Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-05-06

10000. The recommendation was
made that the Order should endeavor
to attain the objects set forth in its
declaration of principles by engaging
in politics. While it had been the
practice of trades organizations care
fully to exclude politics from their
lodge rooms, it had been found that
labor alone stood defenseless, because
at the ballot-boxes its ranks were dis
united. 1t was urged that political
action should not be consider ed while
an assembly was in session, but that,
after the regular business had been
concluded, political action should be
determined uron by the members as
individuals and citiz,ns. The session
was adjourned after resolutions to per-
nit local assemblies to engage as such
in political action had been defeated,
as was aleo motion that the locals
purchase arms and drill their men,
bers for military purposes. A resolu-
tion to leave it optional with locals to
make the name Of the Order public
passed by a two-third vote.
The next session of the General
Assembly was held in Chicago on the
2d of September, 1879. There was
an increase of membership to $4,000
reported. An important change OF
policy was the final adoption of a
resolution in which all assemblies
were recommended TO use their politi-
cal powers in all legislative elections.
Under the resolution, it was to be
left to the discretion of each local
assembly to act with that political
party through which they could gain
the most but in no case should an
assembly take political action in
canvass unless at least three-fourths
of attending members were united in
supporting such action, and no mem
ber should be compelled to vote with
the majority.
At the fourth regular session of
the General Assembly, held in Pitts
burg, in September. 1880, the incum-
bent Grand Master Workman, Mayor
Terrence V. Powderly, of Scranton,
congratulated the delegates upon the
growth of the Order, its membership
having increased to 40,S55 The ex-
penditures in 1880 for correspond
ence. salaries, and printing amounted
to $6,l29.06. The first resolution of
importance adopted was to admit wo-
men to membership; a motion to ad-
NIT lawyers and physicians, who, to.
gether with bankers and saloon keep
ers, are cons:itutionally excluded, was
rejected. A resolution to acknowl-
edge the greenbsck-labor party Off
cially, as the only party likely to fur
ther the interests of labor, was tabled
and motion to oppose the importa-
tion of Chinese coolies was adopted.
The fifth regular session of the
General Assembly. held in September
last, in Detroit, was the most import
ant Of the Orders assemblies. 1t de-
cided to make the name and objects
of the organization public everywhere.
though the representatives from
New York, Philadelphia, Brooklyn,
Baltimore and Newark feared that
this act might result in the persecu-
tion of members in the large cities of
the Eastern and Middla States.
Since September last, the member
ship in good standing has incl eaaed
from 10000 to 100000. The in
crease has been principally in the
smaller industrial cities and in the
mining districts. Pittsburg gained
about 10000, making total $4,000;
Rochester, New York, in three months
swe!led her ranks up to 5000, and in
Chicago, Buffalo and Cleveland, dis
trict assemblies were formed, with an
aggregate membership of 5000. En-
tire organizations have joined the
Order in body, and in localities in
which the Order seemed to have died
the old members have reorganized,
afIiliating themselves with hundreds
of new members at a time. In BRAID
wood, Illinois, where the Mayor,
Daniel Mclaughlin, a former member
of tho executive board, was eleoteo
by the votes of the Knights, nearly
half of the male population was ini-
tiated in one week in January last.
Money began to flow into the treas
urer's office, and the debts that had
been incurred were paid. A we'll
anninnad nrintlnp offica was estah.