The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-27
THE KNIGHTS OF L4BOR.
An Important Industrial, Social and
Political Factor.
$4,000 WORKINGMEN.
The Rapid Growth and Political lnfu-
ence of the Order.
PHILADELPHIA. July 20, 1878

PHILADELPHIA. July &c, 1878
The Knights Of Labor a secret Order which
equeniiy figured In the newspapers OF late differ
ent cities throughout the country. There has always
been atmosphere OF mystery abou. this organiza-
tion and denuite Information has yet been given
TO the public real character and extent Your
correspondents has recently hsa opportunity 20
learn something OF the In wardness Of tho myS-
terious association I am warranted in saying that
the knights OF Labor important and apparently
powerful body, well organized and with total nom.
pership as they claim OF 900. Tie Order 10 not
new oue Its birth dating back ysars but has
taken now departure lately and has received such
Immense aocsssisns that what year ago Was small
and almost unknown society is now an important
and influential organisation.
RAID GROWTH
The mem bership OF the Knights OF Labor has en-
Iargsd nearly 50V,0 700 within the past year. The
greater part OF the the railroad work.
mems societies, which we're broken up or demsra-
ized last yearsuch the Brotherhood OF Engineers,
the Trainmou's Uniea, &e have Joined tho Knishts-
Accessons have been received from all the trades
since last sumsnsr's sIrkes According 10 the last
monthly returned TO the Chisl Of the Order n
tins city there aro now, as stated above, $4,000
The growth of the Order has been so rapid
mat secrecy has been found to DO impossible
leading member was induced 10 give tho following
details OF The organization, Its objects, constitution
THE nscHAMsx OF TIE ospss.
The structure OF inc society IL CLAIMED TO hear .
similarly to the organizaron Of the Un'ted States
government In every city and all the larger towns
OF the country there Is an active "olAn," ~ -
called: Each State has grand CLAN" which u
co u posed OF rcpreseE from each suDordt
nate clan. There many "divisi0ns." or 'grand
clans" there are States in the Union. the Order
having members In every State. sine Grand Ma
tiousl Clam is made up OF one Representative from
zach sdvissn'' Sate aud the central governing
| body. which decides all important measures, directs
movements Of the lower bodies and decides their
| disputes on appeal
The largest memosrsnip IA any grand clan, 10 10
California which 14l, 900 members. Peunsylvansa
comes next In numerical order, having $4,000 mem.
| bers Indiana has rs, 00O Ohio 81, 000 and North
| Carolina $1,000 The other states have lever, the
lowest list in point OF numbers being Colorado,
| with 5000. The ''Grand National Claa" Is governed
by Ur,ah r. Stevoss, oil this oity, who was elected
! Grand Master at the Convention IN Residing last
deld win other secret Tho members
| bound by solemn VOWS OF secrecy NO ono Is per.
mitled 20 hold any Office who has not been member
the ArrAnENr AND RKAL oBJHcrs
The object oil ne organization 40 me wosas Oh the
ssthe elevation OF labor ana the eman-
| cipation OF man'--EittsrIng gsnersites when DO
not expose the meaning of this Order The cons
.hss r. aami,,ed TO DO dead letter. The Ordsr has
thrown It's weight lhe balance 10 deoat local and
that they have altered political complexion OF Luz
| zerne and Schuyiku COUNTIES 10 this Stale, where
there 10 large population vi workingmen ana Wnere
| the Order Is veiy strong.
THE KNIGHTS roLITIcs
The knights have wttudrawn tnsr inuorsemens u
the republican party this STATE ana tney assert
that All local candidates elected IN tho city Oh
scranton In Luzerne county ~ tho last election
are leaders this secret society rhs natural anil
| alton OF the Knignts Is With the sresnbackaoor or
national parry, tho prominent movers ~ winch are
said 10 The growth OF the Order mas been
rsuarknels suos railroad strikss last yea. me
latest h,v rsiurDs spoken OF above, show That
| tho mem bership Of the Oruer is nov increasing AZ
| the rate OF $1,000 month. In California shere
| were during May last uinsieen thousand In
Philadelphis tuere are LOUD memosrs'
/
| Upon one other point nave questioned the Nom.
| bsrs OF tots Ords. New YORK paper stated the
other day, ON the authority OF Psnnsyvania manu-
| facturer employing large number OF men, that the
Kngnts Labor ordered ageusral strike through
out The country On the 18Th OF August IL IL posi-