San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-03-16
JAY GOULD
Interviewed, But Nothing New or Dsan,
lite Obtained From Him.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, March l5.-Jay
Gould, to-day speaking for the first time
respecting the strike by the Knights Of
Labor on the Missouri Pacific and the re-
mainder OF the Gould Outhwestern sys-
TEN, said to representative of the As
ISOLATED Press: 81 first learned of the
strike while at Havana and have been
advised by telegraph of the character of
the trouble, more particularly since my
arrival here. The strike on our system
was complete surprise to me, for two
reasons: First, we had acceded to all
demands which were made upon us by
employees and were supposed to I've work
ing in harmony with them second, the
present strike was made up on an issue
with which we had nothing TO do and
which we can not possibly arbtrate or
CONTROL
Gould, Originated in the discharge Of
an employee named Hall on the Texas
and Pacific, which road Is in the hands
of the United States court. We have no
more right to attempt to control the
working of that system than the work
ingmen themselves, and would be as
completely in contempt to do SO as any
outsiders
Regarding another aspect Ofthe strike.
Gould said: THE public may be not
aware Of il, but the same issue was
raised when some Of the men were dis
charged on the Wabash railway at the
time when il was in control Of the
United States court. POwderly, Chief
of the Executive Committee of the
Knights of Labor, called upon me to
secure their reinstatement. The subject
was then fully discussed, and told him
| had no action in the matter, not even
advisory, without a request from the
court. At that interview told Powder
ly that If any grievances existed among
the men, If he would bring them to our
attention, we would endeavor to right
them. We recognized the necessity of
remaining on good terms with our peo-
pie, to whom one-half the earnings of
the road go yearly. The present strike
came without notice and not in conse-
quence of grievances cited against us;
and in view of my interview with Pow
derby, whom | believed to be a fair min
ded man, was all the more surprising to
me-"
As to the future Gould said 81 am
advised that great numbers OF strikers
are not In sympathy with the movement
and will return to work as soon ms as
sured of protection by the civil authOrl-
ties. Our intention is to resume at once
and as fast as the protection is afforded"
In conclusion he declared that he
did not care to discuss the other
features of the strike, beyond the
statement the company could not
possibly join hands with the
Knights of Labor against the United
States Supreme Court in their war on an
other system, which, he asserted. the
present strike involved Gould further
asserted that the Knights of Labor had
evidently discovered already through
public sentiment that they were eXer-
Cising power in favor of an issue strictly
against law and order, and that was
more OF war against the general pub
lie than the road. 1t was closing manu-
factories along the lines OF the road !,
was stopping the shipment of coal and
other commodities to points where the
people were liable to suffer great depri-
walton. 1t was more the fight of the
public than the company, but the latter,
in protection of its own lawful rights,
would exercise every lawful energy to
meet the demands of those patronizing
the road ia all departments. Gould
stated that he was In recept of tele-
grams from manufacturers and others
along the cOmpany's lines, stating that
they would be compelled to shut down,
but at the same time placing no blame
upon the company or its management.