Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-10-14

the hand OF the man who runs the locomotive,
The day will soon dawn when these agencies
VIII be doing their work and, when that day
does come. the mechanic, now SO proud OF his
calling, will stand face to face with the alterna
tive OF asking for charity, or the adoption of tho
calling OF the street scavenger. When that day
comes, the man who now seeks to array labor
against labor in asserting that the 80 a day man
should not move in the same society circles
with the man who works for 81 aday" will either
seek to crowd the 81 day man out of his placa
or accept the crumbs Of charity to sustain life
History Will repeat itself, and the fight for ex-
istence viii be waged with unrelenting fury
The machine must become the slave o{ the
man, instead OF keeping the man in attendance
on and subordinate to the machine A plan of
cooperation through which the workman may
control the machine he operates must one day
supersede the present system To properly
map out such plan requires more time than I
have had or am likely to have at my disposal.
IN tsr- bur Of
principles reads "The prohibition by law OF the
employ ment of children under hfteen years OF
age in workshops mines, and factories." The
end sought for in carrying this declaration into
effect is not that the child may live in idleness
1t is not that more adults may be employed.
1t is that the child of the poor man
may be enabled to acquire an education to equip
him for the duties which will in future fall upon
him as man and citizen. We cannot afford to
pass this question by and legislate ON some
simple question Of trade discipline The ques-
tion OF child-laber and education is the most
important that can come before US now or at
any other time. With an education all things
are easy OF accomplishment; without it, hope
itself almost dies, and liberty is farce.
In our organizations OF labor-and it has been
so from the beginning-we take up the work of
reform when the subject is advanced in years
the new member must be above 16 years before
we admit him. We att mpt to drive from his
mind the false ideas gathered in from the work
shop or, possibly the street corner. His habits
are formed, and the work that should
twenty or later in life. 10 attempt to settle SO
intricate question as the one we are graphing
with. or TO successfully solve the question, Is
task so difficult that / do not wonder that men
drop out of the ranks of labor organizations dis
couraged and hopeless. To make the necessary
progress we must begin with the child and see
to It that he has an education. II the principles
OF the Knights of Labor are right-and few men
question them-we should teach them to the
young. 1t should be part of the duty Of every
assembly to ascertain the number Of children
who do not attend school in its vicinity, learn
what the causes are, and take steps to have
them attend school.
The sword may strike the shackles from the
limbs OF the slave, but 1t is education and Or
ganization that make him o free man. He
freed.
OF what avail is it to say that we are labor
ing to establish q system of cooperation, when
that which is most essential to the success Of
cooperation is lacking? A business training is
necessary to successfully carry on a co-opera-
tive enterprise. II the management of the large
or small concerns now in operation in this
country were turned over to us to-day we would
Dub ground, we lack the
business training necessary to successfully
operate them. Our vanity may prevent us from
acknowledging this to be true, but we cannot
deny it. II is through no fault of ours that it is
true, but II it continues it will be our fault.
ask that a special Committee ON Education
be appointed TO prepare and recommend to this
General Assembly plan for the better educa-
tion of the American youth
The trouble with trades unioes in which GER
tain OF our members and assemblies have been
engaged was greatly magnifed and distorted.
ha Ntraera Of
sion of the General Assembly and the report of
tbe. epfE2 DB seffitigfit I need not enter into
details further than to say that there were mis-
lakes made ON both sides Some Of our organic
rogatives of other associations, and on
several occasions the rights of our members
have been seriously interfered with by MEM
bers OF trades unions. Since the special
session OF the General Assembly over fifty
cases of dispute between parties Of our order
and other societies have been placed before me
for adjustment. 1t was not necessary to place
these cases before the General Executive
Board. A few lines in each instance was suffi-
cient and the trouble ended. To dig up past
troubles is unnecessary, and, in consultation
with prominent men Of the trades unions, was
gratified to learn that they had no desire to re-
vive the past For the future recommend
that all matters likely to create q breach OF
the peace between our order and any other
be at once submitted to the executives OF
both organizations. II q trade union complains
of any action on the part of our order, let the
aggrieved party submit the matter to the presi-
dent Of his union he to investigate, and failing
to effect a remedy, to place the matter before
the General Master workman ana Executive
Board. II the aggrieved party is member OF
an assembly of the Knights of Labor, let the
same mode of procedure be gone through with,
and, above all things, let speedy and impair
tial investigation and an immediate settlement
be made. This plan has worked we'll in every
new case called to my attention since the
Cleveland session, and it is worth of adoption.
More trouble has been caused us by men who
profess to be members of the Knights OF Labor
than by members Of trade unions / respect the
man who, being member OF a trade union, does
everything honorable in his power to defend and
perpetuate his organization; but for the Knight
of Labor who would even attempt to su bordi-
nate our order to any other have nothing but
contempt. In my estimation there is but one
place for such man, and that is on the outside
Of our order.
II the representatives of the trade unions and
of our order come together, and both are sim
cere in their devotion to their respective or
ganizations, an honest and satisfactory solution
of every difficulty can be arrived at. No sacri-
fee of principle or regard for either organiza-
tion need attend such meeting. But the man
who through fear, policy, indifference, or q de-
sire to acquire popularity, neglects the interest
of the order he represents is not honest, and
should not be allowed to act in any capacity for
any society of workingmen.
With the session of tho General Assembly
only three days away, it would not be possible
for me to say all that would like to upon the
questions that will come before us. My time
has been entirely taken up with the detail work
OF the order, ana was fOrced TO neglect This
duty in order to give any time or attention to
preparation for the coming OF the General As
sembly. 1t will surprise you to learn that even
ut fhs 9yefy N In
tion, Secretaries and members are addressing
me at my Office in the expectation OF receiving
an immediate reply. Letters and kilograms by
the hundreds will flow in upon me even whilo
the General Assembly is in session.
The duties which called me away from homo
for the greater part Of the year that has closed
mn a1a frarn la IN ui affantiOn N
my correspondence. To read each letter ad-
dressed to me would occupy every moment OF
the twenty-four hours, leaving no time to an
swer or dictate an answer to any of them.
attended to all that could, and the others will
mover be reached. II this is neglect of duty,
then am guilty but I have no apology to offer.
did all that could do-more could not be ex-
pected of me.
have never, during the seven years that
have served as General Master Workman, made
q member Of this order subject Of personal or
public criticism or abuse. such treatment has
not been accorded to me. Whether the inten-
ton was to have me reply through the public
press / do not know, but have made it a rule
never to speak in criticism harsh or otherwise,
of man, except when standing face to face
with him. And havc rs studously refrained
from replying to or denying attacks or accusa-
those who made them. When called upon TO
defend tho order or its principles, have at
tempted to do SO.
Ihave been accused of displaying n "lack Of
nerve" of want OF backbone" and of being too
weak n man TO lead strong movement. /
have never replied to these charges, nor will
do so now. / simply point back TO a record OF
seven years of service and ask this question; I;
II, while holding position such as no man, liv-
ing or dead, evor held before with the full blaze
OF public scrutiny shining upon my every ac-
ms TO applaud, 1 have displayed lack Of
nerve or backbone, why Is It that q
million men and women of nerve, backbone,
and common-sense have gathered around the
standard which was placed in my hands seven
years ago by the founder Of the order himself3
II / have been proven weak man, who do so
many atronq men support me2 / dislike to