Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-15
THE GREAT STRIKES.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN row.
DERBY AND Jay GOULD.
The Great Railroad King Arraigned b,
the Great Knight-Gould's Reply
In Standardization.

Powderly and Jay Gould has been
given to the public tonight. 1t is vo-
luminous-about FIVE newspaper col
umns in length--and in its course
complete history Of the pending trou-
bles in the Southwest is recited. Pow
derly's letter is dated Scranton, Pa,
April llth, 2 A. NJ, and is addressed
to Jay Gould, president OF the Missouri
Pacific railroad. 1t says: "The evests
Of the past forty-eight hours must have
demonstrated to you the absolute ne
cesSity Of bringing this terrible trouble
in the Southwest to speedy termna-
tion. You have the power, authority,
and means to bring the strike to an end.
have done everything in my power to
end the strife. The gentlemen asso-
ciated with me on the General Execu-
tive Board of the Knights Of Labor
have done the same. Everything con-
sistent with honor and manhood has
been done In the interest of peace. No
false notions Of pride or dignity have
swayeo US in our dealings with you or
gentlemen associated with you"
Powderly then describes the confer
ence in New York Immediately pre-
ceding his order to stop the strike, aud
says although specific method Of arbi-
trstion was not stated at that time, 1t
was clear, with the understanding of
himself and his associates, that Gould
had agreed to the method proposed by
the Knights Of Labor, and he denounces
the trick Of words in the eommunica-
ton between Gould and Hoxie by
which the spirit Of that agreement was
violated. Powderly refers in much de-
tail to what was said on both sides at
that conference, and proceeds to say:
When, on Monday, March 29th, you
sent me a letter marked personal you
at the same time told newspaper cor
respondent that you had done so.
What your motive was in marking
your letter personal and at the same
time informing representative Of the
press that you so addressed me ] do
not know, nor do question your mo-
tive. felt it to be my duty to let the
public see the letter, which contained
nothing Of personal nature whatever.
There are people who might be unchari-
table enough to say that your intention
was to give out the impression that
there was something between you and !
which would not bear the light of pub
lie scrutiny. have had no such deal
ipgs with any man since this trouble
began nor previous to that time.
| sm quite willing to allow the greatest
light possible to shine upon my every
transaction. | have nothing to conceal.
You can settle this strike. Its longer
continuance rests with you, and you
alone. Every act Of violence, every
drop Of blood that may be shed from
this time forth, must be laid at your
door. The Knights Of Labor were not
founded to promote or shield wrong
doing, and to-day the order of the
Knights of Labor stands between your
property and ruin. We are willing to
absolve the men along your railways
from their allegiance to our order.
We leave that to themselves; we will
not allow any claims which the order
may have on them to stand between
them and their restoration to their
former position. The order Of Knights
Of Labor asks of no man to remain a
member if it is not to his interest to do
so. You may deal with them as citi-
zens if you will. We will surrender
our right to claim these men as men,
bers if they wish, but We will not sur
render our right to see this affair
thoroughly investigated"
Powderly Iefersto Gould's announced
intention to bring suit against members
Of the Knights Of Labor for damages,
and bids him 60 ahead the order is
prepared to meet him in the courts. 1t
has taken counsel Of the best legal
minds in the United States, and now
awaits his action. Powderly concludes
with another appeal to Gould to take
the matter into his own hands, and SAYS {:
sit is your duty to brush aside
every obstacle, assert your authority,
and take this matter in your own hands /;
settle every grievance, restore every
man to his place except those who have
been engaged in the destruction Of pro-
perty or who have broken the laws.
Will you do this ? You can then make
rules and agreements with your men
which will forever preclude the posi-
bility Of another such disastrous con-
fict as this one has proved itself to be"
Gould's reply is dated to-day, and
says at noon to-day Powderly's let.
ter was banded him by W. o. Mellow
ell, one of Powderly's associates on the
General Board. A copy of Powder
| Tvs letter Of transIlittal to Mcdowell
is given as follows:
Scranton, Pa, April l3.-My
Dear Nj. McDowell,-l enclose YOU a
letter which you are to read and de-
liver to the man for whom it is in
tended. do not care whether you de-
liver it in person or through the
medium Of another-only ask that it
be placed IN his hands. If you have
succeeded i'll efiecting a settlement with
him do not give it to him. If you think
there is prospect of an immediate
settlement do not give it to him /; but if
such is not the case then
want it placed in his hands.
Allow him to either consent or make
reply. If he consents to an honorable
settlement, then the letter will never see
the light of day but if he does not so
act, then it will be published to the
world, and from the time he opens up
the ball in legal way we will continue
to wage battle with him. His wealth
cannot save him if the fight is begun.
Let no one know OF the existence of
this letter until after o'clock of the
day you deliver it; then if he makes
no reply, let it go to the world.
Let him know the limit Of time allowed.
l sincerely hope that there will be no
necessity for its publication. Hoping
for the best, remain, very truly yours,
I. V. PowDERLY.
Gould proceeds to say 4; The animus
and purpose of your letter to me can
MT ha filiv understood u,thout tpow-