Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-03-25
THREATENING KNIGHTS.

THREATENING KNIGHTS.
| Unless the Missouri Pacific Trouble Is Set
lied at once Every Railroad wheel in the
Country l. to BE stopped-Union Pacific
Likely 20 Become Involved.
81. LOUIS, March 21-Mrrtin Irons, chair
4 man OF the executive committee, District
Assembly I0I, Knights Of Labor, the man
who ordered the present sCTfke, arrived here
| last night from Kansas City, and in an inter
view gave the following as the real cause of
/ the strike:
The Knights ef Labor recognize in the conduct
of the Texas a. Pacific and Missouri Pacific part
! OF prepared plan 10 crush the knights OF Labor
and down the eight-hour iaeor plan, In which
i all the railroads OF the conntty are now pooled.
! A plan to totally Glscfganizs our order and ex-
! tinguish the eighi-hour law. The discharge of
/ Hall. at Marfhall. Tex. only part of the
| plan, with that object and the results so far
1 were foTeseen by tile railroads. Now II depends
upon them whether they have seen as far as they
/ will see -
| What il your o4fnion OF the result Of the con-
/ ference, knowing that the Hoxie is supported by
/ this pool of corporationsT
| Ny opinion / don't care to give, but as you
no@ Dsr See 6 9 but an end e
it, but II 1t goes further il can as other inter
ests are now involysd. FL say, too, that ifFthe
| grievances OF the kaights OF Labor are not adj
| justed within the next three days we will call
/ out the knights On every railroad in the
country and stop every wheel from running"
I AfFg the close of the conference Gov
| errors Martin and Marmaduke repaired to
/ Hursts hotel, where Martin Irons.
/ chairman, and several members OF
| the executive committee of District
Assembly No. 40i, Knights Of labor,
are in session, aad presented to them the
| result OF the conferences with Mr. Hoxte.
| Both governors made brief speeches to the
| committee, strongly urging it to accept Mr..
! Hoxies terms ana appealing to IL to end the
| strike at once, so that the commerce of four
states can be restored to- it, normal
condition. The committee made no
reply other than they would give the CORE
| spondence prompt and careful considera-
/ ton. The governors then retired, and
sion. and were still closely closeted
at IL p. III, Gov. Martin left for home
on the night train, and Gov Marmaduke
will leave in the morning. Both governors
| are reported to have said that they will have
| nothing further to do with the matter,
and that the case must now be decided by the
executiyecommitte andthe railway managers
/ IS Trying TO Compromise.
! ST. LoUTs, March 2I.-Governors Marina
I duke and Martin held their third conference
| with Vice President Hoxie this afternoon, at
| which the propositions submitted yesterday
| by the governors was again discussed and
| formal reply on the part of the railway
officials was made. The following CORE
spondence read includes the documents
mentioned, and is both the substance and
the sum of the proceedings OF the three con-
| ferences: 5fI
| ST. Louis, March 20, I8SG.-H NJ Hoxie. Esq,
| First Vice President Missouri Pacific Railway
| Company-Dear Sir: On the 9th inst. the un-
/ designed met at Kansas City to discuss the
very serious condition of affairs IN the states of
Kansas and Missouri growing out OF the late
| way, and the resulting obstruction OF the
| commerce Of two states. While at Kansas City
were visited by large delegation OF your late
| employees, ana after discussing with them the
various phases of the strike consented to
| visit You and urge q continuation of the terms
| OF the agreement made with the management of
| your road on March l5 1885, and II deemed
/ advisable, recommended such notifications
| of said agreement as might be Thought
| just to all concerned. On the 18th OF March,
| 1885, the undersigned, with other state officers
! of Missouri and Kansas, presented to Capt.
