, 1886-04-22
THE SECOND D@ SESSION
Powderly Before the Investi-
eating Committee.
Hoxie Responsible for the Con-
tinuance of the Strike.
A High Tribute to the Ladies
of the Order.

Mcdowell. manufacturer of machinery,
lay member of the Knights of Labor
said the organization was to elevate mem
bers by helping them to educate them
selves, by helping them to save that which
the average workman has wasted through
bad habits. to lift him from the condition
into which he has fallen through such
habits and make him thereafter an EN-.
ployer instead of employe.
Chairman-Are there any injunction.
by Knights Of Labor under which the
public could not know all you stated
Witness-I do not understand that there
is anything in the rules of the o~rganiza-
ton which prohibit any member from tell
ing just the facts that have been brought
out by your question.
In response to a question by Grain, the
witness read a statement concerning all
the details of the attempt to arbitrate be-
tween the Knights of Labor and the
Missouri Pacific. He read letters which
passed between these gentlemen on March
81 and which have already been published.
Mcdowell reviewed the features of the
several interviews between Powderly aud
Gould, including the discussion on the
subject OF arbitration at considerable
length, but nothing was revealed which
has not already been made public. Then
after examination as to whether the men
on strike would have obeyed the order
to resume work if Hoxie had complied
with that order sent him by Gould, to
which witness answered in the affirmative,
the witness, at the request Of Mr.. Grain.
entered into a long statement relating to
the position of the labor side of the
question, which views have also been
fully published. The witness, in
answer to a question, said it was
the theory that the exactions made upon
the men were caused by the attempts Of
the railroad companies to pay dividends
on watered stock. Further on in the ex-
animation the witness declared that it
was his belief that Hoxie was responsible
for the continuance of the strike.
Witness stated that he did not
believe hat there was a railroad in
America which has been pressed to half
its carrying capacity. He favored the
abandonment of competing lines and the
concentration Of all business on the others.
This would reduce the number of en-
ployes one half perhaps, but they would
Immediately find employment in other
walks of life where they would not be
living by a tax on the country.
Powderly was then recalled and gave a
history of the origin of the Knights of
Labor. The organization was intended,
he said. to take in not only the men who
worked at the bench, or mine, but every
man who toiled, by hand or brain, in any
honest occupation. We left out one or
two honest occupations-lawyers and
bankers-because we felt they we're fully
capable of taking care of themselves.
Chairman - How about preachers?
Powderly-0nce in a while we get one Of
them. We will not take in a saloon
keeper; even if a members wife begins to
sell liquor, we make him take a divorce,
not from his wife, but from the ~organiza-
ton.
Chairman-In other words, it is a
benevolent society for the protection of all
kinds of people who toll, and is entirely
within the law2 Powderly-Yes it Is en-
tirely within the law.
Parker-What is the number of the
present membership Powd erly-Our
present membership does not exceed 500,
900, although we have been credited with
5,OcO.O 00.
Chairman-Are women members of the
organization? Powderly-Yes, and on an
equal footing with men.
Chairman-When were women first adj
mitted2 Powderly-In 1881. We claim
that if women perform equal work, they
should receive equal pay. We have one
assembly of women, with a membership
of /. 800, and from the day of the organi.
ration to the present day a single expul-
sion or suspension has never taken place.
They manage their affairs in such a way
as to reflect credit upon them and to be 9
pattern for men.
Crain-Do you make any difference ai
to the admission of colored men into tn,
organization? Powderly-We make nc
} distinction in regard to color, creed, sc,
or condition. We have one assembly il
New York, where the president is a Ro
man Catholic, the vice president a Pres
by~terian, and the man who occupies tn
next position is a Hindoo. Colored mel
seldom enter assemblies Of white mem
bcrs. They have assemblies of their owl
/ aud are managing them very nicely.
Buchanan-Up to how lately have yol
= worked at your trade2 Powderly-No
since March, 1887.
/ Buchanan-Since that time you hav
been engaged as you are now Powder
/ Yes, principally. | have worked hardo
: now than | ever did. Sometimes eigh
teen hours a day.
Mcdowell. upon being recalled an
T. asked as to his connection with tn
T Knights Of Labor, said he had been cor
pected with the organization about eigf
3 years; that he was a machinist by trade
and that to-day he was at the head Of on