The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-04-29
GOULD ON THE STAND.
He Gives His Views on the Labor
Troubles

WASHINGTON, April 23.-The committee
investigating the labor troubles in the West
met again yesterday morning. AS Jay
Gould rose to take oath all eyes were fixed
upon him. and his response, Il do" was
given in a low tone. Gould read a state
ment showing in detail the number of men
employed by the Missouri Pacific system
and said he was away on a West Indian
cruise when the strike occurred and such
information as he had had reached
him through official reports. lie
would be glad to tell the committee
every thing he knew, but he deemed it
proper TO say that the facts were not within
his own knowle ige. Ee went on TO recite
the story Of his interview with POwderly
and the committee prior to the West Indian
cruise, during which he said that the
knights of Labor had declared that the
Missouri Pacific had lived up to its agree
mcnt and had agreed not TO strike again,
but to come 10 him man fashion" and
settle any future grievances they
might have. TheE the strike came after
his departure. Yet" said Mr.. Gould, "
grievances and We're tod to strike" Then
the magnate produced and read kilograms
which had passed between Nessrs. Pow
DERBY, HOXie and Hopkins. At the date of
the strike the company had 1888 en-
ployeS, while the strikers numbered only
3,717 men, principally employed i'll the ma
chine shops and along the tracks, generally
in the lower branch.
GOULD'S EMOTION.
"What followed the strike" asked Could,
showing signs of deep feeling. They
seized st. Louis. Kansas City, Sedalia, Tex
arkana, our terminal facilities, took posses
sion. and said no man shall run train over
that road and that is what they said. Our
loyal employees could not run train and
were deprived of the power TO earn wages.
That was what followed the strike-foTci-
bic poSSesSiOn-l can't call il any thing else,
something the Gar of Russia would hest
tate to DO with his millions OF soldiers be-
/ hind him." HOXe'S statement of the posi-
ton assumed by the Missouri Pacific,
in which it was stated that tie strike had
grown out of the discharge OF Hail
by the receiver Of the Texas d Pacific, was
read by General Swayne. The chairman
inquired why Hall had been discharged.
He would like TO know what the man had
to read Receiver Browns statement to the
effect That Hall had been guilty oe absent
ing himself from duty without leave. The
letter Of Governors MarmadUke and Martin
was also read. Could interrupted the read
ing to remark that he Thought the CORE
sDOndence showed pretty clearly that they
had led the horses Up 10 the watering trough,
but could not make them drink: that the
shops are open mt that the men refused tn
20 to work. He said that when he returned
to New York he had agreed to meet MesSrs.
POwdcrly and Mcdowell as individuals
My motive was 10 brace him up" said
the witness. because the sentiments which
he. Powderly, expressed IL his circular were
so different from the acts of the association
that thought he needed bracing up
POwderly, he said, had told him tina: the
men were ia rebellion against the order,
that they had struck without cause and shat
he had it in contemplation 10 yindicate him
self by taking away their charter.
THAT DISPATCH.
As he wished to he equally frank, the
witness had showed Powderly the dispatch
he intended to send to HOXie the EeXt
morning, he which he stated that he saw
no objection to arbitration. lie declared
that MessrS- Powde~ly and Mcdowell laG
they had changed their plans upon seeing
the telegram, and in the morning il L al
been published broadcast that Gould Lad
consented To their (POwderly and Me
DowellS) plan of arbitration. This was uR-
true. utterly untrue. The question of ar
b'tratiOn had been brOached before
that and had always been a sort
of hobby with him. Gould next read
pOwderly's dispatch announcing that
Gould had recognized him Officially a.
Grand Master Workman, saying it was a
pleasant termination Of an unpleasant bus
mess that had been tclegraphed 10 him by
HoXie and he had received when he got
down town in the morning. Naturally he
was mad when he saw that. TakiGg up his
slenograPhic report of his interview with
Powdery, Gould read that genJleman'S de-
NAL when charged with The publication.
He also read the circular ordering the re-
sumption of work, and remarked: That
was the address they issued when every thing
seemed TO be lovely, and it was followed by
this prOnUnciamento Oh April g." These he
read in tremulOus tones, showing symptoms
of Indignation and emphasizing such pas
sages as Gould, the giant fiend, is dancing
over the graves Of our order and the ruins
of our homes" the circnlar issued by Martin
Is the response The Knights of Labor made
to continue the bonds OF fellowship We had
held out" the witness said. After remark
ing that the business OF the Missouri Paci-
fic had now been fully resumed, ne said that
for that reason il did not seem to him that
the resolution under which the inveStiga-
ton was proceeding applied to the Missouri
Pacific.
LEFT ENTIRELY TO HOMIE.
In answer to question by Mr.. Burnes,
Gould said that his telegram 10 HoXie re-
ferring 20 arbitration was not even advisory
in its nature. Ii meant to leave the entire
matter in HoXie's hands and hold him re-
sponsible for the result. He had always
claimed that every emplOye from president
down clothed himself with certain public
duties and it was his duty to do his part
toward operating the road. He found
that he had enough to do to manage the
Missouri Pacific railroad. but a friend
there (POwderly) undertook a great deal
more when he attempted to regulate all
railroads, all shOemakerS, all bakers and
every trade. That was too broad for his
shoulders, and he did not wonder that his
friend broke down under it. As to arbitra-
ton he believed that voluntary arbItra-
ton would be better and more sought for
than compulsory arbitration. Mr.. Burnes
remarked that the voluntary conference |
between the witness and POwderly had not |
resulted in arbitration, or at least that the !
witness views did not seem to have been |
executed in St Louis. The witness replied |
that on the contrary the company had al |
ways been ready for arbitration. The point |
was that they refused to recognize |
the Knights OF Labor. Mr.. Burnes |
asked if tie witness knew of the or
der by the ToadmasteF fOrbidding the en-
ploymeat Of Knights OF Labor He asked |
il that was not recognition of the Knights |
Of Labor, and il 50 why they should not be |