The Indianapolis journal., 1886-04-23
THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE.
Jay Gould Tells What He Knows Concerning
the Missouri Pacific Strike.

the Missouri Pacific Strike.
WASHINGTON, April pa bar erected across
the corridor and several watchmen excluded the
general public from the room occupied by the
select committee investigating the labor troubles
In the Southwest. The adoption of this precau-
tion had been rendered necessary by the limited
accommodations afforded by the small room and
the large crowd of curious spectators that filled
the room yesterday. Mr.. Jay Gould was in at
tendance about half an hour before the commit
tee met and was accompanied by A. l.. Hopkins,
vice president Of the Missouri Pacific Railroad
Company, and by General Swayne, its counsel
The resolution under which the committee is
proceeding was read to Mr. Gould, and he was
invited to give his views upon the subject Of
strikes. In q rather low voice Mr.. Gould read
statement showing in detail the number of men
employed by the Missouri Pacific system. He
said he was away west Indian cruise when
the strike occurred, and such information as he
had had reached him through official reports.
He would be- glad to tell the committee every
thing he knew, but deemed it proper to say that
the facts were not within his own knowledge.
He went on to recte the story Of
HE interview with Mr.. Powderly and the COM
mittee prior to his West Indian cruise, during
which he said the Knights declared that the
Missouri Pacific had lived up to it's, agreement,
and agreed not to strike again, but to come 20
him ''man-fashien," and settle any further
grievances they might have. Then the strike
came after his departure. "Yet." said Mr.
Could, "our men told Mr.. Hoxie that they had
no grievances, and were told to strike" He then
produced and read the kilograms passing be-
tween Messrs. Powderly, Hoxie and Hopkins
At the date of the strike he had Ia, 3l5 employees,
while the strikers numbered only 3,7l7 men,
principally employed in the machine shops,
along the tracks and generally in the lower
branches. "What followed the strike9p asked
Mr. Gould, showing signs of deep feeling. 'They
seized ST. Louis, Kansas City, Sedalia. Texaf-
kama and our terminal facilities; they took pos
session, and said no man shall run a train over
that road That is what they said, ;" exclaimed
Mr. Gould. in voice exhibiting traces Of strong
agitation. "Our loyal employees could not run a
train, and were deprived of the power to earn
their wages. That was what followed the strike
-forcible possession-I can't call it anything
else; something the Car Of Russia would hesi-
tate to do with his millions of soldiers behind
him.
Mr. Hoxie's statement of the position assumed
by the Missouri Pacific, in which it is stated tho
strike had grown out of the discharge of Hall by
the receiver of the Texas Pacific, was read by
General Swayne.
The chairman inquired why Hall had been dis
charged He would like to know what the man
had done.
In answer Mr.. Gould requested General
Swayne to read Receiver Browns statement, to
the effect that Hall had been guilty of absenting
himself from duty without leave. The letters Of
GGeuarnors Marmakuke and Martin were also
red. Mr. Goui,aa interrupted the reading to re-
mark THAI he thought the correspondence showed
pretty clearly that they had led the horses up to
the watering trough, but could not make them
refused to 60 to work. He said that when he
returned to New York he had agreed to meet
Messrs. Powderly and Mcdowell as individuals.
my motive was to brace him up," said the
witness, because the sentiments which he
fPowderlyf expressed in his circular were so diff
ferent from the acts of the association that
thought he needed bracing up." Mr.. Powderly,
he said had told him that the men were in re-
bellion against the ORDER that they had struck
without cause and he had it in contemplation
their charter. AS he wished to be
equally frank, witness had showed Mr. Powderly
the dispatch he intended to send to Mr.. Hoxie
next morning, in which he stated that he saw no
objection to arbitration. He declared that
Messrs Powderly and Mcdowell had no right to
make public that dispatch. Yet they had changed
their plans upon seeing the telegram. and in the
morning it had been published broadcast that
Gould had consented to their lPowderly and Nc
Doweli's) plan of arbitration. "This was untrue
utterly untrue" said the witness. The question
OF arbitration had been broached before that, he
said, and had always been sort OF q hobby with
him.
Mr.. Gould next read Mr. Powderly's dispatch
announcing that Mr. Gould had recognized him
officially as General Master Work man, and say
ing it was pleasant termination of an unpleas-
ant business That had been telegraphed to him
by Mr.. Hoxie, and he had received 1t when he
got down town in the morning Naturally he
lwitness) was mad when he saw that. Taking
up the stenographic report of his interview with
Mr. Powderly, Mr.. Gould read that. gentleman's
denial when charged with the publication He also
read the circular ordering the resumption of
work, and remarked s'that was the address they
issued when everything seemed to be
lovely, and it was followed by this
pronunciamento on April 8. In q
tremulous voice. but showing symptoms
of Indignation, and emphasizing such passages
as ssGoald, the giant 'fend, Is dancing over the
graves of our order and the ruins of our homes,
| Mr.. Could read Martin Ifonss circular de-