West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-10-15

4 Il
acted in the NatYdnui Assembly oi knights
of Labor yesterday was the adoption OF
the report ot the committee ON Credentials.
MIR. Powdcrlyr address haze already been
made public. Tho Grand Master opcna
his address 10y saying that tho laws of tho
order require Tho Gcncrnl Master Work.
man to submit at the general assembly
report of his official acts during the wear
but ior him TO do that would lc impos
siblc Tor the reason among othcrs that
such report would takr at lcu-t iodr
wocks' tmc 60 prepare. For Information
Rs to details OF the Executive boards ac-
tions the convention us referred TO tho
vnri Gus reports TO hc presented and thc
Master Workman proceeds To consider
matters ot Importance aud make such
suggestions as lao deems necessary. Tho
address proceeds.
III We are guided bv the experience of tho
past aud net accordingly, We can place the
order upon footing so snlc aud surc that no
assaults from Is enemies Cuu miurc 10. n
We are not guided las that VNprr.ouco and
close tl!A general assembly without having
improved ON the past WC will tUil 10 properly
represent those who scui u hero. Tue rapid
increase in orrHn gut on since the Ham.
icom ii1om SVSS,I" I,, "i ,nG g'NTn L"SomnX mas mas
having boon organized. Thousands have boon
attracted townrd the order through mere GU
rositN; others have come for pur, Is selfish
mot tvCS whtlc the prcHt bulk OF our nov rC.
CruitS joined tor the good they could do.
quite a few huVO entered Out OrhCr COR the
purpose ut rcdrCSSiuR existing WRONGS. Hud
before waiting to loHru any thing concerning
the duty of the knights of the order have
plunged into rash and illConsidCrod strikes
Tho cardr,NCrs of - Louis wcrc organized
under prom Sc of the organizer that tlTcNi
would receive aid uustlntcd In CnsO
OF strike. Even before tho receipt of
thor charter they were on strike. Thor pro-
ccod.nRs were characterized by such utter
disregard Tor our toHchiups that the paid aud
wei known agents of their employers had no
difficulty In securing the passage of motions
OF n violent character n IN AN established
fact thnt men who wCrO employed hV dctcc.
tive agencies stood upon the nour of that AS
somb,y urging the men to deeds of violence
aud that the prupCtty Of the street car com
pnuics hc dcHtroNCd Tor these uutrHgcs tho
ordGr was IN no way lcspons.hlc.
'Iho southwest alrikbl began when tho
Time nnd attention Of the general officers
were to- cn up with other matters of vital i'm
poriauCc. No uutico of the contemplated ne.
ton was given To "a, aud we knew nothing
whatoNC zen conCcrnluu " or To- tho causes load.
ing 10 u unui II had hccn ~ progress several
days. II has been asserted Tint condemned
tho meu whilC thCy wore on strike No
such siatcWcnt ever passed my lips. did not
approve OF tue strike s nee con ndcucC enough
wnH not rcposcd in the ENccut We Board
To EiNo thcm "a chance TO examine into pr,Cv-
nncos complained OF II WAS only when the
thrcht was nude To stop Cycry wheel iu the
United StHtcs that rH sed my voice in denial
dd that ia defense of the order aud tho
country nnd Would DO the same thing again
under similar circumstances.
Tho cight.hour strike which took place
May ] WIS not successful except IN Cu-cs
whore employers ana employees were acting
in hurmouy, or whore employers wcrc willing
TO adopt tho plan la many cases the old sys.
tom of working long hours has boon re-.
VIvcd. I cautioned our members against
rushing into this npvemcnt aud am
firm IN the belief TINT had / not done
so RfcNt loss would have boon cntai!Cd
upon vast numbors of our assemblies have
been accused OF opposing the ciVht-hour
movement No statement was ever further
rom tho truth. opposed tho strike on May
! hcCuusc the education which must always
ptcccdo Intelligent action had not been given
70 lhoso ih need of u, and because no
nugurHtiOu of the movement had
been mapped ont For these smne rcnsons
do stlll oppose IL reduction of the hours
or inhor rs a necessity. aud sooner or Inter
must bo had, but We must not forget that IN
many places tho tcn-hOur plan has not been
nduPl,n Aot IN" very discussion OF the sud
dcnintrOductiouo of the e. ght hour plan injured
buhnc-7. Millions OF doiHrS worth Of work
was lcll ilndonc bccdus" Of th1 uncertainty
IN regard To taking contracts. Tho move was
~ the riElt direction, but tho time ana cir.
