Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-03-23
THE STRIKE.
Knights Of Labor on II.
M. HOxie.
THEY DON'T SEEN TO LIKE HIM
The Gould System, With Hoxie as
Chief Manager, is Accused
of Double Dealing.

Special 10 Me Herald oV Associated Press.
ST. LOUIS. March 22.--The statement
Of the Knightsl Of Labor in reply to
Hoxie's letter to the Governors Of Mis-
souri, and Kansas was issued at late
hour tonight. Condensed it is as fol-
lows: While in conference in Kansas
City we were sent for by the Governors.
and out Of respect for them committee
was appointed, consisting Of employees Of
the Gould roads only, which met with
them and by request stated the cause of
the present withdrawal of active labor
from the roads Of the Gould southwest
system. On their suggestion these gen
tlemen agreed to see Mr.. Hoxie and
attempt settlement II possible. The
interposure of the Governors was vol
untary. We refused them the privilege
of adjusting our differences or accepting
terms Of settlement without FIRST submit
ting them to this committee for approx
al, notwithstanding which they received
Hoxie's proposition, qualification and
all. !" and turned them over TO the press
and public before we were even permit
ted to see them. They say to Hoxie:
"After careful investigation we are
unable to find wherein the Missouri Pa.
cifc Railway Company has violated the
terms or conditions of the agreement
made on tho 18th of March, 1885,
touching its employees. In rendering
this verdict the Governors have blindly
ignored the fact that the obligations
assumed in said circular at that time
took effect with all roads operated and
leased by the said Missouri Pacific Rail-
way Company and was fully understood
to apply, although by oversight but two
roads and States were mentioned there
in. Evidence is at hand that bridgemen
have been compelled to work many
hours overtime without receiving
the agreed overtime pay. Evil
dence is at hand to prove that
in order to make it necessary to reduce
the force OF workingmen work has been
sent to contract shops, and in one in
stance a whole foundry was sublet in
order to bring men under their super
vision, thus depriving the men Of the
provisions Of the agreement. All this
was done to create dissatisfaction and
induce the men to leave the company's
employ, after which other men were
employed and always at reduced wages.
The outrages on the Texas & Pacific rail
way are sought to be made a matter en-
tirely out OF range of the agreement.
men were out Of sheer prejudice dis
charged, without an effort to reduce the
hours OF work. The receivers refused
to comply with the agreement Of the
company officials with the employees,
after the Institution Of the reeeivership,
Notwithstanding they do not repudiate
the other agreements OF said officials,
showing clear intent to use the United
States Court and its officials for dishon
orable purposes. II Mr.. Hoxie did not
know that he was guilty of gross wrong
and injustice, why would he refuse to lis.
ten to our evidence and hear our appeal
for redress? Why would be shelter himself
behind subterfuges and technicalitiesi
Why would he refuse TO treat with men
he has wronged and with evasive letters
to the Governors, who can not possibly
euter into the merits Of the controversy?
The truth is simply this: Mr.. Hoxie
wants trouble; he has provoked it; he is
still melting il and making an innocent
public pay the price Of his perfidy. How
long will the public consent for Gould
and Hoxie thus to trouble or ruins We
wait to see.