The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-04

States above named we do hereby respectfully
but earnestly request you, as American citizens.
having the welfare of your common country at
heart to advise, through the proper official
channels, discontinuance OF the strike upon
the railways hereiubefure mentioned, and to
leave the question whether the employees or the
officers of the corporation were justifable to the
decision that public opinion may form when the
congressional committee which has that matter
under investigation shall have completed its
work. Feeling assured that compliance with
this request will merit for your board, and for
those who may act in conformity with your
counsel, the appreciation of the people OF the
United States,
awe remain your obedient servants,
ga. g. CURTIN, W. I'll. GRAIN.
GAS. II. CULTIVATE A. x. PARKER,
"JAs. BUCHANAN, J. W. STEWART.
sHURsT's HOTEL, ST. LOUIS May g. 1885,
ITO Hon. A: G. Curtin. W. H: Grain. Jas. H. outh-
Stewart:
'sGentlemen-Your communication of May
was placed before the joint executive board, and
the following resolutions adopted
Resolved. That the comm unication from the con
gressiona committee and their request be granted,
the time for calling the strike off to be left to the
general executive board. In view of the fact that
the business interests of the country suffering and
the Knights of Labor, having the interests of the
whole people at heart willingly comply with the re-
quest of the Nations representatives and that OF the
citizens committee of ST. Louis. and declare this
strike at end to take effect Tuesday morning. May
a. 1886
Trusting that this action will meet with the
approval of the public and assist in bringing
capital and labor in closer relationship, we re-
main very truly yours,
1.-THE General Executive Board OF the Knights
of Labor, John w. HAYES"
The congressional committee. after having
heard the testimony of prominent business men
of St Louis on Saturday, endeavored, IL posi-
BILE. to have the Knights of Labor declare the
strike off in the interests of peace aud business,
and that the prosperity of the country be re-
stored At the informal meeting held on Sat
urday night, the matter was preached by the
committee to the executive board. The letter
addressed to the board was then drawn w and
signed by all the members of the committee ex-
cept Mr.. Burnes, who had gone to his home at
st. Joseph, and Of course his signature could
not be affixed, although he was said to be
heartily in favor of this course. The letter
was left with Mr. Curtin, chairman of
the committee to deliver to MIR. Hayes chair
man pro tenn. of the executive board, who con-
cluded the arrangements, which were finally
closed late on Sunday night by an extended con-
ference between Mr.. Curtin on the part of the
congressional committee and Messrs. Hayes,
Bailey and Barry, executive board. on the part
of the knights of Labor. Governor Curtin said
that 1.-THE result was due in a great measure to
the uutring efforts of the executive board of the
Knights of Labor. After having been approached
by the investigating committee. they at once
used every effort to have the strike terminated
for the sake of peace and the interests of all the
people, and especially the business interests of
st. Louis"
After the receiving of the congressional COM
mittees letter by the board, joint conference
was held, composed of the general executive
board and the executive boards OF district as
semblies Nos IL, 90 and 10l, which resulted in
the adoption of the resolution contained in the
reply to the congress sional committee: and also
the following resolution:
OFFICE OF THE GENERAL EXECUTIVE BOARDS,
ST. LOUIS, May 3, 1885. {
sThomas O'Rielly chairman. and Thomas Morris,
secretary of Citizens Committee of st. Louis
"Gentlemen-Your communication Of April
% was placed before the joint executive boards
with the following result: That we accept your
proposition, and leave the matter in the hands
of the general executive board to fix the date for
compliance with the same. The citizens which
you have the honor to represent deserve the ap-
probation of the whole community for the efforts
made to amicably adjust and settle the difficulty
existing upon the Southwestern system of rail
roads, in behalf of local and interstate commerce,
and for the restoration of peace and harmony
between labor and capital. We have selected
Tuesday. May 4. 1886, as the time when the
strike shall be declared at an end. Very truly
yours JOHN W. HAYES,
.sGeneral Executive Board Knights of Labor
Upon the receipt of the reply by Governor
Curtin, which was received when his sub
committee was about to leave for Atchson, he
telegraphe the following dispatch to the Presi-
mr. q
JEFFERSON City May 3.
1.-THE strike is ordered of. The correspond
ence will be in the papers tomorrow morning.
Our colleagues are taking testimony in the
Southwest. The present peaceful settlement
will shorten our labors. A. G. CURTIN,
81 w. STEWART
These were the only members of the commit
tee board the ira in st the time, Messrs. Grain.
Outhwaite Parker and Buchanan, having left
Sunday morning for Parsons, Kan. and Mr..
Burns has gone home, and will meet the Curtin
subcommittee at Atchison.
The following is copy Of the order issued de-
claring the strike off,
"OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD,
"ST. LOUIS, May 3, 1886.
ITO the members of District Assemblies IT. 90, 1O1
and of the G. A. and non-members persons af
fected by the present strike upon the Gould South
western system of railways:
"Gentlemen-On April % the citizens of st.
Louis requested of this board that in the interest
of the business community of ST. Louis. and
that of the United States in general, the
strike upon the Gould Southwest system of rail-
ways be declared at an end While this request
was under consideration MAY II by the joint
boards Of District Assemblies 1t, So and 101, the
committee appointed by Congress to investigate
the of the trouble between the railway
company and its employees, made similar re-
quest, in which they say:
THE testimony taken to-day by the congressional
investigation committee shows conclusvely that very
serious losses to the commercial interests of the
tire country have resulted from this trouble and that
large numbers of persons not connected Herewith
have been thrown out of employment; therefore. we
do respectfully but earnestly ask you to discontinue
this strike and leave the justice of your to the
decision that public opinion may form when make
report
''The document was fully considered, and the
following conclusion was arrived at That the
matter be left in the hands of the general execu-
tive board, they to set a time and declare the
till u haxxo 4 a4.I