my
my company and it's laborers."
This was said for the purpose OF In
forming the committee that the state
ments about to be made, were made
voluntarily. Mr.. Gould then entered
into detailed statement OF the organi-
cation of the Missouri Pacific, and quick
ly came down to the recent labor
troubles and the part he had taken in
them. He stated, parenthetically, that
all he knew of the cause of the trouble
came to him from his subordinates.
He was first approached by Mr.. Pow
derby about approaching troubles, and
was informed that there were differences
arising on account of the wages fixed for
men. Mr.. Gould agreed to adjust differ
differences, and stated that he would so
instruct Mr.. Hoxie, vice-president of the
Missouri Pacific. In making his agree
ment he told Mr. Powderly that he wanted
it distinctly understood that there should
be no strikes on the Missouri Pacific, and
that in future when dissatisfaction arose,
Mr.. Powdery should come to him and
negotiate an adjustment, man between
man.
Mr.. Gould was then March 6) on the
eve of his departure for a cruise with
his family, in the West Indies. Some
time afterward, Mr.. Gould learned from
Mr. Hoxie that Il strike had been ordered
by Mr.. Powdery, and that no excuse
could be given for it; that it was on ac-
count of Il man named Hall, employed
by the Texas & Pacific, which was in the
hands of the United States courts and
not in the control of the Missouri Pa.
cific.
At the time of the strike the Missouri
Pacific had 1915 men in its employ, Of
which 3,7l7 were Knights OF Labor
These men were not necessary to the OPP
egation of business, and if they had no
! reSorted to violence and taken forciblC
possession of the road, not train would
have been missed. But they seized ter
+ minul points and the business Of the roaC
, was stopped.
. at was torcible seizure" said Mr.
Gould; something that the Car OF Rus
, STA, with his millions of soldiers a
. his back, would not have dared to do"
+ At this point the statement OF Mr.
a HoXie concerning the strike, which ha!
been printed, was read by Genera
SWayne, Gould's counsel The statemen
|, showed that the strike was on account o
y fancicd grievance with another road, ant
4 alleged that the Knights of Labor had as
4 sured Mr.. Hoxie Just before the strike
y. that no grievance existed against the Mis-
. souri, Pacific. General Swayne read tn
/ statement, or proclamation, of Mr.. HoXi
: with good deal of effect, emphasizing
the argument against the principle of la
Dor strikes and the assured fair dealin
7 of the Missouri Pacific with its en-
. ployes. The proclamation dwelt O
length upon the iallacy of so many me
> being thrown out of employment and s
many people being deprived of thei
earnings and Inconvenience on accour
of this one man Hall.
= Chairman Curtin asked what this ma
Hall had done that so much trouble VIZ
. made about him.
. General Swayne read from anotht
- statement, showing that on January 2
u 1856, the Knights of Labor at Marshal
u Texas, at the incpiency of the trouble G
s the Texas & Pacific had proposed a schen
5. for arbitrating, which was not feaSibl
# and which was. refused by the receiver
n of that road, and declaring that that +
n fuSal was the real cause OF the strike, al
+. all other alleged reasons were false. II
r. controversy over the discharge of the ms
If Hall in the employ Of the Texas & Pacil
:. was not the cause OF the strike, and WI
# but Il SuMcrfuge. The real cause, it Il
II clared, was the refusal OF the receivers
q comply with an unreasonable demand.
a The discharge of Hall, who was Tor
lie man of shop, was not objected to at Il
II time. He was discharged because he W;
d absent without leave three or four day
}, His dismissal was an after-thought cau'
le for the strike, because he was unpupul
NJ with the men under him.
10 On March 8 notice was posted, M
ID Gould said, by the general superintendent
d informing the men who were in the Ell
h ploy of the Missouri Pacific on March
Ie and who went on the strike, they were di
IF charged, as they had voluntarily left the
'e positions and thus severed their come
, | tOn with the road NOticas were 'als