The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-16

proceedings were in reckless disregard of the rules
and laws of the order and consequently the strike
was only bul-headed piece Of folly ruinous TO the
men and runcus TO the order under which they were
pretending TO act.
Mr. Powderly--There is not one word Of truth
in that thing from beginning to end. Not one OF
those men that were there at that meeting ever
had the idea that there was strike. They
didn't go on the war path, nor did they have
blood in their eye
Mr. Hopkins-They went away with pretty
nearly the idea that you expressed to US.
Mr. Powderly-They were of the idea that
they were not to make any further trouble.
They went back with the same mind.
Mr. Hopkins-This is simple opinion that he
expressed, about what they had IN their minds
when they went there. That is in quotation
marks where they refer to the condition OF
things on our road.
Mr. Powderly-Those things come second
handed, and sometimes get devilishly twisted.
That man you spoke of that recognized in the
Office, speaking of ssG. NJ W."-one of those re-
ports speak of that--he said. "Are these your
initials?r / said, Yes" He hitched all that
stuff on himself
Mr.. Could don't see any impropriety, if
address you, in addressing you by your title.
Everybody knows that you are the president OF
that order think you are the right man in
the right place-that is what think.
Mr.. Powderly-That is the filing in of the re-
porter.
Mr.. Gould-But exactly what / did say, i
derstood, either by you or me. Now, will read
this:
Fl. NJ. hoxie General Manager, st Louis
In resuming the movement OF trains the Missouri
Pacific, and in the employment of labor IN the several
departments of this company you will give preferences
to our late employees whether they are knights of La
Dor not, except that you will not employ any per.
son who has injured the companys property during
the late strike nor will we discharge any person who
has taken service with the company during the said
strike We objection to arbitrating any differ
ences between the employees and the company past o.
future
Mr.. Powderly--.Will you explain to me what
that means. thens
Mr. Gould-That means that we had already
authorized Mr.. Hoxie-put this matter in Mr..
Hoxie's hands, fully; that a question of arbitra
ton. which is matter of vast Importance, vast
detail to arrange-the principle, the great UNI
DERIVING principle that so far as the board waa
concerned here, we saw no objection to that
leaving that, in addition. to Mr.. Hoxie, and add
ing that to the authority he already had over
this subject. Increasing 1t to that extent That
is all this means, and nothing more.
Mr.. Powderly-Is Mr.. Hoxie correctly reported
when he says he won't arbitrate.
Mr.. Gould-No, sir. Here are his exact words
~ have your message in relation to your in.
terview with Mr.. Powderly, and also tho letter
of instructions. and will carry out the same to
the best of my ability"
Mr.. Powderly-The papers tell another story.
Mr. Hopkins-That was not much like the re-
ply that came back after you telegraphed to go
to work.
Mr.. Powderly- How is thatl
Hr. Hopkns-That does not sound much like
the result of your message to the people to 90
to work.
Mr.. Turner-The report is that Mr.. Hoxie
fatty refused.
Mr. Goud-There has got to be one head to
railroad corporation, with its vast ramlfications,
and there has got to be order and discipline.
We have got the lives of the people and their
property in our hands. and we are responsible
for their safety. We have got 10 have head
you recognize that
Mr.. Turner--Certainly.
Mr.. Gould-There has got to be organization.
Mr.. Turner am only speaking of the report
in the papers.
Mr.. Gould-My rule has always been that if q
man performs his duty by the company, what
he does out of school have nothing to do with.
If he is an Odd-felow. or a Mason, or Knight
Of Labor, or Brotherhood. or any hing, have
nothing to do with that / am at the head of q
corporation, and we employ laborers to perform
their requisite part in that corporation; and
one organization or another That Is
their private right and don't want to
interfere with it. When the board put this mat
ter into Mr.. Hoxe's hand he became the party
to deal with, and on the question of arbitra-
ton as a principle, I don't think there is any
body that will go further than would. think
it is subject that ought to be carefully con-
sidered to protect the right of both the corpora
ton and the public-right which would override
the whole 1t is the public duty of corpora.
ton, and every individual member of 1t, of rail-
road corporation, to operate the road for public
use It is the duty of all employees alike, in that
respect, from the president down. They clothe
themselves so to speak, with public duties. II
pany or any private organization. A railroad
is public thoroughfare, public
organization and it has contract duties to the
state and to the public and from the president
down to the lowest employee, when they taka
service with the railroad they assume their share
of these public duties. That Is my view and
any law or act that be got up that would Sc
cure to your people, to the employees, to labor the
right of arbitration, and an equal right to the
employers, am for It wants to be carefully
prepared something that would work practical
results To that extent / think we are quite
agreed
Mr. McDowel-Ha you had chance to re-
read the bill9 referring to the O'Neill arbitra-
ton bill
Mr.. Could have had chance to read thu
bill, and got telegram from Judge Dillon that
il was subject of very great importance and
that he should like to have it carefully eonsd
cred.
Mr.. McDowell-You showed that, think,
yesterday, and he was to be here this morning.
Mr.. Gould-Yes; now am prepared to say
and understood Mr.. Powderly to approve o.
that telegram to Mr.. Hoxie Mr.. Hoxie is pro
ceeding to carry that out, and will proceed
snail not cnaugo Ito carry III out Iu Eoou Lhitn
and have not heard word from him beyond
that pointing to the dispatch on the deskl and
he says: 81 have received your message of in
struction, and will proceed to carry the same
out to the best of my ability"
Mr.. Powderly--Well, will you say you are
willing to arbitratef Mr. Hoxie is reported In
the papers as not being willing to arbitrate, and
won't, most emphatically says he won't; and he
says to you that he will. / don't see how wa
can get to talk the matter over at all
Gna1ld Ha has ut ni an
Mr.. Powderly-If he has said that he will. how
can we reach him. how can get to him. and
what can we do to stop this thing right nowi
1t won't do to say. am willing to arbitrate. IL
don't arbitrate. If Mr.. Hoxie says he won't ar
bitrate after you say you are willing, what can
we do?
Mr.. Could have heard nothing from Mr..
Hoxie, excepting he says he has received that
telegram and he is proceeding to carry 1t ont to
the best of his ability. have nothing further.