The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-04-22
Investigation Before the
Committee.
DowDERLY'S EXAMINATION.
- E,pendins Public Money-From
,he Capital-A Man in the
Case-Etc.
The Labor Investigation

-sd the features of the several inter-
IS between Powderly and Gould, in
5-5inp the discussion on the subject of
,bt-ation at considerable length, but
thing was revealed which has not
i,sadv been made public. Then, after
animation as to whether the men of
= strike would have obeyed the order
resume work, if Hoxie had complied
IN that sent him by Mr.. Gould,
rb;cb witness answered in the aftirma-
Witness. at tine request of Mr..
--sin entered into q long statement re-
ZINC 10 the position of the labor side
the question, which views have also
zen fully published. The witness, in
.rsTer 10 q question. said it was the
theory that the exactions made upon
n,men we're caused by the attempts of
he railroad companies to pay
SI5ends on watereo stock. Fur
tbsr on in the examination, witness
declared it was his belief that Hoxie
vas rsspOnsible for the continuance OF
the strike Witness stated that he did
not believe that there was a railroad In
America which had been pressed TO
hall its carrying capacity. he favored
and the concentration of all the bust
nes; on the others. This would reduce
the number of employees ons-haIf per-
haps but they would Immediately find
emplOyment in other walks of life,
where they would not be living by
tax on the country.
POEderly was then recalled and gave
history Of the origin of the Knights
Of Labor. The organization was in
tended. he said, to take in not only the
man 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 occupa-
|iOns-laWyers and bankers-because
We felt they were fully capable of taking
are of themselves.
Chairman-How about preachers2
] Powderly-Once in a while we get one
o. them. We will not take in saloon
/ keepers; even If the members wife be-
/ Els 70 sell liquor. we make him take
6Torce, not from his wife, but from the
Gganization-
Chairman-In other words, it is a
benevolent society for the protection OF
81 kinds of people who toll, and IS en-
trely within the law?
Powderly-Yes, it is entirely within
the law.
Parker-What is the number of the
resent membership?
Powderly-Our present membership
t,es not exceed 500, OO0, although we
Ave been credited with 5000, 900.
Chairman-Are women members of
rs organization?
Pogderly-Yes, on an equal footing
With men.
Calirman-When were women first
admitted
P0Fdgly-In 1881. We claim that if
women perform equal work, they
sh0uld receive equal pay. We have
one assembly of women with a MEM
bsrsLip Of 1900 and from the day |
OF organization TO the present
day no single expulsion or sus-
They manage their affairs in such |
3 way as TO reflect credit upon |
them, and to be a pattern for the |
men.
Chairman-Do you make any differ
ence as 70 the admission OF colored men
into the organization2
PoTderly-We make no distinction
IN regard TO color, creed, sex or condi-
qluon. We have one assembly in New
ork. where the President is q Roman
Catholic; Nice-President, Presbyterian,
and the man who occupies the next
position is a HindOo. A colored man
seldom enters the assemblies Of white
members. They have assemblies of their
own and are managing them very
nicely.
Buchanan Up to how lately have
you worked at your trader
Powderly-Not since March. 1877.
Buchanan--Since that time you have
een engaged as you are nowf
Powderly-Hes. Principally. / have
.orked harder now than l ever did.
zlIne times eighteen hours q day.
Mcdowell, upon being recalled and
sked as TO his connection with the
nights eff Labor, said he had been
enneeted with the organization about
sat years; that he was q machinist by
aae, and that to-day he was at the
I'D Of one Of the largest machine
etks in the country.
-hairman-There Is nothing YOU
Nv of in the organization which is in
esistent with obedience of law and
= the administration of the govern
sst7
SeDowell Nothing whatever. ON
other hand. it is a perfect sup
esssr Of law in every particular.
Slchanan-Your observation Is that
- treated. better paid, and the
.s oORtented the American working
y the better citizen be makes.
6SeO0Eell-That's exactly true.
~ gseerly-0ne of the things which
80 lsnber of the organization pro-
-,,.ss % do is this: We shall with all
- Strength support the laws made
go - 19AinOnize with the interest OF labor
III ~ eapital.n
ne -s Committee adjourned till to
a -! loE, when il Is understood the ex-
,ne,l-Aiion Of Jay Gould will be COM