Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-10-18
kyICHT. OF LABOR.

Tbs cxowd ding tears and sing ocsioe
Why shouldn't
kNlCHr. OF LABOR.
Addre.. Of the Master workman
Growth Of the order Dynamite
Denssneed- PiiiaGe
Lack Of Labor.
HAMILTON, Ont, Oct. 8. 1885.
The General Assembly of the knights
OF Labor reeorvensd here this morning.
The order has grown with wonderful
rapidly, and nov represents a member
ship of nearly two hundred thousand.
As will be seen by the annual address,
delivered today BY General Master
Workman Powderly, the organization
fayors the adjustment Of labor disputes
and the correction Of existing evils by
legislation.
VIEWS OF MR. PowDHRLY.
In his message Mr.. Povderiy SAYS:
+" When the Summons vent forth IN 1877
to the unknown and scattered divisions
of the order OF the Knights OF Labor,
il was answered in the city Of Reading,
on Jan. /, 1873. by the representatives Of
feur hundred assemblies. To-day the
represe natives Of four Thousand assem-
bIies respond to the call for the ninth
regular session Of the General Assembly
of the most powerful organization OF
vorkingmsa in she world. In 1878 the
order was unknown to the wsrld and
belonged TO q few; today it is known
and respected everywhere, and belongs
70 every man and woman Who tolls for
q livelihood. to every man and woman
whose labor does not bear full fruit.
Oar work cannot be selfishly performed;
for no matter how our legislation IL
moulded today. IL must bave in view the
complete emancipation of tbs slaves OF
the earth from the tyranny Of Aggregated
capital"
TIE ORDER MIsREPRKsENTKD.
After brief review Of the history of
the order, the General Master Workman
recommends that lecturers be placed in
every section Of the country by the Ex-
soutive Board for the purpose OF eX-
planning the object of the organization.
He says: :" Nos only do members OF the
order require instruction, bat We must
90 outside and give to the public proper
impression of the order and its duties.
Up to the present time We have been
somewhat indifferent to the statements
made from the public platform BY men
who protested to speak for the Knights
of Labor. Some Of the most impracti-
cable and visionary schemes have been
ventilated a. the plans Of this order.
the Executive Board for the purpose of
explaining the object of the organize
ton. He says: Not only do members
of the order require instruction. but We
must 20 outside and give to the public
a proper impression of the order and it
duty. Up to the present time We have
been somewhat indifferent 10 the state
ments made from the public platform
By men who professed TO speak for the
Knights of Labor. Some Of the most
impracticable and visionary schemes
have been ventilated as the plans Of
this order. Some speakers have advo-
GATED the use of firearms, dynamite
and, in fact. every known method OF de-
struotion. None of these things have
ever been recommended In any OF the
sessions Of the General Assembly, and
the time has arrived to put a stop ia
such false and pernicious teachings.
1T will not do to say that We do not
advocate suoh things, and that such per
sons "a talk in that way are in error
We must go a step further and declare
that such conduct shall be sufficient
cause for expulsion from the order.
And such persons as talk mp these
schemes in an assembly Of the knights
of Labor shall be called to order by the
master workman, aud II they refuse 70
recall their words they shall be deemed
guilty of violation of obligation and
suspended or expelled. We must have
no more tamperiog with this matter.
The use of dyns mite or firearms may at
some future day be called into practice
but IL they are ever used in the labor
question 1t will be because the remedies
offered by the Knights of Lator fail OF
are discarded. / ash thai q law be pass.
cd by this body which will fully cover
the points have raised in this matter.
TREATMENT OF STRIKERS.
"Daring the past few months num-
Der Of serious disturbances have taken
place in the labor world. Men have
grown FESTIVE under the treatment they
were receiving and have struck against
the impositiens being praetised upon
them. IL has become qaite fashionable
OF late to refuse 10 treat With working
men while they are out on strike. No
terms will be made With them until they
return to work. In some oases violence
vas practised, in others IL was limited
al, and in others rooehs were barRainsd
for to disturb the peace, In order that
the militia could be turned cut. 10
all Of these oases the only thing that
Vas necessary vas an understanding
hoa.ns, fha Asurnlovaz and the am
plsyse. Had these tvo forces come to-
aethsr, either through their agents or
principals, all of the difficulties which
have occurred on did have been avoided.
l am mot prepared 10 say that the work
err had Justice on their side In every
instance, but l am positive thai the In
troduction OF the Pinkerton detectives
A an agent in the settlement OF dis
putss. in eutirely foreign 20 the letter
ana sririt OF the Consultation of our
common country. The civil authorities
nhouId Al eli times be sufficient TO keep
shs peace Ia the event Of a esntrsversy
between labor and capital Bat whether
thew do % or not, there exists no neces-
atty for the calling ont of an army that
10 guaranteed no power By either State
OF National Law.
LACK OF KMPLo1MESr.
Mr.. Powderly says thai for the past
I've years ve have had. and sill have,
more men out OF employmeus than at
any time in the history Of tbs Nation.
The prospects for the coming winter are
not 81 all encouraging. IL seems TO me
that something should be done BY the
national legislature 10 relieve the dis
trsss Of the people Who cannot ind en-
ploynent There are improvements to
be made 10 ell parts Of the country,
where men could be est 10 work II Con
grcs Will only enact the proper leeisls-
ton"
TIE LAND QUESTION.
The message discusses the land ques-
ton Il considerable length and says
''At the last session Of the General As
sembly called the attention Of that
body 10 the rspidity With which the
heritage OF the American people vas
slipping from under their feet. The
practice Of permitting aliens TO bold
large tracts OF land while living In for
eazn countries has bean carried TO such
an extent that % far ~ eau be essi-
mated epvard Of twenty one million
acres Of American lands are owned By
men vho have never Get foot on Amer
loan boil This questisn 10 living one