San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-04-21
BEFORE CESAR.
POWDERLY PUMPED BY THE CON-
GRESSIoNAL COMMITTEE.
The Result-Lake Shore Lingo-Gotham
Grist-Locomotive Firemen-
Mill-dam Damaged
World Dust.

WASHINGTON, April 20.-A special com
mittee OF the House of Representatives
to inquire into labor troubles in the
Southwest, held its first public session
Governor Curtain, Of Pennsylvania,
Chairman; Messrs. Burnes, of Missouri;
Grain, of Texas; Cultivate, Of Ohio;
Stewart, Of Vermont; Parker, of New
York, and Buchanan, of New Jersey.
All the members were present except
Stewart, who was absent by leave of the
House Among the prominent per sons
in attendance were representatives of
the Knights of Labor, Il. V. POwderly,
General Master Workman; j. w. Hayes,
William o. Mcdowell, members of the
Executive Board, and Fred NJ. Turner,
General Secretary. AS representative
of the railroad interest, Wager Swayne,
counsel, and as representatives of the
Woman's League of America, Mrs.
Charlotte Smith and three other ladies.
Powderly was the first witness and as such
was sworn by the Chairman. The Chairman
addressing him said You understand that
this committee is raised by the House of Rep
resentatives for the purpose, If possible of
getting down to the reasons for the unrest and
disturbance which now exist i'll the country,
especially as to conflicts between labor and
capital and employe and employer. This COM
mittee is fully sensible of the course you have
taken in your previous life and of your dispo-
sitiOn to reconcile the unrest of the people,
and therefore be pleased to give the commit
tee your impression as to this matter"
After reviewing the history of labor troubles
iT.the southwest, Mr.. PowdeTly, among other
testimony said while | was ia the west |
heard from the men of little abuses of which
IL Nl..
cfic Railroad knows anything. Along the
Iron Mountain Railroad they have system of
taking % cents month from the wages of Il
man who receives 81 a day, and 80 cents from
the wages of man who receives 81 Il day, and
so on in proportion, for what they call the hos
pital fund. Then, the men claim that as
soon as they are taken sick they are dis
charged and are denied the right of entering
the hospital. Then there are instances which
can be proved, where men have made con-
tracts TO buy land from the company on rcgu-
lar yearly Installments and where, having paid
all but the last instament, they were dis
charged from the employment of the company.
In that ectiOn of country it is different from
the cast. Men cannot go into the next town
and get a situation, and the consequence has
been that in at least one particular case, the
man was obliged to remain so long out of work
that he lost his property. The men claim there
are several instances of that kind.
The Chalrman-Can you have witnesses
called before the committee to show these
factsy
overwhelmingly, if am correctly in
formed.
Mr.. Buchanan-Tn your inquiries you have
found that these causes of discomfort eX-
istedI
Powdery-Yes
Chairman-Will you state the purpose of the
organization of tine knights of Labor. Whether
its purposes are the protection of the interests
of labor and whether ii is peaceful in its &c
tiOnI
the Knights of Labor is to benefit the labOrer
and to secure better feeling between him and
his employer. All our methods are peaceful.
We never counsel anything of violent ma
ture. A member of the organization may once
in while commit acts of violence. WecanDOt
help that. II is u matter beyond our CONTROL
because when men feel that they have endured
wrong, there is no law which can properly re-
strain them.
Chairman-Do understand that the knights
of Labor is an organization to Protect labor
not only ON railroads, but also in mines and
factories?
POwderly-we attempt to do that Our as
sOciatiOn is intended to be an educational one.
We aim at having our members study the con-
ditions 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 actionI
Powderly-Yes sir have claimed that it is
no more than right that both meet on equal
terms and have thorough understanding of
the wants of each other. 1t seems TO me that
until they do that, they can not properly fix
up their differences.
the secrets of the Knights of Labor; but you
have stated that the objects of the society are
to protect the labor of the country, so far as
possible, against the exactions of incorporated
capital.
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. If you discover
that members of the knights of Labor along
the railroads ha violated the law pf the land
or its own laws land the committee will dis
cover that fact, we will be as ready to assist in
Furnishing them as we are in unfolding their
rights. When l said that was willing to ex-
pose everything in connection with the organ
iZation, il those who manage the railroads, or
If one man in particular would do the same
thing, / spoke fairly and truthfully. ] have
no objection to showing up everything con-
nected with the organization, its signs, pass
words and everything else. / am willing to
lay everything before the committee and be-
fore the world. l want it understood that so
far as our Executive Board is concerned, |
have from over iCOO assemblies letters of en-
dorsement of a secret circular of mine which,
since IL was issued has been made public.
These endorsements bear me out in what
have said, so that you can understand from
the tenor Of the circular the character of our
organization. When / stated that our organi-
zation was willing to meet our contestant be-
fore the courts, had no idea that was max
ing wrong statement. believe that the law
of the land is higher than any organization,
and that when a man violates the law of the
land, either as knight of Labor or as private
citizen, or as member of corporation, he
should be punished for it; and that his con-
nection with an organization should be no
shield for him; and | have thought on the
other hand that man who violates the laws
and who is worth millions of dollars should
suffer the same as poor man. / have made
that statement, and the people nave seen ut
to see in 1t an invitation to anarchy. If
that is anarchy, in the name of God, what is
lawI
Mr. Burnes-The country generally, and |
doubt not properly, seems to place good deal
of confidence in your integrity, your intelli-
gence and your patriotism. Being disposed to
consider the question practically, ask II you
have given thought to the question Of legis-
lative remedy for the evils to which you have
alluded?
Powderly-I have never worked it out prop
erly. have thought il over, but have not fol-
lowed IL to its conclusion.
BuTnes-Will you be able, during the sitting
of this committee, to give us your view on the
question of the remedy for the wrong.
Powderly-How long is the committee likely
TO sit2
Chairman-Abou two months.
PowdeTy-I think will be able, because in
that time you will have an official declaration
from the chief men of our organization on that
point.
Burmese would suggest further that IL may
be well to consider what, in your Judgment
can be constitutionally done, and what might
be DONE and what ought to be done by amend
ments 10 the constitution.
Powderly-I shall do SO, and thank you for
the suggestion.
Mr.. Crain-I find it stated in the bill of
grievances. produced by you, that the men