The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1886-03-24
THE GREAT STRIKE.
Correspondence Between Master Work.
man Powderly and Vice Prssi-
dent Hoxie.
Governors Marmaduke and Martin Endeav.
or to Effect a compromIse-Result OF
Their Conference with the Managers
Little Hope of asettiement.


ST.. LOUIS, March 19.-The following re-
ply of Vice President Hoxie to the req uest
Of Master Workman Powderly for confer
ence was telegraphed to that gentleman late
this afternoon:
The MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANYl
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, March TO- 1888. J
II. v. Powderly, Kansas City, No.: rNff ~
have Just received your telegram of the
18th inst asking IL will meet yourself and
committee to arrange settlement of the pend
ing difficulties. AS the company now has
contracts and agreements with the various
labor unions and organizations and IL not
unwilling to continue to make such agree
ments as circumstances may require with
ployes as have shown disposition TO carry
out, in good faith, their undertakings; and
as II has had in the past contracts with your
organization, and its representatives have
heretofore had conferences with yourseW
and other members Of your executive COM
mittee. IL is but just and courteous that
should give you the reasons for this COM
pany now declining to meet yourself
1t wonld have done before this strike
was haugurated. The. usual object of
such meetings between railway companies,
through their representatives, and COM
mittees of their employees, is either TO dis
cuss such differences as may have ar sen, in
order thar an understanding NAV be reached
OF the rights and relations existing between
them, and such mutual concessions made as
will avoid strikes and the losses resulting
therefrom; or, on the other hand, to settle
and compromise such differences between
the parties. after the grievances OF the en-
ployes have been presented aud redress re-
fused, and after resort has actually been
had to the strike as the only remedy. In the
present case neither OF the above reasons
for q conference exists but the anomaly Is
presented OF u strike which is without re.
dressable grievance, which was entered
upon without notice 10 the company. and
which has resulted in the wanton and ma
llcious destruction OF this company's prop
erty by violence and incendlarsm, and in
the almost total stOppage of its business bv
threats, intimidation and force. A review OF
the history of the past year is essential to
full understand ng of the present conditions.
The differences between this COMPANY and It's
employe 5 resulting I'm the str Ike OF March,
1885, were settled bv the voluntary interces-
sion OF the executives and officers of the
your organization. The agreements subse-
quently entered into with committees of your
organization have been faithfully carried out
by this company. Minor grievances under
these arrangements have from time TO time
been presented, considered by the manage
ment, and adjusted In manner apparently
satisfactory TO the petitioners; and Tor the
sake of peace and harmony this company has
repeatedly, on the demand of your organiza.
ton, made changes In its stan by the removal
OF officials entirely satisfactory TO the COM
bers In our meeting with you last August
in New York your committee then stated that
no grievances or complaints existed against
the Missouri Pacific railway on the part of
your organization through noncompliance
with the contracts then existing, but that IL
was necessary TO utilize your organization
upon the Missouri Pacific road 10 force an
adjustment of the difficulties then pending
with another corporation. Similar action
has been taken by your organization In three
instances within the last eight months.
Flrst-In threatening that the members OF
your organization upon the Missouri Pacific
change business with the Wabash road.
Second-When the members OF your or
RaniZation compelled q strike OF aportOn OF
the employees OF this company in carrying
out your boycott against the Mallory line at
Galveston, Tex.
Third-In the present Instance, when the
existing strike was forced upon this com
pany by the discharge OF one Q. A. Hall by
the receivers of the Texas & Pacific railway,
road In the hands OF the United states
Court, and In the management OF which this
COMPANY has no voice oE control, fact which
your committee made application to the re-
ceiyer OF that road for the reinstatement OF
said employees.
Instances m ght be cited where endeavors
have been made 10 use this company for the
purpose OF bovcoitng individuals who had
Incurred the displeasure OF your orgnniza-
ton. An especially aggravated case OF the
agreements was that OF the workmen at the
Palestine shops, who. In the last days of
February, stopped work on account OF an
alleged grievance which was thereupon ad-
jnsted In a manner " their satisfaction; they
resumed work with tho agreement TO con-
tlnue at work under the concessions made
by company, hut within ten days thereafter
they again left work on the demand OF your
organization in ordering the present strike,
aud without any grievance whatever against
this company. These continued stoppnges
OF the work OF this company without
cause have become so frequent that.
believing the future will be as unsettled
as the past,'it can not consent to renew the
agreement voluntarily and arbitrarily
abroRnted by your organization. and longer
submit to II the management OF our business.
This company, through its representatives.
IS aud has always been willing TO meet the
public through committees or individuals on
matters OF public concern. and II yourself or
Dther intelligent citizens can suggest any
practical methods whereby the present sit
nation can be changed and traffic perma-
ncntly resumed. this company will be pleased
10 meet yourself or them, as citizens, but not
as representa- YES OF your organization; to
discuss the pending difficulties, or any other
matters of publ c interest.
Ia conclusion desire emphatlcally 10 state
that the responsibility for the future contin-
uance OF tho present unIustfable strike will
not rest with the management OF IN com
pany, but innsmuch as your organization has
committed the error OF striking first and en-
power 10 and should end the present troubles
by permitting such OF our former employees
and others as desire 10 work 10 do so without
fear OF threats and intimidation, leaving this
company free TO resume its operations and
adjust with its employees. as II is at all times
ready hand and willing to- any Ere%yanneSs nos, they
First Vice President Missouri Paciiic Rail.
wny.
NH. PowDERLY's DISPATCH.
KANSAS CITY. NO.. March 19.-The fol-
lowing reply was sent to Mr.. Hoxie from
here tonight by Mr.. Powderly:
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, March 10.
II. N. Hoxie, First Vice President st. Louis,
NO.:
Since you will not meet with me as general
master workman OF the Knights OF Labor.
/ must decline 10 meet with you In any
other capacity, and the responsibility for
the future continuance of the strike must
not be charged 10 tho Knights OF Labor since
the executive officer of that order viii not bo
permitted TO meet and cooperate with you
In settling the strike. 1t was my Intention.
had You consented 10 meet with me, 10 on
deavor 10 effect such settlement as would
prevent impostions being practlccd upon
the employees OF your company by subor-
dlnate officials and put nm end 70 strikes on
'O' ~ T.v. PowDERLY.
THE CONFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO
GOVERNORS AND THE MANAGERS.
ST. LOUIS, March 2i.-Goyernors Mar
maduke and Martin held their third con-
ference with Vice President Hoxie this
afternoon, ~ which the proposition sub
mtted Yesterday by the Governors was
again discussed, and formal reply ON the
part Of the railway officials was made. The
following correspondence includes two