The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-04-14
THE RAILROAD STRIKES.
Details of the Various Attempts
at Adjustment.
Negotiations Between Jay Gould
and the Knights Of Labor.

Negotiations Between Jay UOulu
and the Knights Of Labor.
The executive board of the Knights Of
Labor met in New York on the 9th and pro-
posed to, ,ay Gould, president of the Missouri
Pacific railroad, that committee of seven
be appointed to arbitrate upon the matters
in dispute which had led to the strike ON
the Gould system Of railroads in the South; :;
west. This offer of the Knights was
at first refused by President Gould
upon the ground principally that an
agreement made with the Missouri Pacific
road last August by the employees not to
strike without due notice had ben violated
by the latter. This reply Of Jay Gould
seemed to put an end to chance for set
tions which seemed to exist. between
the officers of the Missouri Pacific
railway and the general executive beard OF
the Knights of Labor on the 9th were only
strained in appearance. On the 2sth General
Master Workman Powderly and w. O. Nc.
Dowell, member of the Knights Of
Labor from Newark, N. j., a railroad
man himself, representing the Knights
of Labor, and Mr.. Gould and Vice-President
Hopkins in behalf Of the companies, mp met at
discussed from beginning to, end,
in, Mr.. Powderly says, a. friendly
spirit The discussion lasted two hours and
both sides acquired great deal of informa-
tion which they had not before possessed.
Then an adjournment was taken until even
ing in order that each might think
the matter over in its new light.
At seven o'clock they met second time, and
after two solid hours of argument Mr.. Pow
hour later Mr.. Mcdowell followed him. He
bore with him the following communication
from Mr.. Gould:
The MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILWAY CO.
NEW YORK, March %.
T. r Po,Oderly, Esq, G. NJ. W:
DEAR SIR: Replying to your letter OF the
27th inst, write to say that will tomorrow
morning send the following telegraphic In
structions:
II. NJ. Hoaie, General Manager, ST. Louis:
In resuming the movement OF trains on the
Missouri Pacific, and in the employment OF
labor in the several departments Of this
company, you will give preference to our
late employees, whether they are Knights Of
Labor or not, except that you
will not employ any person who has in
iured the company's property during the
late strike, nor will we discharge any person
who has taken service with the company
during the said strike. We see no objection
to arbitrating any differences, between the
employees and the company, past OF future
Hoping the above will be satisfactory re
main, yours very truly,
JAY GOULD, President.
Mr.. Powderly received the communication
at the Astor House about II o'clock and i'm
mediately sent out the following telegram:
New YORK, Ma1u0H8, 1886.
Ifdrti1, Hons Chairman, Executive Board,
District assembly No. 10l, st. Louis:
President Jay Gould has consented to ous
proposition for arbitration, and so telegraphs
Vice President Hoxie. Order men to resume
work at once.
By order of Executive Board.
T., V. POwDERLY, G. NJ. w.
The following general order was also sent
out by telegraph before midnight:
New YORK, March %, 1885.
To the knights Of Labor, 1aotc on strike IN
the Southwest:
President JAY Gould has consented to our
proposition for arbitration and so
telegraphs Vice President Hoxie. Pllr-
suant to telegraphic instructions sent
to the chairman of the executive board
of District Assembly No. lO1, you are d.
rected to resume work at once.
By order of Executive Board
T. Y. POWDERLY, G. M. W..
Congressman John j. O'Neil, who is chair.
man Of the labor committee of the House OF
Representatives, reached the Astor house
ta toS' ,onsratuIa5e ~ i,es Mr. - Powderly on ths
successful issue of the strike. He had
come from Washington to take O hand
in the settlement himself He brought with
him the text of a Labor bill, intended for
Immediate presentation to the House, and
submitted it to Mr. Powderly. He went back
to Washington On the midnight train, after
sending the following despatch to the st.
Louis Republican.
sents to arbitration. Executive committee,
Knights of Labor, order men to resume
work. Congratulate our people on results.
In the course of an interview General Mas
ter Workman Powderly was asked how many
men had engaged in the strike and replied:
"Well, it covered about 5000 miles Of road,
and there must have been at least 12,0OO OF
$4,000 direct employees. Beside this,
| Of course, many more men anc
women have been thrown out OF Worl
by the closing of the mills and factories, which
was brought about by the failure to rur
trains. The strike has demonstrated IN 8
mist forcible manner the necessity OF laws x
! regulate the relations between employers anc
employed, and Mr.. O'Neill's bill will come II
| very pat just at this time"
The executive committee of the district as
sociations Of the Knights of Labor in st
Louis issued orders on the 18th for the men
resume work In the evening the order was re
i scinded. dispatch having been receives
from Master Workman Powderly stating tina
fresh complications had arisen as to method
of arbitration. In East st, Louis, ILL.,, tn
strikers thwarted all attempts to NOV
freight, and the sheriff at length appealed tt
Governor Oglesby for assistance.
After Grand Master Workman Powderl,
had held a second conferen 9 with Jay Gould II
New York, on the 10th, he telegraphed to st
Louis, ordering the striking employees on tn
various railroads to return to work. Mr
Powderly then went home to Scranton
Penn, and q committee of three members o
the.executive board Of the Knights of Labo
| proceeded to st. Louis, to confer with tn
railroad authorities with view to a settle
ment of existing differences.
At st. Louis, on the 3lst, Martin Irons
! chairman of the executive committee OF
| District Assembly No. l0l, which embraces
all Knights of Labor employed by tn
Missouri Pacific Railway a company any
| tolegraphcd to the different loca
! assemblies under his jurisdiction, notifying
them officially that the general executive
| board hail ordered all the men to 60 to wor,
pending arbitration Of the existing dlthcul
! Ties by a committee of the Missouri Pacific
employees and Mr.. Hoxie. Upon receipt o.
thic ORDER ,nanv of the mel returned to VOTE