Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-05-06
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IL is Declared or by The knights of
Labor,

~ - Deciarcu Uft Dy tho Ahtkhes W
Labor
ST. LOUIS, May 3.-Late on last Satur- |
day night Mr.. j. W. Hayes, Mr.. William |
H. Bailey and Mr.. 7. B. Barry, members
of the executive board of the knights of
Labor, met the Congressional committee
informally, and the meeting led to the
happy result OF the knights declaring the
strike of, which is fully explained in the
following correspondence which took
place:
ST.. LOUIS, May 1, 1896.-To he General
Eleotttipe Board Of he Rnights of Labor Of
America: The testimony taken to-day by
the Congressional investigating committee
shows conclusiyely that various losses to
thu commercial, agricultural and other In
terests of the entire country have resulted
from the labor troubles upon the lines OF
the railroads belonging TO the southwestern
system and other railroads In tho states OF
Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and
Texas, and that by reason OF said troubles
large number OF persons not directly con-
nected Herewith have been thrown out OF
employment. Unwilling at this time to ex-
press amy opinion in regard to the causes
which produced this lamentlble condition
of affairs, or to indicate where the blame
lies for its continuance, aud animated
solely by desire TO render all the assistance
In our power In the endoavor to restore
peace, Individual happiness and commercial
prosperity to the citizens OF the country,
| and particularly of the five states named,
we do hereby respectfully but earnestly re-
| quest you, rs American citizens having the
welfare OF our common country at heart, TO
| advise through the proper official channels
a discontlnuanee OF the strike upon the
railways herelnbefore mentioned, and to
leave the question whether the employees or
the officers OF the corporation were justi0-
| able to the decision that public opinion
may form when the Congressional COM
mittee which has that matter under inves-
| tigation shall have completed Its work.
Feeling assured that compliance with the
request will merit for your board and for
those who may act in conformity with your
counsel the appreciation of thepeople OF the
United States,
We remain your obedient servants,
A. G.. CURTIN,
W. II. GRAIN,
JAMES II. CULTIVATE,
A. X. PARKER,
JAMES BUCHANAN,
j. W. STEWART.
The following reply was sent to-day;
HuRDE's HOTEL, ST. LOUIS, No., May 8,
1S86.-To Hons. A. G. Curtin, W. II. Grain,
james II. Cultivate, A. X. Parker, James
Buchanan and ]. II. Stewart Gentlemen;
Your communication of May LIST was placed
before the joint executive boards and the
following resolutions were adopted.
Res0lped, That communication from the
Congressional committee be placed on file
and the request be granted--the time fol
calling the strike of to be left to the general
executive board.
In view of the flct that the business inter
ests of the country are suffering, and the
knights OF Labor having the interests o.
the whole people ut heart, they Willingly
comply with the request of the nations
representatives and that Of the citizens
committee OF st. Louis, and declare thii
strike at an end, to take effect on Tuesday
morning, May A, 1886. Trusting that thil
action will meet with the approval of tn,
public and assist In bringing capital ant
labor in closer relationship, we remain yer,
truly yours,
The General Executive Board OF tn,
Knights Of Labor. JOHN W. HAYES.
The Congressional committee, afte
/ having heard the testimony of prominen
business men in st. Louis on Saturday
endeavored, if possible, to have til,
Knights of Labor declare the strike off il
r the interest of peace and business, ant
that the prosperity of the country be re
stored, aud at the informal meeting hel,
) on Saturday nightthe matter was breaches
? by the committee to the executive board
, The letter addressed to the board wa
: then drawn up and signed by all til
8 members of the committee except MI
= Burns, who had gone to his home at 81
n Joseph, and he was said to be heartily il
favor of this course. The letter was LEI
with Mr.. Curtin, chairman of the com
k mittee, to deliver to Mr.. Hayes, chairma
4 pro tenn of the executive board, who con
cluded the arrangements, which wer
e finally closed late on Sunday night by O,
4 extended conference between MIR. Curtil
v on the part of the Congressional CON
I mittee and Messrs. Hayes, Bailey and Barr
# of the executive board, on the part Q
e the Knights of Labor.
e Governor Curtin said that the resul
s was due in great measure to the untirin
/ efforts of the executive board of til
= Knights of Labor. After having bee
v approached by the investigating commit
!. tee they at once used every effort to hav
= the strike terminated for the sake of peaC
@ and the interests of all the people, an
especially the business interests of s
!, Louis.