The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-30
The Company Does Not Positively Decline Ar
bitration, but All Negotiations Must Be
Conducted Through Mr.. Hoxie.
Statements from Both Parties to the
Long and Wearisome Controversy.
The Situation at st. Louis and at Points on the
Lines-Trains Moving at Several Places
Violent Demonstrations in Kansas.
GOULD AND POwDERLY.
,Eitch in the Negotiations-The Knigh
Referred to Mr.. Hoxie.

Referred to Mr.. Hoxie.
NEW YORK, March 29.-It was reported this
morning that the strikers in ST. Louis would not
go to work until they received positive and official
notice from Mr.. Irons, chairman of the executive
committee. District Assembly No. lol. Mr.
Powderly was called upon this morning, and
found to be in bed. When asked about it, he
said ~ have received no word that the men will
not obey orders. If they have not heard from
Mr.. Irons. it is because there has been delay in
delivering the telegram which was sent last
| night The men will certainly 60 to work, and
Mr.. Irons will positively give them the order"
AS the following telegram from Mr.. Gould to
Mr.. Hoxie seems to have been misunderstood
by Mr. Powderly, it is worth repetition:
"H. M. Hoxe, General Manager, ST. Louis:
I'm resuming the movement of trains on the
Missouri Pacific, and in.the employment of la
Dor in the several departments of the company,
you will give preference to our late employees
whether they are members of the Knights of La
Dor or not. except that you will not employ any
person who has injured the company's property
during the late strike; nor will we discharge
pany during the said strike. We see no objec
ton to arbitrating any differences between the
employees and the company, past or future.
Hoping the above will be satisfactory,
AAoHA"An' Jus, 10Y "u'y. =. -.
"JAY GOULD. President"
In an interview this morning Mr.. Gould said:
'The above telegram to Mr.. Hoxie was prepared
day, and was not the result Of anything Mr..
Powderly said. In it is expressed the stand
which the Missouri Pacific has taken from the
beginning-that is, that the company is always
ready to arbitrate any differences it may have
with its own employees. Mr.. Powdery seems to
have assumed from that telegram that I have
agreed to the plan submitted by the executive
board of the Knights of Labor, on
Saturday, providing for the appointment
of an arbitration committee, three members
of which are to be appointed by myself and
three by the Knights of Labor, and these to
jointly choose a seventh member. Now, most
emphatically deny that there was anything in
my telegram to Mr.. Hoxie, or that there was
anything said at the conference yesterday to
warrant anyone to believe that for a moment
assented to any such plan. will appoint no
members of any arbitration committee. The
hole matter rests in the hands of Mr.. Hoxie,
and if he can arrange basis for arbitration
which will include both sides of the question.
will make no objection, but the whole matter
will have to be arranged with him. ! am now
preparing a letter to Mr.. Powderly, which will
clearly set forth my position as outlined"
The spirit of exultation which filed the hearts
of the executive board of the Knights of Labor
this morning soon changed to grave anxiety.
When William O. Mcdowell called at Mr.
Goulds Office at $50 o'clock this morning, he was
not as favorably impressed with his reception as
he was with the reception accorded him at Mr..
Goulds house Sunday. Mr. Gould gave
Mcdowell to understand that there had been
misconception of his telegram to Mr. Hoxie,
which was sent Sunday night. Mr.. Mcdowell at
once returned to the Astor House, and conferred
with the general executive board, and two of the
members at once returned with Mr.. Mcdowell
to Mr.. Goulds Office. The conference there was
short, and an adjournment was had until
o'clock this afternoon. the hope being enter
tanned that by that hour Mr.. Powderly might be
well enough to attend. At 3.20 o'clock, how
ever, Messrs. Turner and Mcdowell entered Jay
Gould's Office without Mr.. Powderly. At about
o'clock the conference ended.
Subsequent inquiry at Mr.. Goulds Office was
answered by the following statement, of which
Mr. Gould was the author:
L
the meaning of the telegram that was sent on
Sunday night to Mr. Hoxie. Our position is
that this strike has been in condition for arbi-
tration all the time. We have had an agree
ment with the workmen, for some time, that all
differences to have besn submitted for
arbitration before any strike should be resorted
| to. Manager Hoxie has this matter in hand
He has full control, and the matter must be set
| tied with him. We are just where we were be-
| fore our Sunday conference"
NJ Go,1d +b;o af%arpoor cant 4ha eounrrs.> -
letter to Mr.. Powderly, who makes it public as
Gould. The letter is marked personal
missouri PAcIFIo RAILWAY Co.,
NEW YORK, March 80.
| 1T. v. Powderly, ESQ.,.
Dear Sir-The papers this morning published
| the following:
jay Gould ha. consented to our proposition for
arbitration, and teegraghed Vice president Hoxie
| Order the men to resume work at once.
| ~ v. PowDERLY, G.. NJ. W."
'sThey publish an interview with you which
leads to think that the officers of your order
| in st. Louis may misconstrue your message into
| consent OH the part Of this company to con-
form to the requirements contained in the letter
| from the secretary Of your order, dated Phila-
| delphia, Marchs27, which, in my letter to you Of
| the same date, declined to consider.
| 'You will remember that at our conference Of
| Sunday said to You that the position Of this
company was unchanged in this respect, and
| that the whole matter was left in the hands Of
the first vice president and general man
| ager, with the Instructions contained in my
| telegram to him, which was written before my
interview with you. and read to you at the time.
| This telegram stated: we see no objection to
arbitration OF differences between the employees
and the company. past or future While feel
| confident that your understanding of this mat
| ter is the same as my own, write you this in
order that there may be no grounds for misun
derstandng hereafter.
Very respectfully yours.
| JAY GOULD,
"Pres. NJ. p. Railroad Company