Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-24
TURNER TELLS HIS TALE.
DENIES HOMES CLAIM THAT
THE STRIKE WAS OVER.

THE STRIKE WAS OWE
The Treatment of the officials Of the
Nights by the approximations Oharac-
terized as Very DiseOurte ons-A ne
Power of the Organization 10 Oroer
and stop strikes Explained.
WASHINGTON, April 23.-Tho fourth
DAVIS session Of the House select commit
tee on the labor difficulties in the South
west was opened at II O'CLOCK TINS morn
ing with the examination OF FREDERICK
5. Turner, General Secretary and Treas
urer of the Kni ghts of Labor.
Lawyer Swayne was again present TO
watch the proceedings in the interest OF
the railroad companies. superintendent
someryile. OF the Western Union Tele-
graph Company, who yesterday accom-
panied Mr.. Gould, was also present.
Representative Warner, of Ohio, was
introduced TO and had long conyersa-
lion with Messrs. Mcdowell and Turner.
The latter is a short, stout, rather youth
Unlocking man of 40. He described him
self as a resident of Philadelphia, and as
Secretary and General Treasurer of the
knights of Labor.
HIS CALLING IN LIFE,
We had been a gold leaf beater, but had
not worked at that business since 1876.
He was now in the grocery business. lie
had taken part in the attempt to arrive ct
a settlement, and was present at Mr..
Powderly's interview with Mr.. Gould.
The stenOgr ,phic r. TX OF that inter-
view was substantial y correct. There
was general talk abous arbitration, and
all seemed pleased $50 the subject. 1t
was thought t. b proper way Of settling
disputes. In reply 10 MIR. Parker he
stated that there were 12l district assem-
blies of the knights of Labor in the United
states, with about COCO local assemblies.
NO POLITICAL OBJECT.
The knights of Labor had no political
object and did not seek to influence legis-
lation. He had known of no such move
ment on their part.
Mr.. Parker handed the witness petit
lion in favor of unlimited coinage OF
standard silver dollars, purporting to be
signed by 700 local assemblies.
Mr.. Turner stated that he had never
seen or heard of the petition before, but
The organization did not deny the right of
any assembly to petition Congress 1t
was not responsible as body for the ac-
ton of particular assemblies. This move
ment in favor of unlimited coinage was
MIR. Buchanan, after examining the Pc
tItion, stated that he thought the petition
could be traced to sources outside of and
9nconnected with the knights Of Labor.
THE HD Csz INTERVIEW.
Mr.. Turner Wens on in reply to
questions from NJ :. Grain to describe the
Interview he and his colleague, Mr.. Bal
lev, had with Mr.. HOxie in ST. Louis.
He said Mr.. HOXie's treatment of them
was very discourteOus, and that he sta
ted he would have no conversation with
them as officers of the knights of Labor,
but would receive them as American cit
liens. They informed him that they
did not desire to stand on their dignity ,
and were willing to talk with him as
private citizens, and that all they wanted
was to have the trouble settled, peace re-
stored, and the men sent back to work
Mr.. CraIn-W as the strike over theu7
THE STRIKE NOT OVER.
Mr.. Tuvrte None of our people were
At work. IA strike was not over.
The Chair liz! In your statement you
ased the wO7 ''OTder'' in reference to
men going back to work. want to
know whether the central power of your
organization can order men to work or
order them to quit work.
Mr.. Turner--The general laws do not
contemplate strikes.
The Chairman-That is not the ques-
ion.
Mr.. Turner hesitatingly well, 1 do
not understand that if we issued an order
,or the men to 60 to work they would re-
use to go no matter who ordered them
cut.
MIR. Crain-You have no power TO order
a strike. nave You?
Mr.. Turner-Yes.
The Chairman with an air OF surprise
You have?
THEY HAVE THE POWER.
Mr.. Turner-Yes. There is no law in
our consultation governing strikes. We
DO not believe in strikes.
The Chair-rhen where do YOU derive
your power to order strikes?
Mr.. Turner-We have not the power
directly to order a strike, but we have the
power to approve or disapproye of a
strike.
Mr.. Crain-Was this strike approved or
1isapprOved?
Mr.. Turner-We never knew anything
about it until we received a telegram from
Mr.. Hopkins. 1t has never been APP
proved.
Mr.. Crain-rheu ! suppose the power
IS vested IN you TO direct the men TO re-
turn 10 work?
Mr.. Turner--Yes.
NOlng back 10 the interview Win Mr..
Hoxe, Mr.. Turner quoted Mr.. HOXie as
saying their duty was to see NJ artin Irons.
they replied that they thought IL better
% talk with him Mr.. H0Xie).
THE COMPANY's REVENGE.
Mr.. HOXie said The company would not
require more t6an 80 per cent. OF its
former force, that when former strikes
occurred the company had reduced the
1ours Of labor and increased the number
Of men, but now il would reduce the
number OF men and increase the hours OF
work, because the general expenses Ofthe
railroad were the same whether the men
worked long hours or short hours.
The sten0grapupr's report OF the inter-
view with Mr.. HoNie was handed Nh
Grain, who proceeded toquesti0n Mr.. Tur-
her on various points therein stated. the
concluding question of Mr.. Grain was:
=, DO you mean 10 say that when Mr..
HoAle was seemingly putting his ohiec-
tuu on Two grOunds-namciY, thai the
4 company only wanted 80 per cent. of It's
FORMER force, aud that be wanted the
Tlght OF selecting them, even from the
Ahlghts OF Laboi-yoG really believed
tual the men were 10 be refused employ
,,nent simply on the ground that they were
Ahights Of Labori'
Mr Turuer-Yes. / mean that.
Mr CRln--ls the strike over nowy
=, MI Turner--l do not know; have only
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