The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-20
He Politely Declines to Meet the General
Master Workman in Conference,
For the Reason that the Knights Have Not
Kept Faith. and Have Mssiciously Injured
the Company's Property and Business.
Governors Marmaduke and Martin I'm
dertake a Mission of Mediation,
Pending the Result Of Which the Knights
Will Make No New Movement-Labor
News from All Parts Of the Country.


THE RAILWAY TROUBLES.
Mr.. Hoxie Declines to Meet Mr.. Powderly
and His Executive Committee.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, March 19-The following re-
ply of vice-president Hoxie to the request of
Master Workman Powderly for a conference was
telegraphed to that gentleman late this after
noon:
'ST. LOUIS, No., March 10, 1886.
ST. v. Powderly, Kansas City, NO.:
II have just received your telegram of the
18th inst, asking if will meet yourself and
committee to arrange settlement Of the pend
ing difficulties. AS this company now has con-
tracts and agreements with various labor unions
and organizations and is not unwilling to con-
tinue to make such agreements as circumstances
may require with such unions and organizations
of its employees as have shown a disposition to
carry out, in good faith, their undertaking; and
as it has had, in the past, contracts with your
organization, and its representatives have here
tofore had conferences with yourself and other
members of your executive committee, it is but
just and courteous that l should give you the
reasons for this company now declining to meet
yourself and your executive committee, which
it would have done before this strike was in
augurated.
"Ths usual object of such meetings between
railway companies, through their representa-
tives and committees of their employees, is either
to discuss such differences as may have arisen
in order that an understanding may be reached
of the rights and relations existing between
them, and such mutual concessions made as will
avoid strikes and the losses resulting therefrom
or, on the other hand. to settle and compromise
such differences between the parties, after the
grievances of the employees have been presented
and redress refused, and after resort has actu-
ally been had to the strike as the only remedy
In the present case, neither of the above reasons
for conference exist but the anomaly is pre-.
sented of strike which is without redressable
grievance which was entered upon without
notice to the company. and which has resulted
in the wanton and malicious destruction Of
and as sss in By the snss sms
total stoppage of its business by threats. intimi-
6aton and force.
IA review Of the history Of the past year is
essential to a full understanding of the present
conditions. The differences between this COM
pany and its employees, resulting in the strike of
March, 1885. were settled by the volup tary inter-
cession of the executive officers of the States Of
Kansas and Missouri, and not with your organ
ization. The agreements subsequently entered
into with committees of your organization have
been faithfully carried out by this company
minor grievances under these arrangements
have, from time to time, been presented, con-
sidered by the management and adjusted in a
manner apparently satisfactory to the petitioners,
and, for the sake of peace and harmony, this
company has repeatedly, on the demands Of
your organization, made changes in its
staff by the removal OF officials en-
tirely satisfactory to the company, but
In our meeting with you, last August, in New
York, your committee then stated that no griev-
ances or complaints existed against the Missouri
Pacific Railway on the part OF your organiza-
ton through noncompliance with the contra acts
then existing, but that it was necessary to
utilize your organization upon the Missouri Pa
cifc road to force an adjustment of the difficult
ties then pending with another corporation.
Similar action has been taken by your organiza-
ton in three instances within the last eight
months-first, in threatening that the members
Of your organization upon the Missouri Pacific
Railway would strike if it continued to exchange
business with the Wabash road; second. when
the members of your organization compelled
Of this company in carrying out your
at Galveston, Tex; third, in the present in
stance. when the existing strike was forced upon
by the receivers Of the Texas & Pacific railway
road in the hands of the United States court,
and In the management OF which this company
has voice control-a fact which your or
ganization fully recognized when your. commit
tee made application to the receivers Of that
road for the reinstatement Of said employee
Instances might be cited whore endeavors
have been made to use this company for the
purpose of boycotting individuals who haG in
Cured the displeasure Of your organization. An
especially aggravated case of failure by your or
ganzaton to carry out its agreements was that
of the workmen at the Palestine shops, who, in
the last days of February, stopped work on ac-
count of an alleged grievance, which Was thereupon
adjusted in manner to their entirs satisfaction,
SO they resumed work with an agreement to con-
tinue under tho concessions made by the com
pany but within ten days thereafter again left
their work on the demand of your organization
- IL 49, -
grievance whatever against this company.
'These continued stoppages of work without
cause have become SO frequent that. believing
the future will be as unsettled the past this COM
pany cannot consent to renew the agreement vol
unfairly and arbitrarily abrogated by your organ
ization and longer submit to it the management
of our business. This company, through it's
representatives. is and has always been willing
to meet the public through committees or indi-
viduals on matters of public concern, and if
can suggest practicable methods whereby
the present situation can be changed
and traffic permanently resumed, this company
will be pleased to meet yourself or them as citi-
zens, but not as representatives OF your organi-
cation, to discuss the pending difficulties or any
other matters OF public interest
.In conclusion / desire emphaticaly to
state that responsibility for future continuance
of the present unjustifable strike will not rest
with the management of this company, but,
inasmuch as your organization has committed
the error of striking first. and endeavoring to
negotiate afterwards, it has the power and should
end the present troubles by permitting such OF
our former smployes and others as desire to
work to do SO without fear of threats or intimi-
daticn, leaving this company free to resume its
operations and adjust with its employees, as it is
at all times ready and willing to do, any griev-
ances they may have. H. NJ. HOxIE,
First Vice president Missouri Pacific R'y."
MIR. Powderly's Response.
KANSAS Cry, March 9-The following reply
was sent Mr. Hoxie late tonight by Mr.: Pow
derly:
KANSAS Cry, March 10.