The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-09
EMPLOYER and EMPLOYE.
THE RELATIONS BETWEEN CAPT.
TAI AND LABOR.
Interview With Grand Master Work
man POWderly OF the
Knights Of Labor.

the could system n roads; that there
is no significance in the fact that 30
many strikes are now in progress in
the United States by assemblies OF the
Knights OF Labor. at is a coinci-
dence, merely" said he, land there is
no concerted action contemplated by
the order, as has been suggested, the
strikes being incidental, and, think,
chiefly owingt to the fact that this is just
the beginning Of the spring trade and
the opening Of period Of prosperity
in business"
MR.. PowDERLY
Uron being asked whether he did
not think that the increase in the
number Of strikes Just now was owing
to tho knowledge OF an increased
power by the organizations OF labor,
said: 81 doubt it, and l think that l
can speak for the General Executive
Beard. do not think that it is wise
TO iDauguIate go many strikes unless
II can be shown there is an extreme
necessity for them. II many of the
men who are striking would display
little more common eense and use
little more patience, they would get
all they are striking for and save their
time and money in the bargain. If
they would exercise proper modera.
ton in their negotiations with their
employers and submit their claims,
firmly made and properly represented
to arbitration, am free to gay that l
am sure tpat nine out OF ten ca 3es
which end in a strike could be a salts
lactorily arranged without resorting to
such an extreme and generally doubt
full expedient. Indeed, in the nine
cases there would be no necessity for
a strike. There is feeling now that
labor must be recognized by the EN-
p'oyer; that the employer must listen
to the employees, and thu time tai
come when the sEopmaD, the mill
owner, the manufacturer in every de-
parlment OF trade, is ready to listen to
the demands OF the men, and to yield
to them when those demands are
reasonable. Organization, discipline
and realization Of the right and the
might in the case has brought about
this change, and these advances on
the part OF the employers should not
be rerulsed by hasty and inconsiderate
action on the rart Of the working
men,"
ARBITRATION THE REMEDY.
FILTRATION, then, and not strikes
is the theory OF the order?" said the
reporter.
Eyes, arbitration always when it is
possible; strike only as last resort.
But when that point is reached strike
hard, strike in earnest ard never sur
render, except to Just concessions.
Why, this board pointing to the men,
bers who were listeniDR) has, since
the let of January, settled by arbitra-
ton $50 cases, which would otherwise
have resulted in strikes without the
gaining OF a single point by the strik-
ers. The Knights Of Labor and the
other labor organizations in sympathy
with its plars constitute, at the pres
ent time, the most powerful organiza
} ton OF woIkingmen ever known in
the history OF the world. Its
strength is increasing every day, and
it's influence is felt every day in every
branch OF trade in this country. 1t is
dangerous to abuse this power. 1t can
always insist upon just demands care.
fully considered and thoughtfully sug'
gested. 1t cannot afford to frlttel
itself away upon every little pretense
OF wrong, hastily formulated and pig
headedly insisted upon. The growth
OF the power OF labor should be an
occasion for calm elaboration and
moderation. The workingmen 81 ould
be careful to see to it that they do moi
zap and undermine their strength by
extreme demands and unreasonable
assumption OF Importance and power
1t is, as some one has said before me
a good thing to have the power Of {
giant, but it is an evil thing to use i
like a giant. 1t was the disposition
on the part OF the employer to refuse
to treat with his " orkingmen that madt
the labor organizations necessity
to them. Now that we have the
power which comes from organization
we must use that power wisely anC
moderately, and be careful that we DE-
not change position with the EN-
ployer and refuse to treat with him
except at the point OF the pistol-o
the strike, which is about the SAM
thing. A strike should be the last re
sort, when everything else has failed
and net an everyday expedient
which, used as such, loses its powe
as it increases in frequency. In tn
old assemblies, which are fsmilia
with our plans and purposes, strike
were infrequent. 1t is the new, ant
as yet not fully informed organiza
tiona, which, upon sometimes Insult
Gent and frequently trivial causes
makes the final and desperate appeal
As our organization grows theI
will then be less strikes, becaus
there will be less necessity for them
Our power will be, In time, create
than men now think. 1t will last 81
long as we use 1t wisely, And 1t vii
be so used). No power is less i'm
pertant than the constituent itself,
STRIKES THE LAST RESORT.
''Is the strike the last resort OF To
Knights Of Labor" asked the re
porter,
The Master Workman smiled. g
see" said he, "What you are dTiyin
st. A strike is a bad thing. Boycott
is immense in its results. A strik
stops production merely; boycott
kills it. A strike for week is onl
the loss Of q weeks business, trad
and wages. A boycott for week ca
be the utter ruin OF the business i
self. We have never failed in boy
colt which has been ordered by tn
General Committee. Its effectiveness
is undoubted, but il is an extrem
! power which we use with caution"
els there not DANCES" said the n
porter, "that your organization ma
become engaged in political move
ments and thus lose its powerP
: Il have no fear OF that. The ma
, ter involved in the existence and wor
I of the Knights OF Labor are nearer
its members than matters of partisa
, politics. We have here as you see Q