Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-23

AMI TREASURER OF THE OF LABOR
-MEssRs. PowDERLY AND MCDOWELL RE
CALLED-ARBTTRATIoN FAVORED POWER
OF THE KNIGHTS AS To STRIKES
The House labor investigating committee
was half an hour late in getting to work this
morning. Mr.. Turner, Observation-Disclosures of
the general assembly, Knights of Labor, was
sworn and was asked to make some statement
as to the purposes of the organization
He replied that he could not give a better idea
of it than had been given by Mr.. Powderly.
Mr.. Parker asked him about how many local
assemblies of the knights Of Labor there were
The witness replied that there were about
6, 100 assemblies, some having 10 members,
some as many 5000. The average men,
men.
Mr.. Parker asked IL they ever attempted to
influence legislation.
The witness replied that they did.
He was then asked II he had any knowledge
of the Knights of Labor as organization
attempting to influence silver legislation; and
repned that he knew OF no such effort He
was then handed a petition signed by six
thousand Knights of Labor, asking for free
coinage OF silver, and said that local assemblies
had right TO do this, but that it was not the
OF the men signing the petition. six thousand
men, he said formed but a small part of the
membership of the order.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS NO POWER To
The witness was questioned as to the power
of the general assembly to order strikes.
He replied that they could not order strikes,
but could approve of them and sustain the
strikers when ii was deemed proper. When it
was found that the strikers were in the right,
and that the employers would not treat with
them or do them justice, the general assembly
would sustain the strike.
HOXIE'S TREATMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COM
MITTEE.
1t
in st. Louis, and to whether Mr.. Irons had
obeyed the order of the executive committee
to order the men back to work.
The witness said that Mr.. 1rouS said he
had obeyed the order and had directed the
men all along the line to go back to work. The
reason the men did not go back to work was
THAI the company would not have them. An
order had been issued to discharge all knights
OF Labor.
The witness said that Mr.. Hoxe had treated
the committee representing The executive COM
mlttee very discourteously. lie refused TO treat
with them as Knights OF Labor, and they con-
sented to treat with him as individuals desiring
70 settle the strike. Mr. hoxle had told them
that the railroad would exercise their own judg-
ment in taking back men; that they could get
along with but fifty per cent of the numbec OF
men previously employed, and that the railroad
would employ the men they wanted, and would
not take back any men who had advised the
strike or had anything to do with destroying
the company's property.
THE RAILROAD COMPANY REFUSING TO TAKE
BACK KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
The witness said, also, that the company re-
fused to take back men who were strikers and
Knights of Labor. Strikers who were not
Knights might be taken back, but not the
Gen. Swayne, Mr.. Gould attorney, furnished
the committee with a shorthand report OF the
interview between Mr.. Hoxie and the knights
committee, and the witness was examined
upon this.
Mr.. Grain said it seemed from that report that
Mr.. Hoxie took the position that he would not
kniplltS. claimed
right to select his men.
"Yes," said the witness, "but when the men
applied to the superintendent they were asked
IL they were Knights OF Labor and strikers; il
they answered in the affirmative, they were
told that they We're not wanted
"Then they refused to employ men because
they were Knights of Labor?'
THAT is our information"
oyERwOR.zED AND UNDERPAID.
Witness said, in the course OF his testimony,
that by employing but fifty per cent of the force
the railroad worked the men over time and
underpaid them. This was a thing that had
been done before and was one OF the things that
caused the strike. There was good cause for
the strike that would have been apparent had
the strike taken place last fall. Now the public
had lost sight OF those causes.
FEMALE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Mr.. Grain was asking about the general COM
position OF the order Of the knights OF Labor
and asked how many wOmen's assemblies
there We're.
The witness said probably two or three hum
dred.
Mr.. Grain then tacetiously asked how they
managed to keep their secrets.
Witness replied that they had no secrets.
ARITR ALTON AND THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Mr.. Grain questioned the witness about what
he thought about arbitration, and about the
Presidents message published to-day.
81 favor arbitration
The only difference between the recommen
dations of the President and the bill, said Mr.
Grain, Is that he advised permanent govern
select the rest from active, intelligent business
men. 81 like the bill better. It's better" Mr.
Grain said this with considerable feeling.
The witness did not reply.
"Are you satisfied with voluntary arbitra-
tiOn?' was asked.
II should prefer to have it compulsory"
suppose The decision was against your"
81 should abide by it,, was the reply.
MIR. M'DowELL RECALLED.
The examination of Mr.. Turner was COM
pIeted, and Mr.. Mcdowell was placed on the
stand for few questions, and favored volun-
tary arbitration.
MR.. POwDERLY DENIES.
After that Mr.. Powderiy was examined In
brief. He denied that there had been any
agreement with Mr.. Gould in August; that
interview was about the Wabash. He denied
also that he had suggested that he would forfeit
the charter of the striking assembly. He said
he had not the power to do this. He said he
never had had anything TO do with stocks.
Mr.. Mcdowell and Mr.. Turner said they had
never Dcen interested In STOCKS. MIR. Mcdowell
added that to the So, 900 fee Mr.. Gould
spoke OF, he had never expected any fee.
'When the knights OF Labor put their men on
special duty they pay them iaborers' pay-S3
a day."
An adjournment was taken at lilo O clock.
THE LAST SESSION IN WASHINGTON.
This closed the sittings of the committee in
Washington, and it was arranged that the
members should leave this city for st. Louis
next Monday morning.
River and HarbOr Bill in the House.
REBUKE TO THE COMMITTEE-MARYLAN AND
VIRGINIA APPROPRIATIONS.
The House is having hard fight over the