St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-16
The Great Railway Magnate Thinks the
Southwestern Strike Quite
Uniustifable.
he Declares That He Is Always Ready to
ACcede to Re asonable Demands
Of His Employees.
Several Attempts Made TO Run
Freight Trains, but the situation
Practically Unchanged.
Various Minor Strikes I'm Different
Parts of the Country--One Solu-
ton OF the Labor Question.
The NIncnnte Talks.

JACKSONVILLE, RIA, March 15.-Mr.
Jay Gould to-day, speaking for the first
time respecting the strike by the Knights of
Labor on the Missouri Pacific and the re-
naming portion of the Gould Southwestern
system, said to a representative of the AS
sOcated Press:
first learned OF the strike while Mt Havana
ana have been advised by telegraph OF the
Character OF the trouble more particularly
since my arrival here. The strike on our sys-
TEN was a complete surprise 10 me for two
reasons. First, we had acceded to all the de-
mands which had been made upon US 10y our
employees, and were supposed TO be working
IN harmony with them; second, the present
strike Is made upon an issue with which VIC
nave nothing To DO and which We
CANNOT POSSIBLY ARBITRATE
or control. The present strike originates in
the discharge of an employee named Hall on
the Texas Pacific, which road Is m the hands
OF the United States court We have no
moro right to attempt to control the workings
Of that system than the workingmen them
selves, ana would be as completed; IN CON
tempt 10 attempt TO do so as any other out
slider.
Regarding another aspect of the strike
Mr.. Gould said:
The public may not be aware of Il. but the
same issue was raised when some men were
s,hargcd on the WaoasI railway at Il time
when IL was in the control of the United
States court. Mr.. POwdt rly, chief of tue
executive committee OF the knights of Labor,
called upon me 20
SECURE THE REINSTATEMENT
of these men. The subject was then fully
discussed, and told SIR. POwderiy that had
no power in the matter; nos even an advisory
without request from the court. At that
Interview l told MIR. Powderly that if any
grievances existed among our men, if he
would bring them 10 our attention, we would
enceavor 10 right them. We recognized the
necessity OF remaining on good terms with
our people. to whom Oue-half of the earnings
OF the road go yearly. The present strike
came without notice and not in consequence
OF any grievance cited against Us; and in
view OF my interview with Mr.. Powderly
whom L believe To be Il fair-minded man, was
all the more surprising 10 me.
As to the future, Mr.. Gould said:
l am advised that great numbers OF the
strikers are not in Sympathy with the move
ment and
WILL RETURN TO WORK
rs soon as assured that protection by the
civil authorities. 1t is our intention to re-
sumo operations as soon as this protection is
afforded.
In conclusion he declared that he did not
care to discuss the other features of the
strike beyond the statement that the COM
pany could not possibly join hands with the
Knights OF Labor against the United States
supreme court in their war on another sys-
TEN, which. he asserted, the present strike
involved. Mr.. Gould further asserted that
the Knights of Labor had evidently discoY-
cred already
THROUGH PUBLIC SENTIMENT
that they were exercising their power in
favor OF an issue strictly against law and
order, and that it .CaS more OF a war against
the general public than the road. 1t was
closing manufactures along the lines of the
railroad and was stopping the shipment of
coal and other commodities to points where
the people were liable to suffer great depri-
walton, 1t was more fight of the public
than the company, but the latter in the
protection OF its own lawful rights would
exercise every law to meet the demands of
its patrons in opening the road i'm all its de-
partmentS. Mr.. Gould stated that he was
in receipt of kilograms from manufacturers
and others along the cOmpany's lines stat
ing that they would be compelled to shut
down, but at the same time placing no
blame upon the company or its manage
ment.