Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-04-01

/ preston that they are obeying orders from
headquarters. for such an order was not and
employe are educated to the needs and ne
| cessities for the short hour plan. If one
a condition. remember that there are many
who are in total ignorance of the movem emit
| United States and Canada our order has
possibly three hundred thousand. Can we
mould the sentiments of the millions in
1t is nonsense to think of it. Let us learn
why our hours of labor should be reduced.
Nearly every State assembly that has been
formed since the general assembly met has
been organized amid discord and conten.
tion l fear that the struggle is not to serve
the order so much as to serve personal ends.
Nearly every assembly in the State of Kan
about the attempts being made to organize
state assemblies. To attempt to elevate Ia
Dor by starting out an assembly OF any kind
with fight is folly. 1t would be far better
to stop work in these States now, and begin
again In practical way, than to carry the
work forward under prejudices and amino si-
ties now resting in the breasts of the disap-
pointed ones.
Our order is a business institution. 1t must
managed in this way it will go the road of
all mismanaged concerns. In selecting OFF,
GERS to manage banking concern the men
best qualified are chosen. The rash, incon-
siderate man is set aside; the man who is
passed over, and the man of maturer judg
ment and business qualities is selected
i
men some parts of our order select for
important work. These words of mine
must be needed or this order goes down as
surely as night follows day. Elect no man
because of his fine speech or impetuosity;
put none but the coolest men in positions
them in their MorR nes the anu DUTY of an
officer to picture the wrongs of man until he
excites his assembly to fever heat. Heaven
knows the indignitieS which labor COM
plains of are grievous enough, and requ ire
no painting. We must look at them as
we can.
While write, a dispatch is handed me in
our brother and we struck, for you know
our motto is AN injury to one is the concern
of ALL" Yes, can injury to one is the con
for the sake of one It would have been far
better to continue at work and properly in
yestigate the matter, bringing it be-
have struck. The thousands of men now
earning nothing could have given ten
few weeks much easier than to spend weeks
and months In idleness. Many Of them will
never be restored to their former positions.
paired, and all concerned will be more OF
less injured. We could have prevented our
brother from being injured by assisting him
In a far different way. Zeal in the cause
sometimes brings on the discharge of a
member. Sometimes a too open expression
of opinion does it. 1t Is not necessary to In.
dulge in the latter.
Now a word on another subject. The
church has been watching our order for
years In our infancy we had but little
power for good Or for evil; to-day we are
the strongest, as well as the weakest, labor
organization on earth. Strong in numb ers
and principles; strong in the Justice of our
demands, If properly made, we are weak in
the methods we use to set our claims before
ners of lawless actions. One blow brings
on another, and If a single act of ours en-
cOurages the anarchist element must
meet with the antagonism of the church.
warn our members against nasty, ill-con
eidered action. The church will not inter-
fere with us so long as we maintain the law.
II the law is wrong, it is our duty to change
It, / am ashamed to meet with clergymen
and others to tell them that our order Is
composed of law abiding, intelligent men,
while the next dispatch brings the news of
pers have a column devoted to strikes and
boycotts every day. and some of the causes
are ridiculous.
the exact conditions of things. / am neither
physically nor mentally capable of perform
do my part, but must not be asked TO main
tain a false position before the world any
Longer One OF two things must take place;
the order must obey its laws, or must be
permitted to resign from a position which
lie and another to our members l say to
the world that the Knights of Labor do not
approve of or encourage strikes, and in one
day dispatches come to me to come to Troy,
N. Y, Manchester. N. H., Chicago, ILL, Gin
einnati. O., Lypchburg, Va, Springfield, O.,
man nature to stand the strains any longer.
l must have the assistance of the order, or
my most earnest efforts will fail.
Will have it? If so, strikes must be avoid
ed; boycotts must be avo ided.
Those who boast must be checked by their
assemblies. No move must be made until
the court of last resort has been appealed
to.
Threats of violence must not be made
Politicians must be hushed up or driven
out.
Obedience to the laws of knighthood must
h0yrn rYrnf 0rnr, nyyQr hnd Of fhnr fNr-
der.
If these things are done the next five
years will witness the complete emancipa-
ton of mankind from the curse of monopoly.
In our members we require secrecy, obedi-
ence, assistance, patience and courage. II
with these aids you strengthen my hands I
will continue in the work If you do not
desire to assist me in this way, tn en- select q
man better qualified to obey your will, and
1 will retire in his favor.
T. V. POwDERLY,
General Master Workman.