Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-05-13
The Great Strike Over.

Messrs. Hayes, Bailey, and Barry, Of the
executive board of the knights of labor, met
the congressional committee informally in St.
Louis on the lst and the meeting led TO the
happy result of the knights declaring the
strike off, as explained in the following cor
respondence:
ST.. LOUIS, May Ito the general executive
board Of knights Of labor The testimony
taken to-day 10y the congressional investigat-
ing committee shows concusively that every
serious loss 10 the commercial, agricultural
and other interests of the entire country have
resulted from the labor troubles upon the lines
OF the railroads belonging TO the western sys
TEN and other ra lroads in other states, and
that 10y reason OF said troubles a large number
OF persons not directly connected Herewith
have been thrown out of employment. I'm
willing at this time TO express any opinion In
regard To the causes which produced this Ia
mentable condition of affairs, or to ind cate
where the blame lies for its continuation
y we do hereby respectfully but earn
estly request you to advise, through the
proper official channels, discontinuance of
the strike on the railways hereinbefore men,
toned Z * We remain, your obedient
servants,
A. G.. Curtin, w. II. Crane, Jas. Houth-
waite, Jas. Buchanan, j. w. Stewart, j.
Parker.
HURDs HOTEL, ST. LOUIS, Mo-, May 3.
To the Hon. A. G. Curtin and others: TOUR
communication of May l was place before
Tic lOlUJ anu lut lOuOWluS
resolutions adopted.
Resolved, That the communication from the
congressional committee and their request be
granted. The time for calling the strike off be
left to the general executive board. In view
of the fact that business interests of the coun-
tty are suffering, and the Knights Of Labor
having the interests Of the whole people at
heart, willingly comply wit the request of
the nations repres o-ltatiyes and that OF the
citizens committee of st, Louis. declare this
Ill A.l..
ing, May 4, 1886. Trusting this action will
meet with the approval of the public and
assist In bringing capital ami labor in closer
relationship, we remain, very truly yours
The General Executive Board OF the X. OF l..
Signed, JOHN w. HAYES.
After protracted conference the following
order was issued declaring the strike off:
Office of the executive Board, st. Louis, May
3: To the members of district assemblies IL,
49, 101, and of the G.. 4. and non-nembcrs or
persons affected by the present strike upon the
Gould southwestern system OF railways: Gen.
tlemen-On April %, the citizens of ST. Louis
requested of this board that in the interests of
the business community of St Louis and that
of the whole United States In general, the
strike upon the Gould southwest system Of
railways be declared at end. While this re-
quest was under consideration (May y by the
Joint boards of district assemblies IL, 9S and
10l, the committee appointed by congress to
investigate the cause OF the trouble between
the railroad company and its employees made
a similar request. In which they say: "The
testimony taken to-day by the congressional in
vest.gating committee shows conclusively that
very serious losses TO the commercial industries
of the entire country have resulted from this
trouble, and that large numbers of persons
not connected Herewith have been thrown out
of employment. Therefore, we do respectfully
but earnestly as you to discontinue this strike
and leave the justice of your case to the de-
cision that public opinion may form wien we
make our report.
The document was fully considered, and the
following conclusion arrived at
That the matter be left in the hands of the
general executive board, they to set time and
declare the strike at an END. We have, there
fore, selected Tuesday morning, May 4, 1886,
as the time when this strike shall end. You
will make application to your former en-
ployers for unemployment on the above date
NAV A.. BY order of the general executive
board
(Signed) JOHN w. HAYES.
Thus ends the greatest railroad strike th
the,country has seen since the memorable
events of 1877