Savannah morning news., 1886-04-21
POWDERLY'S PRINCIPLES
HE APPEARS BEFORE THE IN
VEsTIGATING COMMITTEE.


Western Lines Which Have dereto-
fore not Been Made Public.
WARRINGTON, April 2O.-General Mas.
ter Workman Powderly and Messrs.
HAYES and Turner, of the knights OF
Labor. arrived in Washington this morn
ing and were at the capitol at an early
hour.
The special committee Of the House Of
Representatives to inquire into the labor
troubles in the Southwest held its hrst
public session to-day. Owing to the diff
fculty of obtaining the use of conye-
uient room in the capitol the committee
had to hire one in an adjacent building,
the Congressional hotel, at which the ac-
commodatOns were very deficient.
The hour of meeting was fixed at Il
o'clock noon, but it was half past
o'clock before the committee got to work.
1t consists of Gov. Curtin, of Pennsylva-
MIA. chairman, and Messrs. Burnes, Of
Missouri; Grain, of Texas; Outh waite, OF
Ohio; Stewart, of Vermont; Parker, OF
New York, and Buchanan, of New Jersey.
All the mem bers were present except Mr..
Stewart, who is absent by leave of the
House.
PROMINENT PEOPLE PRES ENT.
Among the prominent persons IN at
tendance were: AS representatives. Of the
knights of Labor, T. Y. Powderly, Grand
Master Workman; j. w. Hayes and " m.
D. Mcdowell, members of the Executive
Board; and Frederick Turner, Grand
secretary; as representative of railroad
interests, Wager Swayne, counsel; and is
representatives of the WOmen's League
OF America, Mrs. Charlotte Smith and
three other ladies.
A corps of four stenOgraphers was on
hand to make a full report OF the proceed
ngs tor the railroad companies. Mr..
POwderly was the first witness and as
such was sworn by the chairman.
Mr.. POwderly is very far from filing,
at least in outward appearance, the typ
ical idea of a horny handed son of toll.
On the contrary he appears to be quiet,
reserved, delicate looking gentleman
who has spent some fifty years of exist
ence in an easy cOntented way. He
dresses plainly, is closely shaved except
as to a long dropping moustache, wears
spectacles and has a high intellectual
forehead.
OBJECT OF THE INQUIRY.
The chairman, addressing him, said:
hYou understand that this committee is
created by the House of Representatives
for the purpose, if possible, OF getting
down to the reasons for the unrest and
disturbance which now exist IN the
country, and especially as to conflicts
between labor and capital. and between
employer and employed, This committee
isfully sensible of the course you have
taken in your previous life, and of your
disposition to reconcile the unrest sof~tae
people. Therefore, we call you as the
first witness. Be pleased now to give the
committee, in your own language, your
Impressions as to this matter"
70 Nv lrpouy
you well, and know that you have intel
ligence enough to go on and give this
committee the information it seeks.
Al, PowDERLY UNPREPARED.
Mr.. POwdery-When your message
came to me did not understand it, and
came here without papers and without any
knowledge of what would be required of
me. The field which you have opened up
in your question is so broad that l have
not given it the consideration which it
deserves in order to answer it properly,
because it takes in general the question
that is now being discussed by the work
ing people and by the business people of
the country, so that would rather an
4 swer your questions as they are put, and
n then, if necessary, | will meet the COM
mitee again after / have procured my
papers.
CAUSE OF THE GOULD STRIKE.
The Chairman-Wha in your judg-
ment and opinion, is the cause of the dis
turbances now existing in the localities
referred to in the resolution?
Mr. POwderly-The men who are now
e engaged in the difficulties in the West
have drawn up a bill Of grievances and
have presented it 10 the manager of the
Missouri Pacific road at st. Louis. That
bill Of grievances presents the views OF
The labOring men. 1t has been stated
Isl that n nPpGpnf a n tho
lines of the Missouri Pachc Railroad
Company was the discharge Of a man
named Hall from the employment Of the
Texas Pacific Railroad Company, and it
mas been stated that Immediately follow
ing bis discharge and the refusal to rein
state HIM the employees Of all the other
railroads struck. This statement the
employes of the railroad system known
As the Gould system claim to be untrue.
lhey say that the discharge Of Mr., Hall
was one and only one of manv causes OF
tne action taken by them. Here is the
Omclal statement drawn up by the com
mlttee Of District Assemblies No. l0l aud
40 - OF the Knights OF Labor, and with
gour permission 1 will read IT. Mr.. Pow
usrly thereupon read the statement OF
sreyances referred to, and which has
veen already published in the newspa-
pers.
TRUTH OF THE STATEMENT.
Inc Chairman-What knowledge have
ou as to the truth Of the facts stated in
usl paper other than the statement itselfs
NAf. Powderly-I have never given the
naUer my personal attention. When II
as lfst brought to my notice | was en-
H3ed with the General Executive Board
Ihiladelphia. where we were holding
session. saw through the
ptls that there was strike
tle Texas Pacific railroad aud
aI the strike on tue Missouri Pacific
'u mad followed it, but / heard nothing
mm our men there, aud heard nothing
cial on the subject until received a
aJch from the Vice President Of the
ssoNri Pacific, Mr.. Hopkins, OF New
49, asking some questions. lmme'
%E following that we tele-raphed 60
west for particulars Of the strike,
we received an answer somewhat
5% to the statement which / have
10 just now.
WHO REPLIED.
Ae ChBirman-FrOm whom did you
H'e That answer
@h Powderly--We tolegraphed TO q
whose name / saw in The papers,
un irons, but the dispatch In re-
zane from another man named Page.
H,me mortgage bondhoders OF the
so fdeihc railroad came 10 see us and
p. u We could not do something 10 end
cas,sl'Ae. We then telegraphed 10 tue
Ner Of that road.
tIIo Naairman-Can you give the names
A.. ~.