Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-21

grsphed to Hoxie asking for an inter.
view for the purpose Of endesvor-
ing to arrange some terms OF
settlement. lie refused. TO meet me
in an official capacity, but said he
would meet me as citizen. had no
authority to act IS citizen In the mat
ter, and Of course / did not meet with
him. came back East, and Q few
days after that I went to New York.
The history Of what took place there
has been published 30 extensively 10
the press that it is not necessary for
me TO 20 over it. While / was in the
West ] heard from the men of little
abuses which I do not think the man
ager Of tho Missouri Pacific railroad
knows anything about. Along the
Iron Mountain railroad they have sys-
TEN Of taking IS cents month from
the wages OF man who receives
81 day and so cents from the
wages of q man who receives s2 day,
and so on in proportion, for what they
call hospital fund. Then the men
claim that as soon as they are taken
sick they are discharged, and are de-
MED the right Of entering the hospital.
Then there are instances, which can be
proved, where the men have made con-
tracts to buy land from the company
on regular yearly instruments, and
where, having paid all but the last in-
stalnent, they were discharged from
the employment OF the company. In
that section Of country it is different
from the East. Men cannot 60 into the
next town and get . situation, and the
consequence has been that, in at least
one particular case, man was obliged
TO remain idle so long that he lost his
property.
The Chairman: The men claim that
there arc several instances Of that kind?
Mr.. Powderly stated that in his in
quiiies he had found that the causes Of
discomfort actually existed as described,
and that he could have witnesses called
TO testify to them If his informants had
been correct.
The Chairman Will you state the
purposes Of the organization Of the
Knights Of Labor, whether its pur-
poses are protection Of the interests of
labor, and whether it is peaceful in all
| its actions?
Mr.. Powderly: The aim Of the Or
ganization Of the Knights of Labor is
TO benefit the laborer and to secure bet.
ter feeling between him and his EN-
ployer. All our methods are peaceful.
We never counsel anything Of a violent
nature. A member of the organization
may once in awhile commit acts Of
violence; we cannot help that. It'll
a matter beyond our control, because
when men feel that they have endured
wrong there is no law which can pro-
perly restrain them.
The Chairman Do understand that
the Knights of Labor are an organiza-
ton to protect labor, not only on rail-
roads, but also in mines and factories ?
Mr.. Powderly: We attempt to do
that. Our association is intended to
be an educational one. We aim at hav-
ing our members study the conditions
by which they are surrounded, not only
their own conditions, but those Of the
men for whom they work.
Mr. Buchanan In order to pave the
way to intelligent action?
Mr.. Powderly: Yes, sir. | have
claimed that it is no more than right
for both to meet on equal terms and to
have thorough understanding of the
wants Of each other, and it seems to
me until they do that they cannot pro-
perly fix up their differences.
The Chairman In your letter to me
you spoke of difficulties in respect to
the receiyerships Of railroad compa-
MES.
Mr.. Powderly: Yes when railroad
company does not pay, and when it gets
into the hands of receiver, we find
it to be true that if we ask for redress
Of grievances or wrongs We are referred
TO the court, the receiver saying that he
has no power to remedy them but
! that when there is another matter de-
sired to be rectified the receiver can do
so without applying to the court.
The Chairman Do you know the
particulars Of any wrongs of that kind?
Powderly: cannot give particulars
now, but will do so.
The Chairman; That is to saJ that
parties wreck the road aud have it put
in the hands of a receiver for certain
purposes!
Mr.. Powderly /: l do not know whether
they wreck it or not.
Mr.. Buchanan They run itashore at
all events, whether they wreck it or
not?
Mr.. Powderly; Yes sir. There are
great many persons who express the
opinion that if the United States Govern
ment can run railroad after its being
wrecked it should certainly be able to
run good railroad.
The Chairman That is logical con-
clusion?
Mr.. Powderly stated that in the gene
raj Office in Philadelphia were papers
which would be valuable to the com.
mittee, and the Chairman replied that
the committee would require all papers
that threw light upon the subject under
investigation. $50 far" said he, "we
have very good start on what you
said to-day. do not ask you to d.
vulge any secrets of the Knights Of
Labor, but you have stated the objects
Of the society are to protect the labor
Of the country so far as possible against
the exactions of incorporated capital"
Mr.. Powderly: To protect not only
the labor of the country. but to protect
the manufacturers as well. We desire
that the manufacturers shall be in such
condition that they will be able to pay
good wages. We have no quarrel with
legitimate enterprise.
The Chairman The aims of your
society are entirely peaceful?
Mr.. Powderly: They are entirely
peaceful, but they are liable, of course.
to be misunderstood even by members
Of associations once in awhile. you
discover that the members of the