The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-21

ments bear me out in what / have
) said, so that you can understand from
the tenor OF the circular the character
OF our organization. When | stated
that our organization was willing to
meet our contestants before the courts
/ had no idea that | was making a
wrong statement ] believe that
the law Of the iand is higher than any
organization, and that when man vio-
lates the law Of the land either as a
Knight Of Labor, or as private
ciliz m, or as q member Of a corpora
ton, be should be punished for it
and thst his connection with an or.
ganization should be no shield for
him; and ! have thought on the
other hand that the man who violates
the law and is worth millions OF dol
lars should suffer the same as the poor
man. | have made that statement, and
people have seen fit TO see in it
tendency to anarchy. II that is an
archy, in the name OF God what is law.
Mr.. Burns-rhe country generally
land l doubt not, properly seems to
place good deal of confidence in your
integrity, your intelligence, and your
patriotism. Being disposed to con-
slider questions practically, ask il you
have given thought to the question OF
legislative remedy for the evils to
| which you have alluded"
Mr.. Powderly-I have never worked
1t out properly; have thought it
over, but have not followed il to its
| conclusion. "
Mr.. Burns-Will you be able, dur
ing the sittiDgs of this committee, to
give us your views on the question of
the remedy for the wrong?
Mr.. Powde.ly-How long is the
committee likely TO sit2
The Chairman--About two months,
Mr.. Powdery-I think / will be
able, because in that time you will
have an official declaration from the
chief men oil oar organization on that
point.
Mr.. Burns--I would suggest further
that IL may be well to consider what.
in your judgment, can be constitution
ally done, and what might be done,
and what ought. to be done, by amend.
ments 10 the constitution.
Mr.. Powderly-I shall do 50 and |
thank you for the suggestion.
Mr. Crain-I find 1t stated in the
bill OF grievances produced by you
that the men asked for redress time
and time again, but In vain; that the
Executive Committee of the Knights
OF Labor sought TO settle the matter,
and that the reply OF the general SUI
perinteDdent OF the Missouri Pacific
railway, refusing to agree to confer.
ence as proposed, can be produced.
Mr. Powderly-Yes, | am told also
that along the Iron Mountain railway
and along the other roads in parts Of
Texas the superintendents and fore
men are interested in company stores,
and that the men are compelled to
deal in these stores. The EMPLOYEES
are not told in 30 many words that
they must deal there, but they are re-
minded that II is to their interest to :
1 30. III murmur OF complaint is
o reach the ear of the president of :
he company ii must go through the :
up 4rinteDdeni, and man will be
charged as soon as he utters a word
Il complaint. The men whose money !
invested in the lailroad know moth !
pg about this. Inmany places double =
'rloes are charged in these stores.
Mr.. Buchanan--Will you be liable
o furnish specific instances OF this
lind2
Mr.. Powderly--The committee will
ind proof Of all these things. The
men also complain Convicts are Il
'rCught from the penitentiaries in 2
'exas to work on the railroads and I
hat striped suits may be seen side by L
lde with honest labor in track repair '
~. That statement has been made to I
ne by members OF the committee. j
Mr.. Buchsnan-You promised TO 4
lrnish the committee with some il
lew as to the legislative remedy for I
roubles Of the kind now existing. I
Viii you also, in considering that l
u sstion, take into view the complex II
AZURE OF this government and the Iii. o
idt d responsibility between the Fed II
Ial and State legislation, so % to q
lake your suggestion such as the Ma Y
onul Legislature can duly act upon. b
Mr.. Powderly-I will do 80. II
Mr.. Crain-Wbat is the principle of q
,e organization known as the Knights a
Lsbor2 ID
MIR. PowdeIly = Our organization Il
ms to settle all differences by arbi- II
att IN and reconciliation, and that is Il
ia reason why we have difficulty in II
anaging it. II WAS never thought of
ntil recently that our organization
lould have any thing to do with
likes. So, too, boycotting is some =, -
III g which we have never legislated =.
4 but once, and that was to restrain O.
and our restraining influence will r.
} slill further, l
Mr.. Crain--Then the principle on "
hich your organization is based is ~
ut OF bringing capital and labor into l"
oser relationsP
Mr.. Powderly-Yes.
Mr.. Crain-And this strike went K,
Ito effect on the authority Of District d,
seemblies, not on that Of the gen. w
al organization2 N
Mr., Powderly-0ur general orOapi- p
'tion has never given it's general Off. le
re any power over the question of 81
rikes. ~
At this point the committee d. OF
urned, m
cath Sentences rOmmuted al p rt o'