Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-23

'bst act was taken IS preeAt'
aid the sole pretext, for strike on our
road. Our men told Mr.. Hoxie that
they had 10 grievances. They we're
orceredito strike, and that was the only
lbirg they could do. When the strike
occurred Mr.. Hopkins, or vics-presi-
cent. who was present q. that
agreement in August, naturally
took it up with Povderly. There was
a strike on our road contrary TO an
a,rtement, and be pens q dispatch to
Mr. POwderly jus; as cOolly as bust
utss-msn would co. The witness then
read a dispatch sent By Hopkins to
PowceTly on the 9Th Of March. in which
he informs Powderly Of the strike;
states that the men have no grievance.
and expresses wish to talk the INST
ter over with him. 7 40 days afterwards
Dir. POwderly telegraphs that he said
from the public press that the strike was
caused by the discharge Of Hall, and
asking If be could be reinstated. Hop
kins replied that Hall was employed by
the Texas ard Pacific, not by the Missouri
Pacific, and that the latter road had no
control over its receivers. To this
message. continued the witness, no
answer was vouchsafed. The eastern
officers OF the great railroads are all
heir financial depositaries. They have
nothing to do with labor. Mr.
Hoxie bad control Of that anyway;
but the Board. in order to make It
doubly distinct. pu; it in his hands,
srd be managed II from that tine on
Until after ny return. Let me explain
20 the committee what the strike was
that took place in March, and what the
effect would have been il it had been
simply a strike. We had az the date
Of The strike 1875 employees who
were Knights Of Labor. The strikers
numbered 3.7l7; bat they were not
men who were necessary 70 the opera
ton Of the road. They were men IN
the machines shops. men along the
track. sWitchmen. and men who
perform the lover duties Of the
railfOsd-so Il those 3.7I7 men had
struck an left the premises We would
not have missed train. Our business
would have gone along regularly as
clockWoTk. But following the leaving
Of Cur employ ment. what did they DO :
A. be asked tbIs.question. for tie frs;
tine during the course Of this state
ment, Mr.. Gould raised bis voice and
sboEed s. mptoms Of excitement, aud il
Vss with considerable energy that be
preceded TO answer his own query.
They exercised more than the right
a eminent domain. They took ST.
Louis. Sedalia. Atchison. Kansas City,
Parsons. Fort Worth. Little Rock. and
Texukans. They took forcible pos
-ession Of them. and said. 10 man
-.sN Iun tram over that road"
That is What they said. What did
uc1ie DO:
lie isic They have taken posses
,i,n q our road. We have got no
Jennings now" And be was forced 70
aIiie a. address % al the men s1s-
fol ding lie "a uents ard thus 10000
-svr pio acre loyal 10 tie company.
vto could rul or trains every day
we deyr.ve5 Of their vork-9l their
power TO cam their wages. That vas
what followed the strke-the seizure
you cau call il By no other word
tie foruole seizure something that
IL Gar Of Russia would hesitate 10
co with his millions Of soldiers behind
h.m.
The committee took + recess for =
aysIter Of a. hour and reassen blsd az
d J.. ~. when the examination Of
could was resumed. lie was inquired
4 By Mr. Grain a. 70 the ways Ct con-
.'rLctiOn companies 10 ssuing stock 70
themselves out q the proportion Of
work done. but Gould denied any
browledge Of such dark and ques-
tioratie transactions. lie was asked
bis opinion a. 70 the cause Of TIE strike.
al The only reason that occurred TO
Inn va the desire Of some Of the lead.
e, 70 obtain no.yrety. Ue. had never
heard o.. and cid rot believe in. such
causes q complaint a PoEderly al
lu6cd 70 in the first day's testimony,
-uch a. the cheating q employe es IN
Re matter Of hospital taxation, home
-t,3Cs. ard stores belonging % the
~ eriuteDdents and fofemen. Such
statements were ridiculous. and be felt
positive that there were DO instances Of
re AiBd. HewAs inquired Of by 0uih-
waite a. 70 stock specula;ions growing
out Of The strike. and be sad that be
Kew nothing Of the kind. and that 30
lar q be WAS himself concerned b. had
rot made transaction 10 stock. either
lcrE cr short, since the fir, Of July.
sr1 had no speculative interest n the
market. lie wa sure that none Of the
directors Of the Missouri. Pacific had
arv dealings in The stock Of the road on
he days following as interview with
PovdeIly.
Mr. Cultivate Wherein would the
r.tbc interests or the interests Of the
comra-v haze suffered BY the repre-
s,uiatiyes Of the company accepting
lie proposition q tie knights Of La
boz:
Ny. Gould To arbitrate wha;
That was the 0aes,ion.
Mr. CULTIVATE You certainly knew
What you differed about
Mr. Gould / do not know that We
ered at al. read ny proposition
over 10 Povderiy and ae said be agreed
20 every word OF II.
Mr. Cultivate J have reference %
he difficulty winch seemed 70 arise o.
i cid not arise on that Monday. FIRST.
the men were ordered 70 resume work
AID were about 20 Go so and then Tie
De1t information the country had was
that TIE men had not resumed work
AID hat tbe trouble was still existing.
Nh Gould They did not pay any a.
tertion TO the order. On The contrary.
Martin Irons telesrsphed TO them 70
" hold the fort" They did not OBEY
tie order. and did not urooose 70. |