St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-21
Get Together at the National Capital to
Determine the Cause of the South
western Strike.
Chairman POwderly Tells the Investigat-
ing Committee the Troubles That
Led to 1t.
earth and Upset Railroad Land
Grabs.
sketch OF Tennessee's New Senator
senate and House Proceedings
Washington Waits.
Observation-Disclosures.

WASHINGTON. April 20.-The special
committee of the house TO inquire into the
saoor difficulties i'm the Southwest held its
INST public session to-day, all the members
being present with the exception of Mr..
Stewart of Vermont absent on leave.
The first witness called was Grand Master
fowderla. who appears to be quiet, re-
served gentleman. In response TO a re-
quest OF the chairman, Mr.. Powderly went
over the history of the strike, which, while
very interesting. presented nothing new or
remarkable. He stated, among other
things, that while in the West he heard
from the men OF little abuses. such as the
taking of 25 cents a month from the wages
OF man receiving dollar a day and so
cents month from man receiving 50 per
DAY, and so on in proportion, for the benefit
OF an hospital fund. which hospital. the
men claimed, they were denied the right of
entering when sick, being discharged int
stead. Then there were instances. he
said, where men had made contracts to
Duy land from the company on
REGULAR YEARLY INsTALMENTs,
and where having paid all but the last in
stalment, they were discharged from the
employment of the company. In that sec
ton OF the country it is different from the
East. Men couldn't go into the next town
and get situation, and the consequence
was in that at least one particular case, the
man was obliged to remain idle so long that
he lost his property. The men claimed that
there were several instances of that kind.
The Chairman-Can you have witnesses
called before the committee to show these
facts?
Mr.. Powderly-Undoubtedly If 1 am cor
rectly informed
Mr.. Buchanan-Iu your inquiries you have
found that these causes OF discomfort ex-
listed?
Mr.. Powderly-Yes.
The Chairman-Will you state the purpose
OF the organization of Knights of Labor
whether its purposes are the protection OF the
interests of labor, and whether it is peaceful
in all its actions?
Mr.. Powderly-The aim of the organization
or the Knishts of Labor is to benefit the la
oorer and to secure n better feeling between
MN ana his employer. All our methods are
peaceful. We never counsel anything of a
violent nature. A member of the organiza-
ton may once in a while
COMMIT ACTS OF VIOLENCE.
Q we cannot help that, 1t is a matter beyond
our control, because. when men feel that
they have endured wrong, there is no law
which can properly restrain them.
lie Chairman-DO i understand that the
knights OF Labor as an organization do pro-
tect labor, not only on railroads, but also in
mines and factories?
Mr.. Powderly-we ATTEMPT TO do that Our
association is intended to be an educational
one We aim ut having our members study
the conditions by which they are surrounded
not only their own conditions, but those of the
men for whom they~work.
Mr.. Bickman-In order 10 pave the way TO
intelligent action?
Mr.. Powderly-Yes, sir. 1 have claimed
that II Is no more than right for both to meet
on equal terms and have a thorough under
standing or the wants of each other, and IL
seems 10 me that until they do that they
cannot tx up their differences.
Mr.. Powderly then went on to explain
the objects OF the organization and stated
that when he stated that they were willing
TO meet their contestants before the courts
he spoke fairly and truthfully. He thought
that when any man, whether private citi-
zen or Knight OF Labor, violated the
LAW OF THE LAND
he should be punished for it. He also con-
sidered that the man who violated the law,
whether he was worth millions, should
suffer the same as the poor man. In an.
swer TO question Mr.. Powderly
SAID he would be able dur
ing the sitting of the committee to
give his views on the question of the rem
the abuses Mr.. Powderly said that he had
been told that along the Iron Mountain and
along other Texas roads the superintendent
and foremen were interested in company
stores, at which the men were compelled to
deal, not being told in so many words that
they must do so. bnt being reminded that it
was TO their interest to do so. In these
places double prices were charged and il a
man uttered a word of complaint he was
discharged. On some of the roads, too.
cOnvicts were brought from the penitentia-
ries and that striped suits were thus to be
seen along side honest labor All these
things Mr.. POwderly claimed were suscep-
tible Of proof. He stated also that the men
asked for redress in these particulars time
and time again, but without avail, the gen.
eral superintendent of the Missouri Pacific
refusing TO agree to a conference. He then
went into an explanation of the aims and
objects of the Knights of Labor, claiming
that they were to settle all disputes by ar
bitrati0n and reconciliation and in short to
bring labor and capital into closer relations.
The committee then adjourned.