The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-01
JAY GOULD ON THE KNIGHTS.
Labor Troubles Fomented by Foreigners
The Kind of Union He Would Assist.

Labor Troubles Fomented by FOreigners-
The Kind of Union He Would Assist
NEW YORK, April 30.-The Times, publish
es & lengthy interview with Jay Gould
on the labor question. Mr.. Gould says
he hardly feels competent to discuss the
question in general sense, his views
being those which pertain to his particular
specialties-the management of those properties
in which he has financial interest But in the
general sense said Mr.. Gould. lit may be said
r-may, indeed be recognized as an axiom-that
Tabor is a commodity that WILL in the long run,
be governed absolutely by the law of supply
and demand. Its value must fuctuate with the
ups and downs of general business The strike
on the Missouri Pacific occurred March 6, and
lasted between two and three weeks 1t was
broken by the proclamation of the Governors,
by the uprising of the people residing along the
ne, expressed in their formation of law and
der leagues, and by the criminal prosecutions
striking Knights of Labor There was no
sause for the strike as everybody knows. Our
men were we'll and promptly paid. The strike
was the work of agitators who had constituted
themselves the rulers of the men, and who
lacked the sense to use their power with disere-
ton
ticulars of the strike on the Southwestern sys-
tenn, and said, with much emphasis that since
the restoration Of order preference has been
given uniformly to men in re employment to the
late employees of the company, whether they are
Knights OF Labor or not
Il look for little immediate good to anybody
least of all to the working people, who are d.
rectly and vitality interested-from the species
of general discomfort and agitation that is now
shown to US most conspicuously. 1t gives us
strikes, boycotts intimidation aud threats of
disorder in thousand FORMS 1t seeks prac-
tically to plunge the country into a civil war;
1t places an embargo on everything akin to per-
sonal independence. The workingmen-so far
as we see them in these bodies of the stamp Of
the Knights of Labor-are doing themselves
inestimabe deal of harm. organized
labor. as we get present view OF It,
Is in the wrong path Unscrupulous
and designing leaders are binding the masses
Do not understand me that am opposed to the
organization of labor. Far from that being
true, am earnest believer in the union of
felow-workers. The properly organized laborer
must be stronger man. better workman more
careful, more thoughtful, and a better citizen.
] think the true mission of labor organizations
should be TO properly educate their members
weed out the black sheep, and provide life in
surance scheme whose benefits would be worth
working for. The worker should be able 10 feel
sure that if by hard fortune he becomes inca
pacitated there is safety from the poor house and
freedom from the anxieties and tortures of alb
solute poverty, and, in case of DEATH there
would be something TO support the wife and
children. otherwise thrown on the mercies Of the
world. The laborer would then be patriot
always; he would never be law breaker. For g
long time have been revolving in my mind vari
Gus schemes by which have hoped to be able
to work up to the realization of this condition
OF things. 1t has been one of my favorite dreams,
aud in the end l am confident that will be able
70 establish just what seek in this direction.
such an organization would go hand in hand
With the railroads. Indeed, have SO fer con
yinced myself on this point that have discussed
details of such project with number of nv
assistants AS far back as last August urged
Mr. Powderly, in an interview TO secure the in
corporation of the lise-insurance feature in his
organization. 1t evident to me that the
Knights of Labor. upon such broadened plat
FORM would better serve the country's interests
that I was urgent in my recommendations. L
have already prepared letter to Mr. Hoxe to
take up this subject at once with the most in
telligenr Of our employees and see If they cannot
jointly perfect such plan. have In my mind
20 recommend the Missouri Pacific board of di
rectors to give financial support TO snch an or
ganization as soon as it can be pui in working