| Hases, the first vice president OF the Missouri
| Pacific Railway company, the following sugges-
tons: 40 Capt. r, S. Hayes First Vice Presi-
| dent and Chief Executive Officer of the Missouri
Pacific Railway Company and associated roads:
Whereas On account OF the strike among certain
| of the employees OF the Missouri Pacific Rail way
| company, in the States of Missouri and Kansas,
resulting in the s4oppage aud cessation of all the
freight traffic over said lines in said states. to
| the
GREAT DETRDiENT
of the business interests and rights of the peO-
pie of said states, aud the continuance of which
endangers the public peace and the safety of the
| oompanys property; and, whereas, The under
| signed, representing the two states named
| above. respectively, are anxious TO restore har
monious relations between the said company
| and the said employees, and to restore to the
public the obStructed use of said lines of rail-
road, we do recommend and request said
company to restore to its striking employees
! the scale OF wages paid in September,
1854, including one and .One-half price for
/ extra time worked: and to restore all said
| striking employees to their several eTAployments
| without prejudice to them on account of said
1 strike RAIipViuH the fnregOinV will constitute
just and fair settlement, we recommend their
| acceptance by the striking employees well as
| by the Pacific company. Dated St. Louis Mo-,
| March Is, 1885, This was signed by the gov
errors of Missouri and Kansas, the railroad conf
| missioners Of the two states, the attorney gen.
/ erat and adJntant general of Missouri
and Oscar Kochtitzki, commissioner of
| labor statistics and inspection. Capt. Adams
on the same date issued circular embqdyins
| the suggestion there made, and giving
notice that the rates Of wages and terms above
| specified would go into effect on the morning of
the 10th OF March, 1888, and be in effect from
and after that date; and further, that said rates
| would not, thereafter, be changed except after
| thirty days notice thereof, given in the usual
manner. 1t will DE observed the recommended
| tion of the officers of Kansas and Missouri en-
bodied only two propositions, VIZ: First, that
the company restore to its striking en-
wages paid them in September, 1854
| including half price extra for overtime worked;
and, second, to restore all said striking employee
| to their several employments without prejudice
| to them on account of said strike. To thess
conditions Capt. Hayes added third, viz, that
| thereafter said rates would not be changed
| cent after thirty davis notice thereof given in
| the usual way. After careful investigation we
are unable to find wherein the Missouri Pacific
| Railway company has violated the terms and
! conditions made on the 18th of March, 1885.
TOUCHING ITS EMPI DYES
| in our respective states. No complaint has ever
| been made to the governor OF Missouri based on
an alleged violation of said agreement and but
| one has ever been made to the governor of Kan
sas: and that, on Investigation, proved to be
without foundation, and was withdrawn by the
| party making it. We are, therefore, forced TO
| the conclusion that the strike on March g. 1886,
| couid not have been and was not based Oh
! violation of the terms OF the agreement o.
| March Is. SS5, by the management of the Mis-
| souri, Pacific Railway company in its dealings
| with its employees in Missouri and Kansas
We recognize the fact that the Mis-
| souri Pacific company may justly claim that
| the strike of March 9, 1856 relieves it of the
| obligations it assumed in the circular of March
| Is, 1855: hut nevertheless, anxious that ami
| cable relations be restored between the Missouri
| Pacific and its employees, and especially that the
| far more important interests involved in the
| mighty commerce OF the states Of Missouri and
| Kansas should not continue to suffer, and that
| the great highways of business and travel
| should be at once rcopcned to the public, we
! would respectfully but earnestly suggest and
| recommend that the agreement embodied in the
| continued in letter and spirit, and that
| the Missouri Pacific company employ
! in its service again all of its old
| employees without prejudice to them account
Of the strike, so far az the business of the com
| pany win justify their unemployment. We
| make these suggestions and recommend action
| in the interest, believe, alike OF the COM
| pany and its employees, and more especially the
! greater interest of the commerce and people of
| the two states. lSignedl
JOHN A. MARTIN,
Governor of Kansas.
JOHN S. MARIADuRB
| Governor of Missouri.
| The following is Mr. Hoxie's reply ;sssass3'
The Missouri Pacific Railway Company. EE~
! ecutive Department, St. Louis, Mo. March %,
| lSs6.-Hon. John S. Marnaduke, Governor OF
| Missouri, and John A. Martin, Coy
| ernor of Kansas-Dear Sin; L beg respect
| fully to acknowledge the receipt of your com
| municatiOn of this date, stating that after q