The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-04-22
LAYING 1T BARE.
CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY
Into the Recent Labor TrOublsS-Kuight
ofLabOr Mcdowell Given Hts VOrSIOu Of
the Attempts At ArbIlrAaOu-PoW.
doFly Recalled to the Stand.

WASHINGTON, April 2l.-Ths special
committee to investigate the labor troubles
moved from the hotel to-day to the room
OF the House Committee on Elections.
Some time before the hour fixed for the
meeting Of the committee spectators he.
gan to assemble, go that when the meet.
Ing was calledto order every available foot
Of space In the room was occupied, and
the corridors about were filled with pso-
pie. -
Mr., William o. Mcdowell. OF New Jer.
sey, and q member OF the knights OF La
loT, was the first witness examined, He
stated that he was interested in vsrions
enterprises in this State and was an &C.
tive business man, The object OF the
knights Of Labor as an organization was
To elevate the condition OF the laboring
man; to bring him in close contact with
the proprietor, and to make him a pro-
prietor. Referring to the conference Of
tho representatives Of the Knights OF La
bor with Mr., Jay Gould, in regard 10 the
present labor troubles, Mr., Mcdowell pro.
duCed letter copying book and read cop
les of the letters which were sOut to Mr.,
Gould on the subject, the first one being
dated March 9th last, On that day the
witness called on Mr.. Gould to propose
arbitration OF the difficulties on the Miss,
ouri Pacific. Mr., Jay Gould was not in
his office, and the conference was with his
son. Witness carried letter (which has
been fully publlshed) proposing on the
part OF the Knights OF Labor a plan OF
arbitration, 1t was TO permit Mr., Gould
10 select three men, the Knights OF Labor
10 choose three and the six to select the
seventh man, to form an Arbitration Com.
mittee,
THE GOULD CONFERENCE.
Witness did not have the original let.
ter, but General swRyne, counsel for Mr..
Gould, WAS present, and furnished the
letter. The reply Of Mr.. Gould to the
letter proposing arbitration was read. III
has also been fully published, ss also the
letter Of Mr., Powderly in reply.l Witness
then detailed the conference he and lIr.
Powderly had with Mr., Gould. During
the conference Mr.. Gould frequently OK.
pressed himself in favor Of arbitration OF
labor differences, and wrote q telegram
to be sent to Mr., Hoxie, ViCe-President Of
the Missouri Pacific, in which he stated
he saw no objection TO Rrbitrating the diff.
ferelCes between the railroad and Its EN-.
ployes. Witness suggested that the sub.
stance OF the telegram be written In the
form of letter to Mr.. Powderly so that
1t could be given to the press that night,
and upon which an order would be Issued
for the men TO 90 to work. Mr.. Gould
complied, and witness read the original
letter in Mr.. gould's own handwriting,
Next evening witness saw Mr.. Gould
aud continued the conversation about
arbitration. Witness and Mr.. Gould dis.
Cussed the arbitration bill before Congress
The publications In the morning papers
about the arbitration were referred to and
no objection made TO them by Mr.. Gould.
Judge John s. Dillon, Of Boston, Attorney
Tor Gould, was present, aud asked MI.
Gould not to sign the papers for arbitra.
ton until he (Mr. Dillon) returned to Bos
ton. Later In the day witness saw Mr..
Gould again and the latter said he had re-
.Ceiyed telegram from 81. Louis inform.
ing him that there was something wrong
about the settlement Of the difficulties
and tho resumption OF work.
'IHere,' said the witness, lis where Mr..
Gould began hair splitting" Mr.. Gould
said he would correspond with Mr., Powd.
erly, to which witness inquired II he (Mr.
Could meant to refuse to atbltrate. A
meeting was held the next day by arrange.
ment, "Mr. Gould's stenographer made
q verbatim report Of that meeting" said
the witness, 'tand 1t has since been pub.
lished in full by the press Of the country.
1t seems to be a very correct report OF the
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