The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-28
The Knights Referred to Mr.. Hoxie as the
Representative of the Company.
Mr.. Goulds Statement Presents Points Which
Mr.. Powderly Is Not Prepared to Discuss,
and Final Action Is Postponed.
WILL NOT ARBrrRArE.

the general executive board of the Knights Of
Labor and Mr.. Jay Gould to-day:
NOBLE ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF
LABOR OF AMERICA,
'tOFFIcE OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY.
PHILADELPHIA, March %.
"Mr. Jay Gould:
"Sir-The general executive board would be
pleased to have an interview with you st your
convenience, TO day. for the purpose OF submit
ting the Southwestern difficulties to committee
Of seven for arbitration, three Of the
committee to be appointed by yourself.
and three by the general executive board,
the six to select the seventh member of the COM
mittee, their decision in the matter to be final
Should this proposition be acceptable. we will at
once issue an order for the men to return to
work.
by order of the general executive board.
s'FRED X. TURNER
Secretary of the Board
To this the following answer was returned:
THE MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY, I
New YORK, March ~.
Frederick x. Turner. Esq. Secretary. PhiIadei-
"Dear Sir-I have your note Of this date, pro-
posing an interview between your executive
committee and the officers of this company for
the purpose of submitting to arbitration by COM
mittee OF seven what you term the Southwestern
diffculties' You are doubtless aware that in
the negotiations which took place here last
August, between Mr. 4. v. Powderly, grand
master workman and associates, and the officers
of this company it was agreed that. in future
no strikes would be ordered on the Missouri Pa
cifc road until after o conference with the
officers of the company, and an opportunity had
to adjust any alleged grievances. In view OF this
fact, attention is drawn to the following corre-
spondence between Mr.. A. l.. Hopkins vice.
president, acting for this company in my alb
sence, and Mr. Powderly:
NEW YORK. March g. 1886.
.'T " Powderly Scranton. Pa:
Mr.. Hoxie telegraphs that the Knights of Labor
road have struck and refuse to allow any
freight trains to run on our road saying they have no
grievance but only striking because ordered to do
there is any grievance we would like to talk 10
over with you We understood you to promise that
no strike should be ordered without consultation
"A. l.. HoPKIKS
s.PHILApELpHIA, Pa, March 8.
"A L. Hopkins, Secretary Missouri Pacific Railway
100 Broadway. New York:
'.Havestelegraphed west for particulars The pa
pers say the strike is caused by the discharge of an
tion! 7. V. PowDERLY.
."NEw YORK, March 8, 1885,
Thanks for your message and suggestion. Hall
employed by the Texas Pacific. and not by us.
That property is in tho hands of the United States
court and we have no control whatever over
the receivers or over the employees. We have
carried out the agreements made last spring in every
respect and the present strike unjust to and
is the result of Wall street influence the part OF
those short of the securities likely to be affected
IA L. HOPKINS.
mo reply to this message was received, but
this company's request for conference was ig-
norsd and its premises at once invaded and its
property destroyed by the men of your order In
great numbers, who also seized and disabled its
trains, as they have since contin-
ued to do The board of directors
Of this company thereupon had
copy of the correspondence above given made
and transmitted to Mr. Hoxie, the first vice
president and general manager at St Louis,
with instructions to use every endeavor TO con-
tinue the operation OF the road, and
committed the whole matter to his
hands. Mr.. Hoxie's overtures, made through
the Governors of Missouri and Kansas, who
stated that they found no cause for the strike,
were rejected by your order. Those and the
subsequent correspondence between him and
Mr.. Powderly are wellknown TO you, and Mr.
Hoxie's course has been confirmed by the board,
and the matter is still in his hands. am, there
fore, instructed by the board to refer you to him
as its continuing representative in the premises.
II am directed to add in behalf of the board,
that, in its judgment so long as this company
is foreibly kept from the control OF its proDerty
and from performing its charter duties its busi-
ness is done, if at all, not under the conditions
of law which are common to all citizens, but
only at the will of law-hreaklng force.
Any negotiations with such force would be m
wise and useless. Terms made with it would
not be settlement of difficulties but triumph
of force over the law of the land. It would mean
nothing, in their judgment, but troubles,
and worse. This is the result of their expert
ence
''In the meantime, the Governors proclamation
enjoins upon yonr men to return to duty, and
this company's continued advertisement offers
them employment. The board further suggests
that, lnasmuch as your order assumes in
your communication responsibility for these
men and power and control over them, the fol-
lowing from the proclamation of the Governor
of Missouri is expressive Of their duty and of
your owns
II warn all persons, whether they be employees or
not against nterposing obstacle whatever In the
way Of said resumption and with firm reliance upon
the courage good and iaw-abi6ing spirit of
the public, hereby call upon all good citizens
ton; and T. also hereby pledge the whole power of
the State so far it may be- lawfully welded by it's
chief executive officer to sustain the company and its
servants in said resumption, and TO restrain and pun
ish all that may oppose it.
when this procama alton shall be obeyed, and
when the company's late employees shall desist
from violence and interference with its trains.
the board hereby assures them that they
will find themselves met by Mr. Hoxie in
the spirit in which he has heretofore successfully
avoided rupture and cause for just complaint,
and in that just and liberal spirit which should
always exist between the employer and employed.
by order OF the board.
Very respectfully yours, JAY COULD,
president Missouri Pacific Road
Powderiy Makes Another Trial.