Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-22
EXAMINATION OF THE KNIGHTS.
Mr.. Mcdowell Before the Investigation
C0mn n'ttee-Powderly Recalled.

C0mn 'uee-Powderly Recalled.
WAsnu ION, AEril 2l-The specit
commit. oinvestigate the labor trouble
moved * a the hotel to-day to the roor
Of HozsL COMMITTEES on Elections Som
time before the hour fixed for the NEE
ing Of the committee spectators began I,
assemble, 80 that when the meeting wa
called to order every sysilabl, foot Of spac
in the room was occupied, and the corri
dors about were filed With peosle
Mr. William 0. Mcdowell, Of New Jer
sey, and member of the Knights of Labor
was the first witness examined He stated
that he was interested in various enterprises
| in his State and was an active business
man. The object of the K1ights OF LIbo
/ as an organization Was 10 elevate the con
dition of the lsboring man; to bring hI
in close contact with the proprietor, au1
10 make him q proprietor.
Mr.. Mcdowell referred at length to tht
conference Of the representatives ot th'
Knights Of Labor with Mr. Jay Gould, II
regard to the present labor troubles, al
ready reported at great length, producing
copies of correspondence that passed on
that occasion. He outlined the action o
the Knights representatives. and ths GoulC
people, the latter refusing to srbitrate, ful
" detailed az the time. Mr.. Mcdowell said
that he thought Mr.. Gould and his subOr
dinstes had, IN various ways, acted in bso
taith vith the representatives Of the Knights
OF Labor in th;s controversy.
General wayne, attorney for Mr.. Gould
was, at this point, permitted to read some
additional correspondence between repre-
sentative of Mr.. Gould and Me- Powdarly,
to show that toe former had maintained
good faith.
Going back to the causes Of the trouble
on the Southwest, the witness attributed Ii
IL
OVER CAPITALIZ kTIOY
Of railroad stock. Watering stock Wss the
great evil Of to-day, and the exac,ions made
OF railroad managers by cutting down
wages to the lowest p9inr, and putting up
freight charges 10 the highest point 80 as
to pay dividends on gsteTed stock. prodGc
ed a general irritation among freight ship
pers, as well as employees. This evil was
we'll illustrated in the Missouri Psclhc
road.
Mr. Mcdowell was asked if ne thought
Jay Gould was fairly disposed during bis
interviews and dealings with Mr.. PoWderly.
He thought Mr. Gould meant to be islr
at the start; but it seemed to The witness
tha. Mr.. Hoxie got en- his high horse, y
and when Mr.. Gould found him rebellious
on tho agreement to sr5irate, in place ol
making it positive order, be turned round
and split hairs With the committee.
Mr.. PowDERLY RECALLED.
Mr.. Powderly was recalled. aud at the
renues: of Chairman Curtin, who thought
it very important from the direction this
examination had taken, TO know more
about the Knights of Labor Organization,
gave an account c. the origin and growth
OF the order. 1t wss organized in Paila'
delphis in 1869. II was to DC SeGget
order, the name Of it not to be mentioned
outside of their meeting rooms. The idea
was to bring into the organization every
department of industry. Women aud col
ored men were eligible to membership,
and the order made no exclusion on &C
count Of color, creed. sex or religion.
Bankers, lawyers and liquor sellers only
were excluded. They had one assembly
Of women With ZOO members, which man
aged its affairs in sGCh vay as to reflect
credit on them, and made the assembly q
pattern for men to copy after. Mr. PoW,
desly thought the present membership oil
the order aid not exceed 500, 900.
Chsirnsn-"HoFS shout preschersf
Mr.. PoRderiy-"0nce in . Vhile we get
one of them. We will not tsae in ga
loon keeper. If g members wife begins 10
sell huuor we make hin tsks divorce
not from his wife, but from the orssuiza
ton" -.
Chairmsn-"In other words 1t is be-,
rsvolent society for the protection OF all
those people Who toll aud is entirely within
Mr., PowGsrly-"Yss it is sntireig witt
10 the law"
FEMALE KNIGHTS.
Chairman-"When were women r.:
sdmittedY
Mr.. Powderly-"In 1881. We claim tha
ifwomen 5srform equal work with men they
should receive equal pGy. We have enc
assembly Of women with u membership o
!, 800, and from the day Of organization t
the present day, q single expulsion o.
suspension has never tskei
place. They manage theI
al airs in such . way IS to reflect c;edi
upon them and to be 6 pattern for tn
men" -,
Mr.. Crain-"Do you make any differ
eucs as to the admission OF colored mel
into your orgsnizstionT : =.
Mr.. Poxderly-"We make no DISTINCTION
in regard to labor, creed, sex or condlnou
We have one Assembly in New York Wher
the President is Roman Catholic tn
Vice Presidect Presbyterian, and the ma
Who occupies the neat position IS bur
doc. Colored men seldom enter Assemble
| os white members. They have assemble
of their oEn and are managing them YER
nicely
Mr Buchsnon-"Up to hos lstely hsV
YOU worked at your trader
Mr.. Pouderly-"Not since March, 1877.
Mr.. Buchanou--"Since that time 20
have been engaged as you s:e ueWf
Mr. Povdsrly-"Yss, principally.
work harder nov than / ever did, SOM
times eighteen hours day"
M'DowELL RECALLED.
Mr.. Mcdowell, upon being recalled an
asked as to his connection with Il
Knights of Labor, said he had been CO.
pscted with the organization eight year
II tkst Ia yss q mschinist by trade, 81
Sat to-day he vas ct the head of one
the largest machine works .n TIE eountr
Chairman-'There is nothing that -