Savannah morning news., 1886-03-20
A CONFERENCE DECLINED.
MIR. HOXIE REPLIES TO MIR.
POWDERLY's REQUEST.

]
Missouri Pacific Declared without Ju-
risdiotiOn over the Road Involved
The Attacks on the COmpany's Prop
erty Declared Unoaned for - Past
Differences Always Satisfactorily Ad-
| justed,
! ST. LOUIS, March 19.-The situation in
this city this morning showed absolutely
/ no change. Suburban passenger trains
had resumed running, and no further in-
reference from knights in this branch of
the railroad business is anticipated. No
attempt has been made for some days
past to move freight trains, and although
the company's plans are not generally
known, II is presumed that no attempt 10
resume freight traffic will be made until
the trouble is ended.
HoXIE DECLINES A CONFERENCE.
Vice President Hoxie, Of the Missouri
Pacific railroad, has replied to Master
Workman Powderly, of the knights of
Labor, declining to meet Mr.. Powderly
ana committee OF Knights to arrange a
settlement OF the pending difficulties.
| Mr.. H0xie's reply Is very long, and treats
exhaustiVely OF the whole subject Of past
| and present strikes.
In the present instance the strikers
have no grievance which it is in the pow
er OF the Missouri Pacific railroad to re-
dress, the grievance being against another
road, over which the Missouri Pacific has
no control; hence conference could bring
about no result. Mr.. Hoxie says: "lf
Mr.. Powderly and his associates have
anything to suggest that will tend to cor
rect the evils of the existing state of af-
/ fairs, he will be glad to meet them as indi-
Viduals, but declines to meet them as rep
resentatiVes of their organizations"
THE CoMPANY's AGREEMENTS.
Mr.. HOxie's communication says: "As
this company has now contracts and
agreements with various labor unions
and organizations, and is not unwilling
to continue TO make such agreements as
circumstances may require with such
unions and organizations OF it's employees
as have shown disposition TO carry out
in good faith their undertakings,an and as 1t
has had in the past contracts with
your organization and its representatives,
have heretofore had conferences with
yourself and other members of your EX-
ecutive Committee, it is but just and
courteous that l should give you the rea-
sons for this company now declining TO
meet yourself and your Executive Com
mittee, which it would have done before
this strike was lnaugurated.
THE USUAL OBJECT.
"The usual object of such meetings
between railroad companies, through
their representatives, and commit
tees OF their employees is, either
to discuss such differences as
may have arisen, in order that an under
standing may be reached of the rights
and relations existing between them, aud
such mutual concessions made as will
avoid strikes and losses resulting there
from, or on the other hand to settle and
compromise such differences between the
parties after the grievances of the en-
ployes have been presented and redress
refused, and after resorts have been had
to strike as the only remedy.
THE PRESENT SITUATION.
4 "In the present case neither Of the above
reasons for a conference exists, but the
i anomaly is presented OF strike which is
without redressable grievance, which
was entered upon without notice to the
) company, and which has resulted in
wantOn destruction of this company's
property by violence ana incen-
Y diarism and in almost total stoppage
OF its business by threats, intimidation
and force. A review of the history of the
past year is essential to afull understand
/ ing of the present condition. The differ.
ences between this company and its en-
4 'plOyes. resulting in the strike Of March,
4 1896, were settled by the voluntary inter-
4 cession OF the executives and officers OF
| the States of Kansas and Missouri, and
not with your organization.
THE AGREEMENTS LIVED UP TO.
''Fhe agreements subsequently entered
into with committees OF your order have
been faithly carried out by this company.
Minor grievances under these arrange
ments have from time TO time been pre-
sented, considered by the management
and adjusted in a manner apparently
satisfactory TO petitioners, and for the
sake OF peace and harmony this company
has repeatedly, on the demands OF your
order, made changes In its stat by the
removal OF officials entirely satisfactory
to the company, but Objectionable to
some OF your members. In our meeting
with yon Of August last IN New York,
your committee then stated that no griev-
ances or complaints existed against the
Missouri Pacific railroad on the part OF
your order through noncompliance with
contracts then existing, but that 1t was
necessary to utilize your organfza-
ton upon the Missouri Pacific railroad,
to force adjustment Of the difficulties
then pending with another corporation.
SIMILAR ACTION.
"similar action has been taken by your
order in these instances withia the last
eight months. First, In threatening that
the mem bers or your Ofuef upon Tue MIS-
souri, Pacific railroad would strike II IL
continued TO exchange business with the
Wabash road. Second, when the men,
bers Of your order compelled strike OF a
portion Of the employees OF this
company In carrying out your boy
colt against the Mallory line at Gal
weston. Third, In the present instance
when the existing strike was forced on
this company by the discharge CT one g.
A. Hall by the receivers Of the Texas
Pacific railroad, road in the hands OF
the United States Court, and In the man
aRement of which this company has no
voice or control, a fact which your order
fully recognized when your committee
made application 10 the receivers OF that
road for the reinstatement OF said em-
ploye.
ENDEAvoRs TO BOYCOTT.
"Instances might be cited where endeav-
ors have been made to use this company
for the purpose OF boycOtting individuals
who had incurred the displeasure Of your
order. An especially aggravated case
Of failure OF your organization TO carry
out It's agreements was that OF the work.
men at the Palestine shops who. In the last
days of February, stOpDedIwOrk on ac-
count OF an alleged grievance, which was
thereupOn adjusted in manner 10 their
entire satisfaction, so that they resumed
work with an agreement TO continue the
/ nnpaauafnua mazda bv the pnmpanWs htft