New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-17
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
SECRET LEAGUE OF 100000 MEN.

STRIKES.
correspondent of THE TRIBUNE has OBJ
,.;nod some important facts in regard to the
,ocent startling growth of a secret society
.oned the Knights of Labor, which are
aresented below. The society is said to
somnrise SOC, 900 members and to WELD
tremendous influence in the matter of strikes.
r. Is bound together by an oath. Its recent
,sDid growth has now made the secret OF Its
existence an impOssibiity.
THE OBJECT "To PROTECT LABOR"
~Bp ORDER THOROUGHLY SECRET AND IN INTEN-
T,oN AGGREssIvE-HOw CATHOLIC OPPOSITION
IS MET-ITs HISTORY.
,rroW An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
READING. Penn, Aug. 15.-For several mouths
Same minors have been afoat in the country OF the
existence of some monster secret labor organization
of which is the political control of both State
md Nation on an agrarian basis; but heretofore
rotbpp has appeared in the public prints of char
.stsr sufficiently definite to make it worthy of seri-
ans consideration. / am now able to remove the
mask by giving a clear and authentic account OF the
new and dangerous underground political organlza-
tiou known as the Knights of Labor.
The publc has particular reason to fear this so
iaistc order as owing to its secrecy it has no OPP
rfunity 10 meet it on equal terms. 1t is so subty
seret that members are prohibited from mentioning
= even outside of the doubly guarded doors of their
ssended assembly rooms. 1t was not until early in
February that its name leaked out. Since then the
Knights of Labor, with great degree of cunning
have misled credulOus newspaper reporters with a
prea amount of false information in regard to them
selves and their purposes.
To the uninitiated it does not seem possible that
apolitica order numbering three-quarters of mil
he
continent could have grown mp in this country,
called aud held a National convention, and adj
ioumed. without having either its name or the OBJ
iec of the gathering become known TO the press OF
the officers of the law Yet all this had been accom-
plished by the stealthy Knights of Labor, when
early in January last they adjourned their first
General Assembly," held in this city of Reading
Though in session here for three days. no one knew
what this mysterious assemblage was up to. At that
meeting there were present thirty-twO delegates,
representatives elected from the States of New
York. Pennsylvania Missouri Indiana, Ohio, Mas
sachusetts and West Virginia This was the
first National assemblage of the Knights. Up to
this time they were without discipline, having no
Recognized head.
The order was born in Philadelphia several years
ago. The clOth-weavers conceived it. Under their
care the infant organization grew. As time passed
and their craftsmen scattered TO other places
the germs of the order were carried with them, and
as they added to their membership, they perfected
their machinery. The oriRindf plan was TO confne
the order to the one trade; but in order to found
new assemblies, it became expedent to gather in
representatives of other avocaons. None bat labor
ing men are permitted to join. Lawyers, doctors,
minlsters, merchants, and all persons engaged in
professional pursuits, are excluded. Each local
body is called an assembly. and is known by its
number. AS far possible, each trade has its own
assembly, but where representatives Of other
trades are taken into membership, they are
received rs "sojourners," to remain only
until enough of their cO-labOrers have joined
TO form the nucleus Of new body. These bodies
are more particularly designated as shOemakers as
semblies, gass-cutters' assemblies, brakemeRs as
sembhes, conductors assemblies, miners .assem-
blies soiourners assemblies, etc. etc. Previous to
the Reading meeting every assembly was conducted
in accordance with the rules of Assembly THE
parent body in Philadelphia, which was recognized
as supreme in its authority.
The railroad riots of July, 1877, gave this
order great impetus. The baffled striker saw
through its peculiar organization method OF sue
cess lie was not slow to accept the extended bands
Of factOry-men SO in the mining regions of Penn
sylyania and Ohio disciples of the order were re-
eeived with open arms. The growth Of the body
became as rapid as that of the Changers among the
farmers during the zenith Of their glory.
An unforeseen difficulty presented itself last Fall.
The Ohio branch of the order refused to bow its
knghtly knee any longer before the parent throne
in PHILADELPHIA This difficulty resulted in the cali
ing of General Assembly at Reading to adopt
Uniform place of organization. There three con-
situations were adOpted-One for the Genera" as
s0nby one for the government OF District" as
semblies and third to guide the Local Assemblies.
The question of making the name public came be-
fore this body for consideration. and was almost
unanimously negatiyed, the leaders asserting that
publicity would kill the order. The Reading meet
ing completed its work by electing the following
officers:
Grand Master Mathematician f. Stevens of
Philadelphia, Penn
Grand Worthy Foreman-Ralph Beaumont, of
Elmna, NY
Grand Worthy Secretary-Charles H. Litchman,
Of Marblehead Mass.
Grand Worthy Recommendation NJ. Galager, of
st. Louis, Mo-
Grand Assistant SecretarY-A. P. tanning, of
Clifton, W. Va
Chairman Of Executive Board. Thomas P. Crown,
u Brooklyn, NY.
After the meeting, the Knights of Labor went
70 work in earnest great number of organizers
WV aPpOlhteu, anu TAX VI Ohe-hnA N0hV ="
month was levied upon each member of the order,
As asinking fund, to defray the general expenses,
pay officers salaries, etc. Local assemblies were
organized by the hundred, and consolidated into
district assemblies as rapidly as possible. d. A
District Assembly, is the headcentre of half dozen
OF inoFc local assemblies in any given locality.
One Sunday, early in February Of the present
year Pennsylvania Catholic priest denounced
MN bis altar the Knights of Labor, warning all
'1as Catholics to beware Of them, they were but
anew species Of Molly Maguires. This created con-
aaefablc eommOtiOn among the faithful. Large
numben Of Catholics had Joined and were joining