The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-24

Examination of General Secretary Turner
The Committee to Come West Next Week.
WASHINGTON, April 23-The fourth days
session of the House select committee on the la
Dor difficulties in the Southwest was opened at
IL A. NJ. with the examination of Mr.. Frederick
Turner, general secretary and treasurer Of the
Knights of Labor. Mr.. Swayne was again pres
ent to watch proceedings in the interest of rail-
road companies. Mr. Somerville of the Western
Union Telegraph Company who yesterday ac-
companied Mr.. Gould. was also present Rep
resentative Warner, of Ohio, was introduced to,
Aand had long conversations with, Messrs Me-
Dowel and Turner. The latter is short, stout.
rather youthful-looking man of forty. He de-
scribed himself as resident of Philadelphia.
and as secretary and general treasurer of the
Knights of Labor. He had been a gold leaf
beater, but had not worked at that business
since 1876. He was now in the grocery business
He had taken part in the attempt to arrive at a
settlement, and was present at Powderlys inter-
view with Gould. The stenographic report Of
that interview was substantially correct There
was general talk about arbitration, and all
seemed pleased with the subject 1t was thought
to be proper way of settling disputes. In re-
ply to Mr.. Parker, he stated that there were
twenty one district assemblies of the knights of
Labor in the United States with about 5000
local assemblies In these local assemblies
there were from ten members to 5000 members.
The Knights of Labor had no political object.
and did not seek to influence legislation. He
had known of no such movement on their part.
Mr.. Parker handed the witness a petition in
favor of the unlimited coinage Of standard silver
dollars, purporting to be signed by 700 local as
semblies.
Mr. Turner stated that he had never seen or
heard of the petition before but that the organi-
zation did not deny the right of any assembly to
petition Congress 1t was not responsible, as
body, for the action of particular assemblies.
This movement in favor of the unlimited coinage
of silver was not q general movement OF tha
Knights of Labor.
Mr. Buchanan after examining the petition,
stated that he thought the petition could be
traced to societies outside OF and unconnected
with the Knights of Labor
Mr. Turner went on, in reply to questions from
Mr. Grain, to describe the interview which he
and his colleague, Mr.. Bailey, had had with Mr..
Hoxie In ST. Louis He said that Hoxies treat
ment of them was very discourteous that he
stated he would have no conversation with them
as officers of the Knights of Labor but that he
would receive them as American citizens. They
informed him that they did not desire to stand
on their dignity, and were willing to talk with
him as private citizen; that all they wanted was
to have'the trouble settled, peace restored, and
the men set hack to work.
Mr.. Crain-Was the strike over the.
Mr.. Turner-None of our people we.c vsrS.
The strike was not over.
The Chairman-In your statement na s't
the word 'order" in reference to the 49, - "
back to work. want to know wheti tsi-
tral power of your organization can ''''r'Y sueu
to work or sorder' them TO quit work
Mr. Turner-The general laws DO ~ 'af1em-
plate strikes.
The Chairman--That is not the que w
Mr. Turner thestatinglyl-Well. :" not un-
derstand that il we issued an order ior men 70