The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-04-21
MIR, p0wnER4Y
Appears Before 'ho select Congregational
Committee ~ Inquiry.

Appears Before tho select Congregational
Committso Gi InIniry.
WAsnINGroN, D. o., April 2O-General
Master Workman Powderly and Messrs
Hayes aud Turner, OF tho knights Of La.
oor, arrived in Washington this morning
md wore at tho Capitol at an early hour.
Mr. Powderly repaired at once to the room
4 the Appropriation Committee, where
le had q short chat with Mr.. Randall
Che Select Committee charged with the
investigation Of the western strike begun
;ho inquiry this afternoon.
Mr.. Powderly said: While l was in the
West heard from tho men Of little abuses
which do not think the managers Of the
Missouri Pacific railroad knows anything
bout. Along the Iron Mountain road
hey have system Of taking 20 cents
month from the wages OF a man who re.
elves dollar a day, and fifty cents from
he wages OF man who receives q a day,
md so on In proportion, for what they
,all a hospital fund. The men claim that
8 soon as they are taken sick they are
IisCharuod and are denied the right Of en-
eriDg the hospital. Then there are in.
tanCea which can be proved where men
ave made contracts to buy land
from the company on regular yearly
.nstallments, and where having paid
III but the last installmGnt they were dis.
,hGrgod from the employment Of the CONF
ANY. In that section 0l country 1t Is DIFF
ierent from the East. Men cannot 80 iato
the next town and get situation, and the
,onseuusnCe has b0en that, at least In one
particular case, the man WIS Obliged TO 70.
main ide so long that hO lost his property.
The mon claim that there are several In.
taucss Of that kind.
The eChatrman-Can you have witnesses
,alled before the committee to show these
facts.
Mr. Powderly-Undou II am
correctly informed.
Mr.. Buchanan-.In your inquiries you
,ave found that these causes Of dlscon-
tent existedH
Mr.. P0wderly-Yes.
The Chairman-Wlll you state the
purpose OF the organization Of the knighta
II Labor, whether its purposes are the
protection Of the interests Of labor, and
whether 1t Is peaceful in all It's actions.
THE Ant OF THE ORDER.
Mr., Powlerly--rhe aim Of the organi2a.
.ion Of the knights Of Labor is to benefit
tue laborer aud TO secure better feeling
between him and his employer. All our
Methods are peaceful. We never Coun.
,el anything Of violent nature. A mem.
1er ol tho organization may once In q
yhile commit acts Of violence. We can.
lot help that II Is a matter beyond our
control, because when men feel that they
nave endured wrong there Is no law which
IAN I,roparly restrain them.
Tho Chaitnan-Do understand that
.he Knights Of Labor as an organization
Do protect labor, not only OH railroads but
also In mines aud factories.
Mr., Poyderly-We attempt to do that
Our association Ia intended 10 be an edu.
cational one. We aim at having our mem,
bers study the conditions by which they
are surrounded, not only their own Condi'
lion buttha men for whom they work.
Mr.. BuchRnan-ln order TO pave the
way for intelligent action.
Mr.. Powdsrly-.Yes, cir. ] have claimed
that Il is no more than right for both IA
meet on equal terms and to have thor
ouVh understanding OF the wants Of each
other and II seems to me that uutil they
do that they cannot properly ix up theft
differences, a,
Tho Uhaiiman--I don't ask yoti 10 di
yulpe any Of the secrets Of the Knights oI
Labor, but you have stated that the OBJ
lecls Oi tho society are 10 protect the 10
bofers OF the country 30 far "a possible
apainsL the exaCtlOns Of incorporated capt
Ial.
WILLING TO SHOW UP.
Mr.. Powderly--To protect not only The
labor Of the country, but to protect tht
manufacturers as we'll. We desire that The
manufacturer shall be In such a condition
that they will be able 10 pay good wages
We have no quarrel with legitimate en-
terpflse. II you diECovef that tnenbefl
Of the Knights Of Labor along the failfOaC
have violated the law Of the land OF III
own laws land thg committee will discover
that iaCl) We will DO As ready 10 assist Ii
puniBhing them 80 We are In upholdinI
their rights When | said ! was will
Inc 10 expose everything In connsc
lion with the organization II ihosI
who managed the railroads or II AM
man In particular would do the CAM
thing 1 spoke fairly and truthiully
nave no objection 10 showing up every
Thing connected with the order. Il
! SECRETS. slpns, passwords and everyLhih
. else, | am willing 10 10y everything bI
/ lore the world. wan! II understood The