Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-04-21
AN INVESTIGATION.
Meeting of the Labor
Trouble Committee.
PowDERLY ON THE STAND.
He Recites the Aims and Purposes
of the Knights of Labor
Organization.

[Specfdtto the Herald bv the Associated Press. |
WASHINGTON, April 2O.-The special
committee OF the House to inquire into
the labor troubles in the Southwest, held
its first public session to-day. The
Committee consisted of Ex-Governor
Curtin, Chairman, and Messrs. Barnes,
Missouri; Grain, Texas; 0uthwaite
Parker, New York, and Buchanan. New
Jersey. Powderly was the first witness.
The examination extended over the his
tory Of the recent strike and troubles.
II was quite interesting. The Chairman
said; "Will you state the purpose of
the organization of the Knights Of La
Dor, whether its purposes are prctec-
ton Of the interests OF labor and whether
it is peaceful in all its actionse"
Powderly-"The aims Of the erganiza-
ton Of Knights Of Labor is to benefit
the laborer and to secure better feeling
between him and his employer. All our
methods are peaceful, we never counsel
anything of violent nature. A mem
Der of the organization may. once in a
while commit acts of violence. We can
not help that. 1t is q matter beyond
our control, because when men feel they
have endured wrong there is no law
which can properly restrain them.
Chairman-f'Do understand that the
Knights OF Labor as an organization do
III. rx.Ix Dc
bnt also in mines and fsctories,"
Powderly-"We attempt to do that.
Our association is intended to be ma
tional one. We aim at having our
members study the conditions by which
they are surrounded, not only their own
conditions but those Of men for whom
they work"
Mr. Buchanan-"I order to pave the
way to intelligent action?"
Mr.. Powderlv-"Yes sir. have
claimed that it is no more than right for
both to meet on equal terms and to have
a thorough understanding Of the wants
of each other, and it seems to me that
until they do that they can not properly
fix up their differences.
The Chairman said. II donot ask you
to divulge any secrets Of the Knights OF
Labor, but you have stated that the OBJ
jects of your society are to protect the
labor Of the country, as far as possible,
against the exactions OF corporated cap
ital."
Mr.. Powderly-"We protect not only
the labor of the country but protect
manufacturers as well. We desire that
the manufacturers shall be in such con-
dition that they will be able to pay good
wages. We have no quarrel with legit-
innate enterprise. II you discover that
a member Of the X nights Of Labor along
the railroads has violated the law of
the land. or its own laws, and the com-
mittee will discover that fact, we will be
as ready to assist citizens TO punish
him for it, as his connection with our
organization should be no shield for
him. have thought, on the other
hand, that man who SO violates the
law, and who is worth millions of dol
lars, should suffer the same as a poor
workman. / have made that statement
and the people have seen fit to see in it
an invitation to anarchy. If that is an
archy, in the name of God. what is
law?"
Mr.. Barnes-"The country generally,
and I doubt not properly, seems to
place good deal OF confidence in your
integrity, your intelligence aud Your
patriotism. Being disposed to consider
this question practically, ask if you
have given thought to the question of a
legislative remedy for the evils to which
you have alluded,"
Mr.. Powderly--s1 have never worked