The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-03-16

the commerce of the country
is stopped, and / for one, am not In I
sympathy with this strike, because 80
far as we know, you have no grew
ances. 1t will take us years to re-
gain the trade we have lost" Il
At the close of ex-Mayor Stevens
remarks. loud calls were made for
Mr.. John Hall, but that gentleman
did not respond. Judge Lacy and
others were called for, but did not
make their appearance.
MR.. HOLLIS, OF PARSONS.
A member of the executive board
of the K. of l.. was called for, and
came forward amidst loud cheers. he
said that he had not come to the meet
ing to make a speech, but there are al
ways two sides TO every question ana
he thought he would be able to
Mace the other side before
the me ting in Its proper
light. at is said by the citizens OF
Sedalia that we have no grievances.
In order that you may understand the
matter fully, will lay before you
few facts" Producing a written
statement he read it to the meeting.
The document was, in substance, as
follows: In the month of May after
the last strike it became generally
known that men who took proml-
nent part in tn strike would be dis
charged. To prevent this the knights
of Labor sent their executive board
to MIR. Hoxie to endeavOr to induce
him TO shorten the hours instead OF
reducing the force. Mr.. Hoxie d d
not like this but finally very reluct-
antlv acceded to the request, after we
told him that
We WOULD STRIKE,
when the first man was discharged.
At the same time Mr.. Hoxie was asked
to reduce the hours of the men who
were working fifteen hours per day for
s1.lO. He informed the board that
he intended making a reduction OF
twenty per cent. The demands,
or requests rather, for he would listen
to nothing put in the shape OF de-
mand. have been in Mr.. Hoxie's office
since last May.
Another grievance is that he picks
out certain o. jectionab e men In the
varions departments and reduces them
30 they cannot live. Equal pay fol
equal work was also requested. Ih'
agreement made by the state officials
wear ago was not an agreement
made by the knights of Labor. How
ever the lat er had lived up to II
faithfully, while it had been violated
by the railroad company not onl.
once, but many times. In September
1885. Mr.. Hoxie was again a. peale'
to, and again fatty refused the re
quests made. He was asked to ad
vance the pay of section men to ST.
Der day. SIS that too much r sal'
the speaker. If there is man her
who thinks so let him stand up nm
show himself. We have asked for tn
redress of our wrongs time and agar
and have
ONLY BEEN MET WITH INSULT.
want to ask the gentlemen VIII
built this city up, the merchants
the laboring men? Who SUI
ports you? IF it is the me
chants what in the nam
of God are they bowling about. He
us through and you will put you
selves on record as men. Crush u
and YOU crush the element that su
norts Won. We are posted ON Il
labor question, because We ha'
stuffed it. You cannot meet us ther
You saw you will keep this man if
is discharged. When another one
discharged, and another, for it will
but repetition, will you keep then
Ifso we will send them to you. Avolc
"Yes, keep them in the soup house.
The speaker ter making some
marks about the conflict between lab
and capital, closed by saying:
.eTbis strike will go on until
gain what we are striking for.
will help YOU to move cars, but
want this brought about in our o.
way"
MR.. b. G. WILKINSON
being again called for, respond
briefly. He said that there was Q
thing g atifying to all who had be
disposed to look upon this strike as
element of discnrd, that is the gu
maintained. We must hear to lea
The young man who had just prec
ed him had deported himself W
dignity. IT he and his associates
elevate the hewers of wood and dir
e.s of water God speed them. de
longed to that ass which labor