Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-15
GOULD FAILS TO QUAKE.
POWDERLY TRIES TO SCARE
HIM BY A THREAT.

The Wizard of the World of Wealth Sets
Forth His Rights as AN American Cit
izen-Esch of the Leaders Tries to Sad
die the Other with the Blame.
! NEW YORK, April IA correspon-
dence which has passed between Mr.
Powderly and Jay Gould has been given
to the public tonight. 1t is voluminous
-about five newspaper columns in
length-and in it's course a complete his
tory of the pending troubles in the South
west is recited. Mr.. Powderly's letter is
dated Scranton, Pa, April II, a. m,
and is addressed TO Jay Gould, President
of the Missouri Pacific railroad. 1t says:
The events of the past as hours must have
| demonstrated to you the absolute necessity of
| bringing this terrible struggle IN the South
| west To speedy termination. You have the
! power, authority and means to bring the
| strike TO an end. have done everything IN
| my power to end the strife. The gentlemen
associated with me on the General Executive
board OF the knights OF Labor have done the
| same. Everything consistent with honor and
| manhood has been done in the interest of
! peace. No false notions Of pride or dignity
| have swayed us In our dealings with you or
| the gentlemen associated with you,
A TRICK OF WORDS.
Mr., POwderly then describes the confer
| ence In New York Immediately preceding
| his order to stop the strike, and says, al
| though the specific method OF arbitration
was not stated at that time, 1t was the
! clear understanding of himself and his
associates that MIR. Gould had agreed to
| the method proposed by the Knights of
Labor, and he denOunces the trick OF
words IN the communication between MIR.
| Gould and Mr.. HOXie, by which the spirit
| OF that agreement was violated. MIR.
POwderly refers in much detail to what
was said on both sides at that conference,
and proceeds to say:
When, ON Monday, March 30, you sent me a
| letter marked personal" you at the same
time told a newspaper correspondent that
| you had done 30.
THE MOTIVE.
What your motive was in making your let
| ter personal" and at the same time inform
| ing representative of the press that you so
| addressed me, do not know. nor do l ques-
| ton your motive. l felt il to be my duty to
| let the public see the letter, which contained
| nothing Of q personal nature Whatever.
| There are people who might be unchar-
| liable enough to say that your intention
| was TO give out the impression that there
| was something between you and 1 winch
| would not bear the light ofpublc scrutiny |
| have had no such dealings with any man since
this trouble began nor previous to that time.
| am quite willing to allow the greatest light
possible TO shine upon my every transaction.
| / have nothing to conceal. You can settle
this strike. It's longer continuance rests with
you anu you alone
THE RESPONSIBILITY,
Every act of violence, every drop of blood
that may be shed from this time forth must
be laid at your door. The Knights of Labor
were not founded to promote or shield wrong
doing, and to-day the order of the knights OF
Labor stands between your property and
rum. We are willing to absOlve the men
along your railways from their allegiance to
our order. We leave that TO themselves. We
will not allow any claims which the order
| may have on them TO stand between them and
heir restoration to their former positions.
| The order of the Knights of Labor asks Of no
| man to remain a member if il is not to his
interest to do so. You may deal with them
| as citizens If you viii. We will surrender
| our right to claim these men as members IL
| they wish, but we will not surrender our
! right TO see this affair thoroughly inyesti-
! gated.
THE SUITS.
MIR. POwderly refers to Mr.. Gould's an
| nOunced intention to bring suit against
members of the Knights of Labor for
damages, and bids him go ahead-the
order is prepared to meet him in the
! courts. 1t has taken counsel OF the best
legal minds in the United States and now
awaits his action. Mr.. Powderly con-
cludes with another appeal to Gould to
| take the matter into his own hands, and
says:
1t is your duty to brush aside every obstacle,
| assert your authority, and take this matter
| IN your own nduuH, BebJlG every grievance.
restore every man TO his place except. those
! who have been engaged in the destruction of
| property, or who have broken the laws. VIII
| You do thls2 You can then make rules and
| agreements with your men which will forever
| preclude the possibility OF another such disas
trous conflict as this one has proved itself to
| be.
THE LETTER OF TRANsMITTAL.
Mr.. Gould's reply is dated to-day, and
says at noon to-day Mr.. POwderly's letter
| ruac M hv w & MpnoWnfl
of Mr.. Powderly's associates on the
General Board. A copy of Mr.. Pow
derly's letter OF transmittal to Mr.. Nc
DOwell is given as follows:
SCRANTON. PA, April 10, 1885,
| lfy Dear NJ, McDOt0eH:
| / inclOse you a letter which you are TO read
and deliver to the man for whom 1t is intend
ed. / do not care whether YOU deliver it in
| person or through the medium OF another.
| Only ask that IL be placed in his hands II
| youhaye succeeded IN e1ecting a settlement
! with him, do not give it TO him. II you think
there is a prospect for an immediate settle
| ment, do not give it to hin. but II such rs not
the case, then l want IL placed in his hands.
| Allow him TO either consent or
make reply. II he consents to
| an honorable settlement then the letter will
never see the light of day, but II he does not
so act then it Will be published % the world.
| and from the time be opens up the ball in "a
legal way, we viii cont nue. 10 wage battle
with him. His wealth cannot save him II this
| eight Ia begun. Let no one know Of the eXis-
tence OF this letter until after O'Clock Of the
! day you deliver 10. Then II he makes no re-
! ply let il 90 TO the world. Let him know the
! limit OF time allowed. sincerely hope that
/ there will be no necessity for its publica-
! tion. Hoping for the best, remain very tru-
! ly yours, Il. V. PowDEHLY.
GOULD's SPECIFIC REPLY.
Mr.. Gould proceeds to say:
The animus or purpose OF your letter 10 me
| cannot be fully Understood without knowing
| the contents Of that one. / was peremptorlly
! notified at The same time that 1 must answer
/ your letter by o'clock to-day. and / was
| graelously given until that hour 10 respond.
! Your letter 20 me embraces two subjects,
/ one relating TO me personally and the
! other 10 the relation OF the knights OF Labor
i 10 the railroad company Of which / am
! President. and In some degree representative
/ Of its public and private duties. ! shall refer
\ to the first subject very briefly. The circum-
stances above given, under which your letter
! was delivered, as well as ia tenor aud spirit,
] place the purpose In writing 10 beyond any
| fair doubt. 10 would seem 10 be an Official
declaration that the Knights OF Labor had de-
| termined to pursue me, personally, unless the
! Missouri Pacific Company should yield to It's
| demand In what you call a strike on
| that road. In answer 70 these personal
| threats I leg to say that / am
| vet free American citizen. ! am past 40
| years Of age, was born at Roxbury, Delaware
| county. In this State. began life In n lowy
way, and by industry. temperance and atten-
tion TO my own business have been successful
| perhaps beyond the measure of my
resorts. II, as you say; ! am