The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-04-21


dition that they will be able 10 paw good
wages. We have no quarrel with legiri-
mate enterprise. II you discover that
members of the Knights of Labor along
the railroads have violated the law OF
the land or its own laws land the COM
mitlee will discover that fact) We viii
be as ready to assist the citizens; or as
member of the corporation he should
be punished for it, and that his connec-
ton with an organization should be no
shield for him. have thought on the
other hand that the man who violates
the law and who is worth millions of
dollars should suffer the same as the
poor workman. I have made that
statement and people have seen mt to
see in il an invitation to anarchy. II
that is anarchy, in the name OF God,
what is laW7
Mr.. Barnes-The country generally
land / doubt not property seems TO
place q good deal of confidence in your
integrity, your intelligence and your
patriotism, being disposed TO consider
questions practically. l ask If YOU have
given a thought 20 the question OF a
legislative remedy for the evils 70 which
you have alluded
Powderly-I have never worked II
out properly. l have thought il over.
but have not followed il to its conclu-
sion.
Mr.. Barnes-Will you be able, during
the sittings of this committee. 10 give
US your views on the question of
remedy for the wrong?
Powderly-How long is the commit
tee likely 10 sit
The Chairman-About two months.
Powderly-I think will be able, be-
cause in that time you will have an Of
= II .-afrpv. ho rhfaf nf
our organization on that point. ~
Mr.. Barnes-I 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 amendments
| to the Constitution. a
Powderly-I shall so, and l thank
you for the suggestion.
Mr.. Craine-I find il stated in the bill
Of grievances produced by you that the
men asked for redress time
and time again. but in vain
that the executive committee of the
Knights of Labor sought to settle the
matter, and that the reply of the gen.
eraI superintendent of the Missouri
Pacific Railway, refusing to agree to q
conference proposed, can be pro-
duced.
Powderly-Yes; am told also that
along the Iron Mountain Railway and
along the other roads in parts of Texas,
superintendents and foremen are inter-
ested in the company stores, and that
the men are compelled to deal in these
stores. The employees are not told in
so many words that they mnst deal
there, but they are reminded that il is
to their interest to do so. II
murmur of complaint is to reach
the ear Of the president of the company
the man will be discharged as
soon as he utters a word Of complaint.
The man whose money is invested in
the railroad knows nothing about this.
In many places double prices are
charged in these stores.
Mr.. Buchanan-Will you be able to
furnish specific instances OF this kind
Powderly-The committee will find
proofs of all these things. The men
also complain that convicts are brought
from penitentiaries in Texas to work
on the railroads and that striped suits
may be seen side by side with honest
labor in track-repairing. That state
ment has been made to me by members
OF the committee.
Mr.. Bucha nan - You promised to
furnish the committee with some view
as to legislative remedy for troubles
of the kind now existing q? VIII you
d4cO, III NdAC
into view the complex nature of this
government, and the divided respon-
sibility between Federal and State legis-
lation. so as to make your suggestion
such as national legislation can duly
act act upon?
Powderly-I will do so.
Mr.. CraiBe-What is the principle of
the organization known as the Knights
of Labor
Powderly-Our organization aims to
settle all differences by arbitration an d
reconciliation, and that is one cause
why we have difficulty in man
aging it. 1t was never fought
of until recently, that our
organization should have anything to
do with strikes. So. too, boycotting is
something which we have never legis-
lated on but once, aud that was to re-
strain it. and our restraining influence
will go still further.
Mr.. Crain-Then the principle on
which your organization is based is that
Of bringing capital and labor into closer
relations ~.
Powderly-Yes.
Mr.. Crain-And this strike vent into
effect on the authority of district as
semblies, not on that of the general
organiZstion2 $40 ~
Powderly-0ur general organization
has never given its general officers any
power over the question Of strikes.
On this point the committee adj
journed.