The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-16
THREAT AND DEFIANCE.
JAY sOUlD NOTIFIED THAT HE MUST
END THE STRIKE


Him as Monopoly's Representative.
New YORK, April 16-Mr Gould
Wednesday received letter from Mr..
declares war to the bitter end by the
Knights of Labor, not against the Mis-
souri, Pacific, but against Jay Gould.
Mr. Powderly begins by reciting his I'M
derstanding of the result of the conference
in this city, March IS. and
declares that his view of the
meaning of the telegram to Hoxie
which was so widely published at the time
is correct in connection with the conversa-
tions that preceded it, His view of its
meaning was that committee of the strik
ing employees, or Knight of Labor should
he received by Mr.. Hoxie before the men
went to work. In discussing this matter of
the men going back to work Mr. Powderly says
he said to Mr Gould: The men
out along the lines of your rail
ways can be ordered back to work,
but II they are given to understand that
they are deserted, that We do not take any
interest in them, it will not in any way
mend matters; on the contrary, it will
make things worse. There are all along
the roads out there great many men who
have no regard for organization or
law; men OF harly spirit, energy
and daring. Such men as have left
the east and have taken up their homes out
in wild country, such as that is, will not
submit so quietly as the men they have left
behind in the east Thy are apt to do
rasher things than they would do elsewhe
and have no doubt We have some of them
in our order, and that Mr. Hopkins agreed
with him.
MIR. Powder ly closes this part of the letter
by the statement that. 1t was my firm belief
when left you that night that you meant
to have the entire affair submitted to arbi
tfation at the filst possible moment That
belief is shared in by MIR Mcdowell who
was present during the entire interview
When You sent the telegram to Mr.. Hoxie
yol sent it as president If the Missouri IA
citc Railroad company. You sent it as the
chief sends his message to an inferior
officer, and it meant as much to a sensible
man as the most inn erative .order could
possibly moan. When |, as the chief officer
of the Knights of Labor send a message
such as that il is understood to benny wishes
and those wishes are respected by the sub
ordinate officer to whom they are sent 1t
is not his place to put different construc-
ton ON them ami give them his own inter
probation. Ills duty is to obey the spirit of
the Instructions Tie man in power need
not be an autocrat in order TO have his
wishes respected. Il would like to see it
DONE" comes with as great a force from
the man in authority rs, Il must have it
done"
The master workman theI says Mr. Gould
can settle the strike. and that if it continues
longer the responsibility of all evils growing
put of it will he upon MIR Gould's shoulders
He says the knights shall not stand in the
way of the late employees of the railway
Deing taken back; that if they desire it their
with the knights may end with
1ut prejudice TO them The knights having
been called secret menace" by Mr. Gould,
Mr.. fowderly offers to lay all their
iould secrets before the public
4 Mr.. will tell the public how
10 accumulated his wealth, ands chal
enges him to proceed with the treatened
suits for damages against the Knights
Begin at once" he says, lay Claims
whose jurisdiction knight exists
Proceed at once, and in every
tate where you can receive damages
10 so If the law will sustain you in it 1t
S just and right that 1t should be so We
IRE willing to face YOU before the law; W.
Till fight you with no other weapon
Then the de laration of war is made. |!
means, says Mr. lowderly, no further
triking, no shedding of blood, no
nobs, Lut lattle waged against
fould as the rel resentative a monopoly.
A latte carried on in The courts where the
question to lie decide will he. Has Jay
iould "A legal right to his vast wealth, The
Knights of Labor will fight the iattle of the
'eople before the courts AMI learn whether.
laws were made to he obeyel or not, and
[ they were not so framed then the people |
niiat make laws that will be obeyel No |
nan, whether he e rich, or whether he lie |
he poorest OF the poor, shall in the future |
hirk the responsibility of his acts and |
ned himself behind the courts
This is no bluff, says MI Powderly. He
las consulted the best legal opinion in the |
natter and is perfe tly in earnest when he |
ays that il Mr. Gould does not take this |
iil1'i ihbp hho o"iI SbbliB Ule |
trike the Knights Of Labor viii make this |
var on monopoly, as represented by Mr.. |
tould, and fight it, he believes to IA success
nj conclusion |
In closing Mr.. Powderly says the threats |
gainst Mr. Gould's life are not worthy at |
ention Pay no attention to such talk
10 man who has the interest of his country |
t heart would harm a hair of your head; |
mt the system which reaches out on all |
ides, gathering in the millions of dollars of |
rsasure and keeping them out of the leeiti |
nate channels of trade and commerce mu,t |
lie, and the men whose money is invested in |
he enterprises which stock gambling has
hrottled mast max common cause with
hose who have been denied the right to
arm enough to provide the merest necessa
les of life for home and family"
Mr.. Gould can make all the strikers his |
riends, the letter says in conclusion, by TAX
lg back every striker except those who
ave destroyed railway property or broken
be laws, and then make agreements that will |
brewer preclude tho possibility of such
trike in future
Tothis Mr.. Gould replies first by remarking
hat the letter was received simultaneously |
nth "A copy of q letter from Mr. Powderly |
D MIR. Mcdowell, of this city, which latter
aye the peremptory notice that the former
iust be answered by 5 p III of the same
ny Wednesday,. Regarding the personal
sue presented in Mr.. Powderlys letter, Mr.
iould says: at would seem to be an official
eclaration that the Knights of Labor had
etermined to pursue me personally unless
10 Missouri Pacific coiupany should Weld |