The Labor enquirer., 1886-03-06
DENYING THEIR PRINCIPLES.
knights Of Labor who Say They Arc Not
secialists-Dinercnt Paths to the
Same Place.

cDleuy OF per6Oub having anu 6Llli De-
longing politically to the two old parties.
their platform and PRINCIPLES show that
they come from other sources. The New
York Herald of February 81 publishes a
lengthy article containing interviews
with Knights of Labor men wherein
they are reported as saving: "We dis
claim any affiliation with the Socialistie
movement-we demand the eight hour
law, and the abolition of the prison con-
tract system"
Is it possible that men can be found in
the ranks ofthe Knights of Labor so ig-
norant as to put themselves on recordin
public print as opposed to Socialism.
when their platform essentially contains
nothing but Socialistic doctrine, and the
two measures (they claim as their de-
mands) were the demands and platform
of the Socialistic movement long before
the order of the Knights of Labor was
known and from whence these two de-
mands are taken?
Is it possible that Knights of Labor
while swearing to Socialistic platform
can be induced or frightened to repudi-
ate the very doctrines they stand upon
simply because the capitalistic press,
preacher, LAWYER, doctor, or politician,
attacks or belittles the same? Or Is it
possible that some Knights of Labor are
as yet so grossly ignorant as not to know
that their platform is Soclalistic? !.
1t must have been the object of the
New York Herald to expose the ignor-
ance of these people-when it represents
them as disclaiming anv affiliation with
the Socialistic movement, because the
Herald knows Gf these men do not) that
the platform and principles of the
Knights of Labor are Socialistic hence
you will find that the Herald did not
comment upon the platform of the
Knights of Labor but of what some
Knight would say in contradiction Of
them.
1t was sell out. so to speak. Nothing
was lost by the transaction, however,
except that the knowing ones will say
"Look at YOUR Knights of Labor men
thew have Joined your order ou Social
istic principles, yet they don't know it,
and when asked they deny it." This
will of course disclose some ignorance
and afford laugh. But perhaps the
Herald was as badly sold as these
Knights of Labor. Perhaps they knew
that that is the only kind of talk the
Herald would publish so they gave it to
the Herald to it's hearts content, reserv-
ing to themselves the right to think and
act when the time comes as they see
best, or as the current of events may
drive them in spite of themselves,
This leads me to state upon my own
authority that while the rank and file,
the body ofthe Knights of Labor may
(classed politically at present perhaps
consist of those affiliating with the two
old political parties, the leaders or the
heads of the order evidently consist of
snother class, as its platform. principles
and propaganda clearly demonstrate.
The reason for this isself feyident. The
two old parties did not propose nor
want any reform, consequently its adhe-
rents had to look somewhere else ior it.
I suppose I betroy no secret when l
assert that the leaders, the heads and
the brains Of the order of the Knights Of
Labor comes from the Socialistic and the
Greenback parties, self-evidentlv for
this reason: The Socialists and Green
hackers have been for some time sepa-
rated fIom the two old parties and
fought the battles of reform single
handed and at time when it required
conrace to be either. Socialism is now
getting tn be fashionable. Millionaires.
professors, doctors and preachers are
willing to be classed as such and the
time will not be 20 ,g before few labor
men who from sheer ignorance or moral
cowardi, e." 1isclaim any affiliation witt
Socialism now, will then assert and con-
tend that they were Socialists forty yesrs
ago.
A few words upon the difference of
views of promin ant Knights of Labor
men, leading men, as they can Le found
IN constant discussion at the National
View Office, of this city. They helong to
man either o the Socialistic or Green
back school. They differ thus: The
Socialists claim that the labor question
in AL its essential phases is the first and
foremost question. That leaving every
thing as it is larger volume of currency
would on!y enrich the wealthy classes,
as money is bound to grayitate int1
their tills. That allowing the finance
onest;on to ameliorate the condition OF
Il workmen .mewhat, it would retard
the progress of essential and funda-
mental questions, such as the abolition
of the wage system. They hold chat the
people should suffer. to open their eyes,
and that the more they suffer the better
| will be their eye-sight,
To this the Greenbackers reply: If
labor is all the laboring men want they
can get all they want and more too, as
long as they say nothing about the pay,
but that Just soon as they talk pay,
| then tbey talk finance. and not labor.