New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-16
MR. MDOWELL'S VERSION.
WHAT HE SAYS TOOK PLACE AT THE CONFERENCE
LETTERS FROM Mr.. PowDERLY.

mission TO publish the record OF the meetings which he
claims TO have kept. Mr.. Powdery's consent was OBJ
tained this and he also authorized the phDca'oh o
the TWO following letters recently written by MN 10 Mt.
McDoue IN reference the Southwest troubles ana the
efforts of Cyrus W. Field to effect settlement Of
them:
Answering yours OF April and T. Subject South
Genera Assembly of the order of Knights OF Labor OF
Once Of the Grand Master Workman, General Master
WI" - SCRANTON. Penn. April g. sc,
DEAR Mr. Mcdowell 1t Is uniortmms'e o, in"I c cne
strike dd not enl two weeks ago csadng am
told that Nj. Hoxie had expressed himself very s'ronEy
Hen there can be peace yet have not heard from the
members tho Board since they left Tor the SOUTH
west IL that the only tnng we can 90 IS 10
aid the tinancially). II they VIII no. I've I've
permitted TO return to woTk. wny ws o""T' have
done every thng consistent with manhood 10 nave TINS
mailer ended bur without 1t would have been
much better Tor Mr. Gould settle now than to pro.
long the struggle until every man IN the southwest
faith In a national arbitration bin being the complete
remedy believe the best plan Is to have inc pafuys
abide py It's operation whether for or against the
such a plan as being successfully worked III nun
not arbitrate: the company Will not treat with
men who were at work. Why these men had
no grievance is the who is ont who has the cause
think that the best plan is for Mr. Could to assert his
authority and meet with me and settle this aiir ont
upshot OF this affair In the southwest VIII DC tne
Srnpon OF the a1d Without the
restraint OF organization They viii hsra,s the CON-
end with The strike the dissolution OF the KNIGHTS
OF Labor his lines His trouble is only beginning;
marx my words and how far wrong am.
Yesterday my first day at the desk since saw yon
last am not III to be at work ont can Sec nu way
''' WIN T. V. PowDERLY.
The second letter was received two days later:
Gsubject: Southwest srrike.l
OFFICE or GENERAL NJ AsTER WORKMAN
SCRANTON, Penn, April 10. So
that cannot accompany You to Ncw-York My phys-
cal condition is such that It would be extremely oa an
efforts you have made this tro1ne
S the sDT Vest and am pleased to know that Mr.
Cyrus Field has interested himself In the naltcr 50
!, sce,ns to me that there is but thing which could
advise that can authorize yon to say FOR me 10 NJ
not misunderstood me and think lIlc.r mat u
would even hn at the nS S'T M,ssonr Pacific
Railroad. believe however that the only nns to be
6onS hTw IS I"r company and say to Nh HSxe
will take the settlement OF this veKed question on ms
nnIs ns he Mr. Gondl viii undertake put the
road in running operation with the men now out 'ueTe'
the Mr. Could viii Y saw to the men in rebellion
against the company Go to ~GrS m ~ see . viii IN
be made for any part that you have taken IN TINS
strike e1cP In cases a wier9 that he viii s
ten to the complaint of the men. l think tnat
Knicgts of Labor az an organization is not DESTROYS OF
holding to their allegiance only so TAR as IL WIZ
ANY way be a barrier TO the success OF the company
Leave the organization out OF the question: ana let Mr.
meet with representative OF our organ
izsc and let him s certain that Mr. Ho Srs
cannot now with the or with representative
Of The knights OF Labor AID effect sei,emeat Cl as
himself you, therefore: see Mr. Field aud say 70
To m have .Is' I ns' terrible state affairs 6roavhi
TO an end, and will do everything Ia my
froube will never again take place. Win the Knights
OF Labor driven from the employ OF the company ,ney
ORGANIZATION the same ground will again be travelled
over some day In the future As II IL now Doth sdes can
draw lesson from THIS struggle tha' VIII prevent iue
troubles from arising - D., -.
DO me- the act for me in this matter SO far as
Won can 20 in endcavorIng have this statement aid
before Mr. Gould With kind wishes, remain yours etc'
I. V. PowDERLY.
Mr. McDowelrs record of the various conferences,
whca follows is made up, lie claims of extracts from
his diary:
NEw-YORK. April IA. 1ss6.
III. correct account Of The conference Of March %, 1856
teiceen jay Gouid Mr. Pocderly and myself
On Saturday morning. March ~ at the request of the
Executive Board of the Knights OF Labor called on Mr.
Gould with letter proposing arbitration he being
out son. George. met me and received the letter
About 6 o'clock in the evening long answer was re-
ceived TO this letter, which the Executive Board at
once prepared answer. their second letter OF the
same date Upon delivery Of this second letter at Mr.
Goulds house asked to sec him personally We were
together some half ali ana during the interview
Mr. Gould expressed the desire 10 meet Mr. Powderly
and myself OH the following day at any tme
thai would suit Mr.. Powderly We called
about IL O'Clock Mr. Gould received us In his paror
and Vice-President Hopkins Joined In the interview
The discussion removed from the minds of each
mistaken Impressions and Mr. Gould expressed himself
rla af
ences that seemed to clear that an agreement was
sure to be reached. Mr.. Goud's dinner bell rang and
MIR. Powdery and excused ourselves and he invited us
TO meet him again in the evening. We called again at
clock :be evening and the discussion wds pleasant
one. covering grounds which would naturally be dis
cussed he two men prominent each IN his own
wax OF me- during the eonversauon mr' "o oara
tue res1lt OF the morning conference, telegram
that lac proposed sending TO Mr.. ilOxe This telegram
contained IN addition TO what was aferward published
Referring TO arbitrators taking into consideration
during strike. Mr. PouderIy suggested that IL would
not be advisable take up that branch of the subject
thai Mr. Goud the telegram, keeping in the
points that should be left IN and leaving out the rest
proposed order TO Mr.. Powderly 50 far
no OBJECTION eda 70 arbtran any be-
tween the employees and the company past or future
factory so far Mr. Powderly after thinking carefully,
answered tits" MI. Gould said " Then lei IL end
ment suggested that Mr.. Gould should rewrtc his
telegram the form OF letter 10 Mr. POwdcry, as al
letter letters OF previous day. aud
that would reuain until IL was finished take the letter
10 Mr. Powderiy, and Mr. Powdcriy agreed that II his
Genera Executive Board approved, on the receipt OF
this letter the men would he ordered back work After
Mr. p, wdery left. Mr. Could placed his letter in my
hands with the understanding that II the order 90 TO
work issued ths letter and the order TO 80 10 ork
were TO be given 10 the press that night 10 case the
was 10 lie returned to him unused tho following morn
ing; arranging In either to meet me al Ills ONCE
N 80 tbs following morning The order being issued,