The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-30
In AND ABOUT ST. LOUIS.
The Demands of the Strikers-Brief Address
from the Executive Boards.

The Demands of the Strikers-Brief Address
from the Executive Boards.
ST.. Louis, March 29.-Mr. Powderlys dis.
patch, directing the striking Knights of Labor
upon the Gould Southwest system to return to
work Immediately, was received at the head
quarters of the executive committee of that as
sembly at 2:30 o'clock this morning, and a mem
Der of the committee at once telegraphed to Mr..
Irons, at Sedalia, to return to ST. Louis at once.
Mr. Irons, it is expected, will start for St Louis
Immediately, and, upon arriving here, will pre-
side over meeting of his committee, which will
then comply with Mr.. Powderly's order to de-
clare the strike ended.
j. j. McGarry, judge advocate of the Knights
of Labor, was seen this morning by reporter,
and, in reply to an inquiry as to how the order
of General Master Workman Powderly would be
obeyed said: 'If Mr.. Irons receives 1t early
enough, he might put cipher dispatch on the
wires, and by o'clock every man could be back
to work."
. "Wiil the men go back to work on Mp Pow
derly's orderl"
''Na, sir; not until the other matters are arbi-
rated upon, and then, no matter how this arbi-
out ary discrimination being shown against any
for being leaders or for any other cause"
''Bu. will not refusal to obey Mr.. Powderly's
order be violation Of the laws of the Knightsr
"It will not. You see, he might be mistaken.
We want arbitration first, before we 60 to work.
All tie men are the same way of thinking
met them at Marshall Tex, and l know their
sentiments"
"What are the questions you want arbitration
uponY"
s'We have asked that the truckmen and un-
skilled laborers on the Gould Southwest system
receive $3.50 for ten hours work. Heretofore
they have received $1.15 but have made only
nine hours time getting actually only $1.034
Next we have asked that the apprentice boys,
who have been continued as such since 1884, but
are really journeymen now, shall have their
wages raised and be recognized as journeymen.
Some are receiving only So, and they do as much
work as others who receive 81. 3d. The bridge
building matter was and is the most serious.
Men engaged in that branch of the business
might set out on Monday and not reach their
destination until Wednesday, yet that time was
not allowed them. A man might be six days out
and come back with only three days allowed
him. We asked that full time be allowed them,
whether in the shop or on the road, but no time
was asked for night travel"
'Then you want those. questions settled by
your demands being granted in whole or in part
before you will return to worki"
'Yes, arbitration first, and then a written
agreement that all the men shall be taken back
without discrimination"
He detailed the mode of arbitration proposed,
and said 'We shall abide by the decision of the
arbitrators on the questions, no matter what
those decisions may be-"
s'And what about the Hall matterr
''That will have to go to the courts"
During the day brief address declaring the
strike ended, was issued by the Knights but in
view of developments in New York, it was sub
sequently repudiated.
Traffic has been practically resumed on the
Iron Mountain road. Two trains left to-day,
one about noon and another at P. NJ, and three
trains arrived from the south. Quite number
Of men applied for work at the yards of this road
to-day, and were employed.
The strikers have received no specific instruc-
tions as yet in regard to resuming work. but
they say that it will be imposs ible for them to
return before Wednesday morning.
Warrants were sworn out this morning, at the
instance of special attorneys of the Missouri Pa
cifc road, against J. J. McGarry, judge advocate
of District Assembly 101, c. NJ. Chase, and a
man named Burdette, under the general charge
of felony, but for the specific offense of OBJ
structing trains and trespassing upon the prop
erty of the company.
The situation in the Missouri Pacific yards
this morning was one of quietness and order
The crowd present was small and undemon-
strative, and no interference was offered to the
running of trains. One freight train was start
ed out, after 10 o'clock, and another followed
about an hour later. Neither of them excited
any particular interest.
Up to noon none of the strikers had presented
themselves at the shops or yards to resume
work, and probably none will to-day. 1t is stat
ed, however, on the authority of one of the COM
mitteemen. that the men will return to work to-
morrow; that they are uLder. or will be placed
under, instructions to that effect this afternoon
Martin Irons arrived at Sedalia this morning
He was perfectly non-committal and refused to
talk about the situation. He sent word to Su-
rerintendent Slbley not to run any train until
the settlement of the strike was confirmed. OF
course his request was ignored, and up to 10
o'clock four freights had been sent out
The situation in the East St Louis yards this
morning was one of disorder, and at times it
looked as though there would be real trouble.
Large crowds congregated at the relay depot
and in the various yards. and when an effort
was made to start a freight train
in the Vandalia yards the crowd swarmed
around it, drew coupline-pins and otherwise
ObstruCtpd a
the train was abandoned. In the Indianapolis
q St Louis and the Louisville 81 Nashville
yards efforts were made to make up trains, but
as fast as cars were brought into position they