The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-22
WOULD SPLIT HAIRS,
AND CONSEQUENTLY THE New YORK
CONFERENCE FNgEo.

More Light ON the Labor question from
knight of Labor LAM s-rhe Dead
Lock on the Lake shore at Chicago-A
New Start at St. Louis Great Cooper
alive scheme.
WASHINGTON, CITY Anil 90. MIR. VIII
lam O. NJ Bowel, OF New'Jersey, a member
of the Knights OF Labor, was the first wit
ness examined by the committee OF inquiry
into the southwest labor troubles Wednes-
day He stated that he was interested in
various enterprises in his state and W as an
active business man. The OBJ ect of the
Knights of labor as an organization was to
elevate the condition OF the laboring man,
to bring him in ose contact with the
proprietor and t, make him proprietor.
Referring to the conference of tn, re-
representatives. of the Knight of Labor with
Mr. Jay Gould III regard to the present
labor troubles, Mr.. Mcdowell pro luced a
letter copying book and read copies OF the
letters viii were rent to Mr. Gould on the
subject, the first one being dated March ~
last On that day the witness called on Mr.
Gould 10 propose arbitration of the difficult
ties on the Missou i Pnciic. MIR Gould was
not in hiss office and the con-
Ference was with his son. Witness
carried letter, proposing on the part Of the
Knights of l.aher "a plan of arbitration.
Witness then detained the preliminaries of
the celebrated confe, ence, as they have al
ready been published. He also read the
original OF Gonld's letter to Powderly, en-
closing the telegram to Hoxie, in which
Could said he saw mo o lection to arbitrat-
ing, etc.
Witness and Mr.. Gould discussed the arbi-
tration bill before congres. Judge John s.
Dillon, of Boston, attorney for Gould, was
pr, sent and asked MIR Gould to not sign the
articles for arbitration until he tair. Dillonl
returned to Boston. Later in the day wit
ness saw Mr.. Gould again, and the
latter said he had received a tele-
gram from St Louis informing him
that there was something wrong about
the settlement of the difficulties and the re-
sumption of work "Here." said the witness,
lis where Mr. Gould began hair-splitting"
meeting was h Ia tho next day by ar
rangement Mr. Gould's stenographer
made a verbatim report of that meeting,
said the witness, "snd it has since been pub
lished in full by the press of the country.
1t seems to be very correct report of the
proceedings
The answer to Gould's telegram to Mr.
Hoxie in reference to arbitration was, in
the opinion of witness, frankly rebellious
Witness read number of kilograms be-
tween Messrs Hoxie and A. s Hopkins
which had been widely published and which
indicated willingness to arbitrate the diff
ferences, but the Gould people refused
finally to execute the promises made in that
direction Ii was believed Ly the represent
| atives of the knights OF labOrthat arbi-
| tration had been fully agreed upon up to
the time they went to st. Louis to act upon
the supposed agreement
| A letter of instructions from Powderly to
| the witness inviting half hour interview
| with Mr.. could in second effort to secure
| arbitration mentioned that Mr.. Cyrus
| W. Field had consented to act as mediator
and that the writer had heard that Mr..
| Hoxie had expressed himself
| strongly against being dictated
| to The letter suggested that Mr..
| Gould should relieve Mr.. Hoxie of the settle
ment of the trouble Witness and Mr. Field
prepared letter, setting forth that Messrs
Gould and Powdelly had agreed upon arbi-
tration, and suggested that contract
be entered into between those gen
| tlemen and carried out between by
them personally The letter Mr. Field
| took to MIR Gould who stated that the strike
was practically over, and there the matter
| ended. The ST. ike was not however, at an
| end, the witness said continuing: ANY
settlement that fails to carry with it gooi
| will is not a complete settlement as it leaves
| a running sore There is not settlement
of any kind
The witness thought Mr. Gould and his
| subordinates had in various ways acted in
bad faith with the representatives of the
Knights of Labor in this controversy Gen
| Swayne, attorney for Mr. Gould, was at
this point permitted TO read some additional
correspondence between representatives OF
Mr. Gould and Mr. Powderly to show that
the former had maintained good faith. Go
ing back to the causes of the trouble in the
southwest the witness attributed it to over
capitalization OF railroad stock. Watering
stock was the great evil of to day.
MIR. Powderly was recalled, and at the
request of Chairman Curtin, who thought it
very important from the dire ton this ex.
animation had taken, to know more about
the Knights of Labor organization gave an
der 1t was organized in Philadelphia in No
vember, 1860 1t was to be secret order,
the name OF it not to he mentioned outside
of their meeting rooms The idea was to
bring into the organization every depart
ment of industry. Women ami coiored men
were eligible to membership and thu order
made no exclusions on account of color,
creed, sex o. religion. Bankers, lawyers,
and liquor sellers only were excluded
They had one assembly of
women with 800 members
which managed its affairs in such a way as
to reflect credit them and made the as
sembly rattern for men to copy after
MIR Powderly thought the present member
ship OF the order did not exceed $4,000.
This closed the examination for the day
and Mr.. Powderly, who had expires cd
desire to return TO his home was told that
he could do so, and that il the committee
wanted him again they would summon him
| by telegraph.
TIE LAKE SHORE STRIKE.