The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-05-11
WORDS OF WISDOM,
TExE or EowDER1Y,s oIRoUIAR
40 the Knights of LAbOr-HS Is Down ON, the
Boycott and Labor AEitAtOrS who Never
WOrk-AdVles AS to tho Excessive In.
duIEsuSs In IntoEcatinE DrInks.

The following circular has been issued
by General Master Workman PoWderly to
the knights Of Labor and will be read in
the various assemblies during the present
week;
The response to the secret circular is.
sued on March l3 has been 80 generous,
and the Endorsement OF the sentiments
contained in 1t has been 80 unanimous,
that feel encouraged and strengthened
in the work, Nearly 1900 assemblies
have pledged themselves 10 act on the ad-
vice contained in the circular Of the 18Th
ult, l feel that 1t only requires the COM
ing to the front Of the real men Of our
order to set US right before the world, We
have been losing ground so far as public
opiAion Ia concerned Tor some time. One
Of the causes is that we have allowed
things to be done under the name oil
the Knights Of Labor for which the or.
ganizstion was in no way responsible. !
ask Of our men to keep jealous eye upon
the doings OF labor men who never labor,
and when they charge anything to our
order in your locality, set the seal OF your
condemnation upon 1t at once by denying
IT.
II paper crlticlses the Knights Of La.
Dor or its officers do not boycott 1t, and II
you have any such boyCotts on remove
them, A journal not long since made
some unComPlimentary allusions 10 the
General Master Workman OF the knights
Of Labor, and at the next meeting OF the
nearest Assembly q motion was cast to
boycott the paper; not that alone, but ev-
cry person who advertised in the columns
Of the paper, wrote to the Assembly
asking that they remove the boycott, and
1t was done. We must bear in mind that
our General Master Workman is only q
man, and is not above criticism, We de-
mand for ourselves the right Of free
speech. We can not consistently deny 1t
10 others. We must tolerate fair, open
criticism. II u reply Is necessary, make 1t
in q gentlemanly, digniaed manner. II
We are criticised or abused by black
guard sheet, treat 1t as you would the
DlaCkguard limself-in silence.
That our aims and objects are good Is no
reason why our members should be re.
garded as being otsuperior build or mater.
ial, We are no more the salt OF the earth
than millions OF unknown toilers who do
the work OF the world. In our dealings
with lRborers and capitalists we must deal
Justly and fairly by them. II we would
nave equity done To US, we In turn must
DO equity to others. This Ia the aim oi
the Knights Of Labor, and must not be
lost sight Of In the future.
TIE BOYCOTT.
Let me direct your attention to a few
little abuses: | find that wherever a
strike occurs appeals for aid are scattered
broadcast among the assemblies. Do not
pay one cent for such purposes in future
unless the appeal comes from your own
district assembly or the General Assem-.
bly,. II boycott notices are sent to you
burn them. Ihave In my possession over
four hundred boycott notices which were
sent 10 assemblies with request that they
be acted on. Let me mention some Of
them: A member Ia editing paper.
lie fears q rival, and proceeds 10
get into an alteration with him,
boycott him, and then asks the order
To carry 1t out. A certain paper is inlu.
ential in one or the other political parties.
Members Of the opposing party conceive
the idea Of getting rid Of the paper and
they invoke the aid Of the knights Of La.
Dor, first taking the preCautlon to have
the paper in question say something un.
complimentary OF the knights oil Labor.
In fact, our order has been used as q tail
for hundred different kites, and In future
Ii must soar aioft, free from all Of them
. hate The word boycott. Twas boyCotted
ten years ago, and could not get work at
my trade ior months. Itis q bad practice;
1t has been handed to US by the capital
lists. have no use for II only when
everything elEe falls. Appeals for aid
circulars, petitions, advertisements oi
every kind, are scattered everywhere
through the order. l copy letter which
comes to me on tho subject: "a large part
Of our time has been spent In reading boy
colt notices and appeals for aid, keeping
US until - o'clock. We were led TO be.
lieVe the knights Of Labor TO be an eduCa.
tional institution, but this kind ol eduCa.
ton Is not productive OF good. We have
no time for instruction. What do you
advise US 10 do2 l advised them 10
now ask Of the Secretary Of each assembly
10 do the same. II your journal were not
boyCotted by our members 1t could be
made the medium ot communication be.
tween the general officers and the order,
but the journal is not read.in one quarter
OF the assemblies. Some assemblies send
out documents In envelopes addressed 10
Secretary OF Assembly No. -" In
many places the Secretaries have been
discharged because oil this practice. No
member has the right TO address another
. in that way, and II II 10 ever praCtiCed
again, the offender will be punished.
THR GENERAL EXECUTIVE BOARD.
In future the General Executive Board
must not be interfered with in the per.
iormance Of its duty. 1fyou have conf.
denOe in them, sustain them and obey
them; II not, ask for their designations.
While the Board was endeavoring To settle
the Southwestern trouble, assemblies In
some places, with the best Of intentions,
no doubt, were passing and publishing
resolutions oondemning Jay Gould. These
: things did no good on the contrary they
were injurious. In the settlement Of trou.
bles II becomes the duty Of the Executive
Board 10 meet everybody and 70 every.
, where. While they are doing this, they
must not be hampered by the actions Of
those who do not know what their task Is.
Keep quiet let your officers do their best
aud II you can not find a way 10 aid them,
do not retarCl their progress. Resolutions
do not prevent land stealing, stock water.
ing, or gambling In the necessaries Of life.
,, I1ff had my mind made up To rob bank
at midnight, string olresolutions as long
/, ~ the moral Law, protesting against my
contemplated action, would not influence
inc q particle, but II some interested party
would take The trouble 10 study up the
question, and would inform himself as 10
my right 10 rob the bank, aud would stand
: guard at the door Of the vault, ] would
| not rob II u midnight II he did bis duty.
, What we want from every member 10 not
puSh OF windy tegolptions about our
! fights. We know we have rights without
. passing resolutions. Men who think,
. IaI,,dy and aek ara fadHtfnd. Tha HnoaSaI