The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-04-19
Il Dctectire's Sfo9.U.
THE SECRET ORGANIZATION WHICH MAY
DEVELOP INTO n COMMUNE.

Mr. Lonergan, of Dnnergan & Thiers
Railway Secret Service Agency, believes,
says the n. Y. World of Sunday, that he
has discovered the existence of a secret or
der styling itself the kHightS of Labor
which, springing up since the strikes, has
united the discontinued laborers into a Sc
cret, oath bound brotherhood, with signs
aud passwords that are bonds of fraternity
with 200, 900 members scattered throug
every State in the Union.
Mr., LOnergan says the railway strikes
failed, not OH account of any inherent de
ficiency in the organizations that projected
them. but because those who had not been
taken into the secrets of the movement
precipijated a collision between labor aud
capital. He says that months before the
crisis occurred he advised the managers of
trunk line railways employing him that the
engineers and firemeu of their locomotives
designed quitting work upon a certain day.
This day fixed by the Brotherhood of Lo-
COmotive Engineers long postdated that of
the actual strike. There was AN unac-
counted factor in the problem, namely, the
Trainmen's Union, composed of bTakemen
and other railway employees, who, too bard
pressed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
brought about the conflict before the men
were able to carry iJ through TO success.
When the trouble began men of all grades
and conditions of railway service enlisted
upon what proved TO be a losing campaign.
One of the most influential of the strikers
according to Mr.. Lonergan, was p. NJ. Nc
Arthur, President of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers. Lonergan goes on
to say
''Thc musl1ets OF many thousands Of militia
wrought great destruction and disorganzajion
among the strikers. Recognizing the fact that
they had miScalculated the power OF the Ma
tiOual Guard factor of the problem they sought
to repair their omission and prepare for better
considered contest by means of iron clad OathS,
passwords ana the other binding influences of
secret organ izatfons. An important element in
this new association has been drafted from the
discOntentcd Granger societi of the West
National and State organization has been per
fected. and local lodges of the Knie hts of shor
bodies i gUverHeI by Master Workman.
Worthy Foreman. Venerable Sage dispenser of
signs, grips and passwords, unknown Knight
director of secret expeditions and TRANSACTIONS
an Assistant Unknown Knight. Outer ESquire
Inner Esquire. Financial and Recording Secre-
taries, Statistician, AimOuer, Treasurer aud
Worthy Inspector
''Uriah O. Stevens, of Philadelphia, who was
guiding spirit in the strikes. is National Mas
ter Workman. George Blair s the Master
Workman of New York Assemblies, Ralph
Beaumont, editor Of the AjU0cdte. is4lsO high
authority in New York.
The purpose of the association is the eleva-
tinn of labor by means Of electing members of
Congress aud OF state legislatures. AcknowI-
edging no party fealty. they support any nom
lnec who ~ pledged to their Objects.
At recent meeting of convention of
the Knights certain refugees of the Com
mune were excluded, although Justus
Schwab was permitted to participate. Still
Mr.. Lonergan asserts that whenever the
plans Of the organization are ripe for gen
eral levellirg, those lately described in The
World as foremost in the atrocities of the
Paris Commune are to be the chosen lead
ers for the new rising.