The Portland daily press., 1886-04-03
THE LABOR QUESTION.
The Gould System Troubles Viewed
With Alarm.
Armed Strikers Control Matters at
Fort Worth, Texas.
Gould and Hoxie Severely Arraigned
for Their Course.
Mercantile and Financial Circles of
New York Excited Over the
Situation.
a New Feature Presented In the
Keene Brothers Trouble in Lynn.

The Philadelphia Street Railroad
Employees Grievance Settled
by Arbitration.
FORT WORTH, Tex, April 2.-This city is in
the hands of mob. A posse of citizens, sum.
moned by the sheriff to assemble yesterday morn
ing at the Missouri Pacific yards, met to the num-
Der of 300. Most of the citizens were armed.
About 400 armed strikers, desperate and ready
for bloodshed were on the scene. Fifty well
armed officers were soon on hand. A freight
train was made up, and a Missouri Pacific engine
came along to pull Otit the train. A rush for the
engine was made by the strikers, and arms were
presented ON both sides. The engine was not mo-
Tested, but all the cars were nnc0upled, ana even
the nuts were taken out of the draw-bars. Some
of the Knights were arrested, the engine sent 70
the roundhouse. and all attempts to move the
gansaten and had no leaders While the strikers
were thoroughly organized. Mayor Smith ad.
dressed the mob but the strikers cried Rats =
"NO more Peter Smith for Mayor again. Inc
sheriff summoned number of citizens to go
armed to the Missouri Pacific yards today Inc
strikers places mere are nilea ana sney afe nun i
zens anticipate grave trouble In the efforts to re-
store order. The soberness for which the strik-
ers were commended at the beginning OF the Ia
Dor contest is no longer perceptible.
MARSHALL, Tex, April 2.-The situation in the
strike here is unchanged Martin Irons order to
go to work has not been received here. Some OF
the old men went to work yesterday.
ST. LOUIS, April 2.-The strike still continues
and no hope is now entertained even by the most
sanguine, that final settlement will be reached
until the general executive boaTa snail nave aFriv
freight houses have not yet been thrown open.
The Knights of Labor are no less determined to,
day than they have been for a week that the road
shall not resume its freight traffic until their
grievances have been arbitrated upon and settled.
EAST ST. LOUIS, April 2.-The general mama
gers and superintendents OF the railroads heid a
meeting last night, and discussed the situation.
They criticised Gov. Ogesby They finally con
cluded to wait day or two longer to see what Ell
feet the governors visit would have, and II by
that time trains could not be moved without inter-
ference they would take the matter into their own
hands.
Nothing could be learned this morning as t o
what if any further action had been taken by the
Joint executive committee of the Knights OF Labor
which had been in session for the past few days
Everybody was anXiOuSly awaiting the arrival OF
Secretary Turner of the executive committee ana
his associates. All sorts of c0njectures prevailed
as to what action they would take IN view OF tne
complication, but Of course nothing definite IS
known
Governor Oglesby of Illinois spoke to some
1000 strikers and others here last evening, and
was listened to attentvely. His speech was a
general elaboration of his remarks to representa-
tives of the Merchants Exchange in the morning,
and an emphasizing of his purpose to preserve
peace, and to put the wheels of commerce IN mo-
ton by the running of trains and moving OF pro-
ducts of the country.
After the Governor concluded, Martin Irons,
chairman of District Assembly No. 1O1, OF the
knights of Labor, was called out and spoke
briefly He denied that the present difficulty was
on account of the discharge of one man. but
rather asserted that it was for grand principle;
If it were TO keep Hale in job, he said, 1t would
be better for the Knights themselves to pay III M
wages than to strike. Irons took issue with the
Governor about this being the best govern
ment on earth, and declared that the govern;
ment was perverted. Jay Gould and Hoxle. ana
his like, ran it. He asked if ltwas Jay Gould or
the bone and snew OF the land that made thls
country and then demanded of the Governor to
answer if it was right that one man like Gould
should be permitted to run this country and hold
the liberties and destinies of people in his hands
1t was the thriving of such men as Gould that en-
slaved all countries. He desired to correct the
impression that was abroad that the knights OF
Labor favored violence or lawessness. ThlS ne
declared was not true, but quite the contrary. ;
There were no complaints against Jay Gould for
violating the LAWS LAWS which y h he was fS dong every day
He filled poor houses and houses OF infamy by
robbing labor of its Just dues. 81 tell you, con
tinued the speaker, If the railroads force us TO
violate what they call law, the time Will soon
come when the class of people that make THIS
country and government will be oVertnroWn. Inc
Governor says Arbltrate, Inat IS lnst wnat
called out against laborerS for asking Wnat tne
Governor advises us to demand. The railroads,
in treating with labor, do as an organized body,
and why Should they deny the same right to labor
interests?" He closed by severely crlteislng
Hoxe, and demanding that the Knights OF Labor
NEW YORK. April 2.-The following despatch
waSreceived at the Office OF the Missouri Paclhc
Railroad Company this morning:
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, April 2.
TO .JttV Gould, President;
While there NAV still be some trouble at a few
points, l think that the worst is over, but things
may not run smoothly for some days. have
plenty of force to run trains and do repairs, and
am gradually recruiting my force with new men,
About 80 new men are at work today. Business
is fully resumed in the Kansas city yards, and a
ln,.ra hrrofn, &c hnin hnnA
loads moved in the system yesterday was 30oo
an increase of 854 loads over the day before.
(Signed), H. M. HoXIE.
The news that the strike on the Gould system
is to continue has created profound feeling OF
alarm in mercantile and financial circles i'll New
York city, and the prospect of long and pro
tracted struggle during which thousands of dol
lars worth OF perishable freight in addition to
that already damaged will be lost, is discussed on
every side. Both sides are condemned in strong
language for the part they have taken, but there
is strong feeling of sympathy for the strikers
now that it is known that they would submit on
any kind of fair terms.
The Latest.
KANSAS CITY, April 2-There is nothing new
tonight in the Missouri Pacific situation The
strikers are still out, while the company's busi-
ness proceeds without interruption.
ATcHIsoN, Ks, April 2.-The strikers are
rapidly quieting down. Twenty-four of the old
employees were put to work in the 4. shops this
morning and others are waiting till there is a de-
mand for their services. 1t is reported tonight
that the strike has been formally ordered off by
the local committee.
FORT WORTH, Texas, April 2.-The Missouri
Pacific is still in the hands of the strikers The
authorities are determined to move trains tomor-
row. but the strikers are also determined to pre-
vent it, Conservative citizens say tonight trains
will move tomorrow or there will be blood shed.
Arbitration Prevents Trouble in Phil
adelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, April about o'clock this
Of fln iltxyDt
employees of this city were notified of a comprom
Use entered into by an arbitration committee and
the board of presidents and all the cars are run l
up,5 and the men get about all they demanded in
their bill of grievances
Lynn's Troubles.
Boston, April IA new. feature presented it
self in the Lynn labor troubles today. w. G. S.
Keene whose engine furnishes power TO eight or
ten other shoe factories, and whose engine was
stopped by order of the Knights of Labor, seems
unwilling that these factories should have power
except from his engine. j. G. Fox & Co., one OF
and mn