The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-09


noon, he said that he knew nothing officially
about the strike since he left New York,
outside of what he learned from to-days
newspapers. and from so much OF his CORE
spondence as he had been able to look over. He
telegraphed for additional information to Secre-
tary Turner, of the executive board, but had
not yet received an answer. Mr. Powderly can
not form any idea how the revolt will terminate.
However, it will. he said result in great deal
of good, as it has taught both sides that strike
is the last thing they ought to have. He thinks
II he had remained at home instead OF going to
New York, there would not have been any OF the
misunderstanding that arose since, and he could
have managed the overtures here by telegraph.
The Southwestern trouble is the only difficulty
the order has to contend with now, and Mr.
Powderly is confident that this will be the last
railroad strike that will occurin the United States,
on account Of the general feelngin favor Of arbi-
tration During Mr.. Powderly's illness more
than 900 letters and kilograms for him &C
cumuated for him at his home
The room in which Mr.. Powderly does all his
work is in his house, so he was not obliged TO
go out Of doors to look over his mail and attend
to business During the half hour that the cor
respondent was with him later he repeated what
he had already said in effect, but more fully,
talking as readily and entertainingly as he al
ways does, but in q low tone.
II presume you are familiar with the condi-
ton of affairs in the Southwest" said the CORE
spondent.
what information I could this morning from
the newspapers and from number of letters.
but have not, as yet, heard from Mr.. Turner
in response to my request for more facts"
do you regard the executive boards order
for the strike to 60 on as judicious and wise
oneq"
s"The executive committee could not very well
have dUne otherwise than they did. They had
endeavored to meet Mr.. Hoxie, and had tried to
get chance to arbitrate the difficulties. and
when the officials refused to recognize them and
to talk with them, of course they were Obliged
to let the strike go on. The strike is virtually ln
the hands of District Assemblies 101, SO and H.
Had these assemblies the right to order the
strike in the first place2"
There was no law in the order preventing
them from doing it without first consulting the
general executive board, but at the next general
assembly shall be in favor of making a law TAX
ing the power of ordering strike from the local
assemblies and placing it entirely in the hands of
properly belong to the superior authority, be-
fore which all the facts of disagreement between
the employees and employers should be laid be-
fore strike is ordered"
"Does the public fully understand the real
cause of the Southwestern troubles3"
"No. Neither do know the bottom facts.
Whichever way the strike terminates, ! shall be
in favor of having a committee of frstclass
men go over the entire system and find out the
real cause of the difficulty. Then, If the COM
blame, let the blame rest on them If, the
other hand, it is decided that the Knights of La
Dor were at fault, we will take the blame like
meu. want it TO rest where it rishtfully be-
longs
do you think the Knights will be successful
in this striker"
81 cannot tell, from what know of the situa-
ton. 1t is very difficult to say. am confident,
however, that this will be the last great railroad
strike in this country. It will result in vast
unf IF at pafo dc of
people will have to suffer more or less while the
strike is going on, but 1t will teach both sides a
useful lesson. and that is that strike is the last
thing that they ought to have"
will it be the means of breaking up the or
der all over the countryP
mot in the least. The order is in q splendid
condition everywhere. Scores of difficulties
have been settled by arbitration since the first of
the year, and in only one place besides the
Southwest are there any differences That place
ployer, who had received q threatening an
nonymous letter. discharged large number of
Knights of Labor because he thought one of
them had written the letter. When he learned
that former book-keeper was the author of the
letter he was not man enough to acknowledge
his mistake and take the men back, and we have
got TO look after that affair.""
Have you read the appeal of the executive
boards of District Assemblies 101. SO and II, pub
lished today~
II started to read it. Mr. Caughlan, the
author of the address is vigorous writer"
"Gould says that you told the Missouri Pacific
people that if the names of the knights who had
DESTROYED property were furnished to the general
executive committee you would that they
were expelled from the order. Is that true9'
81 told the railroad people in New York that
the knights of Labor did not countenance the
destruction of property. that they would not
shield any members of the order who had been
proved to be destroyers of property, and that in
all probability such men would be expelled If it
was proved against them"
In conclusion Mr.. Powderly said that he should
remain in Scranton right along because when he
is on the move all the time it is impossible for
him to get all the dispatches that are sent to
him, and many delays are occasioned in conse-
quence He will transact all his business by
telegraph and letter. and will remain at the head
of the great labor organization until his term of
Office expires.