The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-23
AT ST. LOUIS.

AT ST. LOUIS.
The Knights of Labor Gard the Public in
Defense of Their Action.
ST. LOUIS, March 22.-The following was is
sued by the Knights of Labor at a late hour to-
night:
ITO the Public:
.In response to the proposition contained in
note written to Mr.. Hoxie by the Governors Of
Kansas and Missouri, and also the reply Of Mr..
Hoxie to the Governors, we beg to state
"First-That while in conference in Kansas
City we were sent for by the Governors, and
ont of respect for them a committee was appoint
ed, consisting of employees Of the Gould roads
only. which met with them and, BY request
stated the cause Of the present withdrawal Of
Gould Southwest system. On their sugges-
tion. these gentlemen agreed to see Mr.
Hoxie and attempt settlement, If possible 1t
was agreed, in difference to their wishes, that we
should submit to them all our grievances with
the understanding that they would arrange
meeting between MIR. Hoxie and ourselves.
They desired permission to settle, as best they
could, on an understanding that we would abide
by their decision. To this we demurred unless
we were first permitted to pass upon the terms
of settlements With this understanding we con-
seuted to their interposition between Mr. Hoxie
and ourselves. Mr.. Hoxie refused to receive
delegation from the knights Of Labor, and the
Governors received from Mr.. Hoxie the docu-
ment published yesterday. which was given to
the press even before we were permitted to see
it. Now, in justice to ourselves and the truth
of history, we desire to mako the following
points Of fact.
sFirst-That the interposition Of the Govern
ors was voluntary on their part, they coming to
Kansas City and seeking an interview with our
board.
.Second-we refused them the privilege of
Il IS
settlement without first submitting them to this
committee for approval Notwithstanding
which they received Mr.. Hoxie's proposition,
qualifications and all, and turned them over to
the press and public before we were even per-
mitted to see them.
'sThird-They say to Mr.. Hoxie, after careful
investigation we are unable to find wherein the
Missouri Pacific Railway Company has violated
the terms and conditions Of the agreement made
on the 10th of March, 1885. touching its en-
ployes in our respective States To say the
least of such statement it is not creditable to
the minds and hearts of men to
whom has been committed the welfare
of a great people, to say that they will take ad-
vantage of our want of skill in legislative techni
calties and wink at gross violations of sacred
agreement in its plainly manifest spirit because
its technical letter gives an apparent advantage
to great corporation. The Governors state
further We recognize the fact that the Mis-
souri, Pacific Railway Company may justly claim
that the strike of March 6, 1885, relieves it of
| the obligations it assumed in the circular of
March 15 1885, In rendering this verdict the
Governors have blindly ignored the fact that the
obligations assumed in said circular at that time
took effect on all the roads operated and leased
by said Missouri Pacific Railway Company. and
| were fully understood to SO apply, although, by
oversight, but two roads and States were men
| toned therein. Evidence is at hand that the
striking employees of that date were. up to the
the day Of the strike, still working for less
pay than before the strike of last year,
showing not a restoration of old pay, but really
a reduction, IN violation OF said circular agree
ment. Evidence is at hand that bridgemen
have been compelled to work many hours over
time, without receiving the agreed overtime pay.
Evidence is at hand TO prove that In order tc
make it necessary to reduce the force Of work
ingmen, work has been sent to contract shops,
and, in one instance, whole foundry sublet, in
order to bring the men under a new supervision,
thus depriving the men of the provisions of the
agreement All this was done to create dissat-
isfaction and induce the men to leave the com
pany's employ, after which the men were re:
employed, and always at reduced rates. Evil
dence is at hand that whole gangs Of men
have been discharged. Notwithstanding Mr..
Hoxies agreement on May Is, 1885, that rather
than reduce the working force he would reduce
the hours. Every effort to have these men re-
instated was refused by the company, on the
ground that they were not covered by the agree
ment, which agreement says We will reduce
the hours Of work instead of reducing the force,
whenever the necessity arises The outrages
on the Texas 81 Pacific railroad are sought to be
made matter entirely out of the range of the
agreement Men were, out of sheer prejudice.
discharged, without an effort to reduce the hours
of work The receivers refused to comply with
the agreement of the company's officials with the
employees after the institution of the receiver
ship Notwithstanding they do not repudiate
other agreements of said officials showing
clear intent to use the United States courts and
its officers for dishonorable purposes.
ut is charged by Mr.. Hoxie, in a previous
statement, that the agreement of March, 1885,
has been violated by the, employees Said agree.
ment was published In the morning papers of
March o. and we ask any intelligent person to
read it with care, and note if it be possible for
the employees to violate any provisions of said
contract, be they never so desirous, and that for
the sole reason that 1t is an agreement on the
part of the company to do certain things, but re-
Quiring nothing whatever OF employees.
But why should we say nore2 If Mr.. Hoxe
did not know that he was guilty of gross wrong
and injustice, why would ne refuse to listen to
our evidence and hear our appeal for redressl
Why would he shelter himself behind subter-
fuges and technicalitiesf Would he refuse to
treat with the men he has wronged and with
evasive letters to Governors who cannot possibly
enter into the merits of the controversy? The
truth is simply this-Mr. Hoxie wants trouble.
He has provoked it. He is still melting it, and
making an innocent public pay the price of his
peridy. How long will the public consent for
Gould and Hoxie thus to rule or ruin? We wait
to see.
"By the order Of .
"ExEcUTIvE BOARD DISTRICT ASSEMBLY 10l.'
The all-absorbing question to the strikers is,
How far shall we extend the strike in the at
| tempt to force the company to accept our termsp
Many express the belief that the men employed
tn the other departments of the Missouri Pacific
road will be called out, and all traffic, both pas
senger and freight, obstructed until settlement
shall be reached Others express the opinion