Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-04-02
The STRIKES.

NhSlGE 1OWuCEkyy "A III - s
Dor. in a Conference on he situation
A Telegram from Jay Gould-Cost Of
the Great Struggle.
ST. Louis, March 20.-In answer to the
request of Grand Master Workman Pow
derby for a conference to arbitrate the dill
ference existing between the Missouri Pa
cifc road and it's striking employees,
Vice-President II xie yesterday t%elegraphed
at length his reasons for refusing Mr..
Powderly's request. After asserting that
the object OF such q conference would
be either to discuss differences which
may have arisen, in order that an
understanding OF the relations be-
tween employer and employee might be
reached, or, on the other hand, to settle or
compromise such differences after the griev-
ances Of employees had been presented and
redress refused. Mr.. Hoxie maintains that
in the present case the anomaly is present.
ed of a strike which is without a grievance
capable of being redressed-a strike that
was entered upon without notice to the
and which has resulted in the al
most total stoppage of the company's
business by threats, violence and intirni-
dation.
Mr.. Hoxie cites several instances where
the Knights of Labor have endeavored to
use his road to boycott individuals or cor
porations who have incurred their dis
pleasure, and concludes by saying that he
can not consent to renew an agreement
arbitrarily abrogated by the Knights of
labor; they have committed the error of
striking first and attempting to negotiate
afterward, and SHOULD in justice permit
employees to return to thecOmpany's shops
without fear OF intimidation. He would
be willing at any time to treat with Mr..
Powderly and a committee as private citi-
zens, but not as men representing the Or
ganization OF the Knights OF Labor.
In reply to Mr.. Hoxie's communication,
Mr.. Powderly telegraphs from Kansas
City:
Since you will not meet with ne as general
master workman of the knights of Labor l
must decline to meet with vol in any other
capacity. and the responsibility for the
5eta'f be 'oe ehnrusa to o. the se' f kn!shts %o Of
Labor. since the executive officer of
that order WILL not be perm tied to meet and
co operate with you in settling the strike. 1t
was my intention; had you consented to meet
with me, to endeavor to effect such a settle.
ment as, would prevent impositions be ng
pany Dy subordinate officials and put an end
to strikes on your lines for the future.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, March 2O.-Governor
Martin and Labor Commissioner Bacon of
Kansas held a conference here yesterday
with Governor Marmaduke and Labor
Commissions Kochitizky OF this State
regarding strike troubles. After some
discussion "a proposition for a
settlement OF the difficulties was
prepared. 1t was then submitted
to the strikers here and accepted by them.
The men agree to return to work on the
basis OF the settlement adopted at the close
OF the strike OF d year ago. No mention is
made OF the reinstatement of c. A. Hall.
The Governors left for st. Louis last night
to consult with Mr.. Hoxie.
1t is now fifteen days since the strike
was inaugurated, and the following fig.
men, will show the loss to st. Louis and
the Southwestern system: In fifteen DAYS,
had there been no trouble, there would
have been moved between initial and DIES.
tination points 175, 900 900 pounds oil
freight, possessing a gross value OF over
$24,oOO,OOO but which has not
moved at all. The cost OF
damage done to railway property
and the expense of trying to operate the
departments which have not been operated
in the same period aggregate $3.50, 900.
The loss OF revenue to the system for the
same period is 81, 300, 900. The disburse-
ments thatwould have beendue on thelines
for wages and material foot up over ST..
100000. The blockade caused a shrinkagc
ofS2, 7OO,OOOin last weeks bank clearings
in this city. This represents one-ffth OF
the weekly clearings, or a loss of twenty
per cent. of business. As the days go by
theloss Increases, and the daily clearings
show an average OF shrinkage OF $780,.
100. The loss to manufacturers whose
establishments have been shut down is
estimated at 81 100000. There seems tic
be food for reflection in these figures to
both parties to the contest.
CHARLESTON, S. c., March 2O.-Reporte
OF the action OF the Dallas Merchants Ex.
change II citizens of Greenville, Tex, in
passing resolutions denunciatory of the
strikes and the strikers methods were for.
warded to Mr.. Jay Gould here, and lie has
just forwarded the following telegram in
reply:
CHARLESTON, S. c., March l9, 1Ss6.-Io thu
altlzehs Of Dallas ami Grecnrilc. Hunt COun.u
no &C. NO word of mine can sufficiently ex.
announcement and the good wishes con.
tanned in you resolutions. The present
e euke on our system was ordered by the
ne ghboring railway: in the control OF
the h gnest court in the land. had seen fit to
aisch,rge one of their employees: and with no
outer complaint against the management of
inc missouri Pacific and without any warning
Or shadow OF Justification, the business Of
-FOUR states and one Terri tory is paralyzed, and
inc millions OF resident citizens arc deprived
OF the railway facilities on which the r entire
prosperity depends, and to the enjoyment of
wnlch they have legal rights paramount to
IRE secured to them b. tn. avs of the
land: The Missouri Pacific employs H.
354 men,. OF these 3.7l7 only are con.
ccrnen in the present strike, SO that
In addition, these 500 conspirators, who are
by 1Orce and intimidation stopping orr rains
are thereby depriving the remaining 1880 of
their coiaborers OF the r daily earnings. viii
not the public soon learn that it is thew that
pay the railway pay. roll; that the railway is
~ c.earing-h house to receive and Distribute
TINS luhd. which is fully sixty per cent. of the
entlfe gross earnings of a railway? And when
thev DO, they will probably find some method
10 regulate and control the labor engaged in
railway transportation and thus prevent such
strikes us the present one.
(Signed) Jaw cou,D
STATE OF TRADE.
E YORK, March 20. - Much imna.
thence is manifested at business centers
throughout Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas
and Texas, owing to the continuation OF
the strike and the consequent embargo on
trade. The strikes of the Southwestern,
railway employees, bituminous coal-miners.
and OF textilemill operatives continue. and
stakes at Pittsburgh OF 1,20O employees oi
fhn