cumWuucCs were not suitable. Before tho
eight hour plan h. adopted rhc knights of
Labor aud the trade unions OF AmCricu must
lay ~ dc tho D. icnlout les and thc rdiUrr.uccs
come together ana adopt plan Of action
which must be gradual and such ~ VIII not
iuiici injury uDun either employer or cm-
plobc. liciorc a short hour systcm that VIII DO
ol any, bch'nt 10 iuHukind can bo inuuRu-
rated the relation which the workman bears
10 luo lUbot-NhNInH machine musi undergo II
radical chhuRc. \ plan of cO-Opcra
ton through which the workman may con
trol The machine be operHtc- must ono duy
supCrsCdo the present rystcm
Tho question of child labor aud education
Us tic most important that cun come before
US now on at any me To make the ucCc-.
RHry progress We must see that tho Child has
an education. N should hc u part Of every
asscmbly's duty TO ascertain the number Of
children who do not attend school lu its Viclu-
NY lciin what TIC causes are. Hnr take steps
10 remedy the cvl. ~ ~ useless to labor Tor
th' c'tnhi iahtuont Of u 60 Cooperative system
WhCn we lHCk the business training necessary
10 operate 90. nsk thatu special committee
bg uppohlcI 90 prepare plan for the better
education OF tho American youth.
Tho address then refers 10 the trouble
with trades unions, which Mr. PowdcfIv
saId has been cxagrcratcd aud distorted
wnie admitting that there hnvo been
faults on both sides. llcrccommcuds that
in tho future all matters oi dispute boz.
tween tho knights and other societies be-
submitted 90 tho executives of both
organ. lHtion- Tor settlement mud above
Hl things. lct q speedy aud impartial iu.
ycetgation Doe made. Mr. PoWdcrIv
thon replies as follows td fho crit.
irIsins OF which ha has bcon made thc sub.
jcrt
~ have mover during the -cvou years that
] hHvo served as Gcurud Master Workman
made % mriuhor Of thi. ordcr u subject of
personal or public critic.-tu or abuse hnyo
hHrfh 90 OfhrrwIeo of inru. rycopt when
Standing face tO face with h.u / have boou
accused of Displaying lack Of nerve of
want Of backbone and of bciug too ',ycak "a
man 10 Ioad strong movement ff wh le
hp.dnp position such us mo- imam Ifs.
inp or drHd over hci before. j have displayed
Iurf rI nrfNr 0r backbone. why Ia 10 that IA
million noon and women of nerve. OF bucl.
bono Hud common ecusr have gathered
around thc standard which was placed bon fny
hands fcrou yo1re apOf NJ Z have lcru
prnFfd woHk man why dU tu mHnt
Strong mon support mrt Ng mru vino
nrf not hu.Hhfs on Labor Iutc Ircu called
Wrlk because / d'eouuutcuHrtod violence
HnI mast TOD advised action q hufr mo- .r1.
cusc 90 pNHi, furit thIr I- au 0uru.s. .ot tho
general assembly ttayif unor th, ilpDIppv
VIII now spcHk us + havc move. sp1tru 90 n
session ui inr general assembly before. T.p.
rf-ouiHfiN'7 have boou instructed fr vote flr
roc IOr General Ma.for Workman Z fr.I
comp. mcutcd. but release cVtry member
ilpW hi- obligation io vote fDr mc. YOU ufo
trce % vote tor any other man you choose.
eu1 lt Npu set boz accordance with mf WI hos
you wIl select another 90 nll ur place Iu
voting iOr fhU Genera. Master Workman don't
hf GUIDED bY sentiment or .ymratHt. but
vote i0f thc host lntorC o. OF God. 4uNoriuR
Door Sud tho cause of united labor"
Pour Children injured.
LEvrro> Me-, Oct CAN traoriinar,
calamity happened here yesterday Rr.