The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-10-15
GENERAL MASTER WORKMAN POwDERLT.
His Annua Addros. to the Knights of Labor.

His Annual Address to the Knights Of Labor.
At the present session in Richmond. Va,
OF the General Assembly of Knights OF
Labor, General Master Workman Powderly
delivered his animal address, as follows:
The most eventful and trying year of our ex-
istence as an order has ended. II we are guided
by the experience Of the past, and act accord
ingly, we can place the order upon a footing so
safe and sure that no assaults from its enemies
can injure it. If we are not guided by that ex-
perience, If we fail to read Alright the signs of
the times, and we close this general assembly
without having improved on the past, we will
fail to properly represent those who sent US
here: In one year 4,06S have been
organized. The new members so suddenly
brought together could not be properly assimi-
lated. Thousands have been attracted toward
the order through mere curiosity; others have
come for purely selfish motives; while the great
bulk Of our new recruits have joined us for the
good that they could do. Quite a few have en-
tered our order for the purpose of redressing
existing wrongs, and, before waiting to learn
anything concerning the duty of the Knight to
sidered strikes. 1t is an established fact that
men who were employed by detective agencies
stood up on the floor of the last general assem-
bly,, made infiammatory speeches urging the
men to deeds Of violence, and urged that the
property Of the street Car companies be de-
stroyed. 1t was only the good sense of the men
that prevented such outsages from being perpe-
trated, although these agents of a nefarious spy
system induced ssme desperate men to blow up
the cars upon the streets of st. Louis. For
these outrages the order was in no way respon-
sible. The st. Louis car troubles were but the
beginning of the tidal wave of strikes and boy
colts which swept over the country, and which
strained the strength and resources of your gen.
eral officers almost beyond their powers of en-
durance. 1t has been asserted that / condemned
the Missouri Pacific men while they were on a
strike. No such statement ever escaped my
lima That, the men Of the Southwest auffara1
wrongs is true; they were many and grievous;
and it is my firm belief that the railway COM
panies. with a full knowledge of what these
grievances were, precipitated the fight them
selves at a time when it would appear to the
world that the strike was for an insignificant
cause.
THE EIGHT-HoUR STRIKE.
which took place May /. was not successful ex-
cept in cases where employers and employees
were acting In harmony, or where employers
were willing to adopt the plan. In
many cases the system of working long
hours has been revived. The Federation of
Trades recommended the 1stof May, but adopted
or suggested no definite plan by which the short
hour system could be inaugurated, ! cautioned
our members against rushing into this move
ment. i hai the right 60 do 1t. and am firm in
the belief that had l not done so great loss would
have been entailed upon vast numbers OF our
assemblies. What said in my secret circular
have been accused OF opposing the eight-hour
movement. No statement ever was further from
the truth. Areduction OF the hours of labor Is a
necessity, and sooner or later must be had, but
we must not forget that in many places the ten
hour plan has not been adopted yet. The very
discussion of the sudden introduction OF the
eight-hour plan injured business, so much so
that In many places men were reduced TO half
time or thrown out OF employment altogether.
Millions OF dollars worth of work was left
und0ne because OF the uncertainty in regard
70 taking contracts or in making engagements
to perform work. Never was 1t more
clearly demonstrated that An injury to one is
fhn ~ ofln The. ~, ~ rxov.n 49,
speaking of. Before the eight-hour plan is
adopted, the knights OF Labor and the trade
unions OF America must4iay aside their jeal-
day on which TO put the plan into execution,
adopt the plan OF action, which must be gradual
and such as will not infiict injury upon either
system that will be OF any benefit 20 mankind
can be inaugurated. the relation which the work
man bears to the labor-saving machine must
undergo o radical change. shorten the hours OF
labor under our present system and the streets
win not be emptied Of their idle thousands.
More machines will be erected and more chill
assertion that the advocate Of short hours de-
sires to stop production 10 false. 1t Is to make
production gradual, healthy. and have 1t keep
snraer, Keeping all men employed,
SO that idleness will disappear and the
producer remain a consumer TO his fullest ca
pactty, that we desire q shortening of the hours
Of labor. Visit our large and small factories and
you find that the mechanic OF the past is but the
feeder OF the machine Of the present. We already
hear OF machines In course Of perfection which
will set the type and mould the cigars faster
than human hands can do the work. and cleo
tricity will soon take the throttle lever from the
hand OF the man who runs the locomotive. The
| day will soon dawn when these agencies will be
4 doing their work: and when that day does come
the mechanic. now 80 proud OF his calling, will
stand face to face with the alternative Of asking
for charity or the adoption OF the calling OF the
street scavenger. When that day comes, the
nan wng nov SEEK g array LABOR agalns, iaoo!