The Wilmingtonian., 1886-03-13
VOL. VINO. 213.
The Labor Question.

The Labor Question.
In another column will DO found an inter
view with Mr.. Powderly, the Grand Master
Workman of the Knights Of Labor. In this
interview he outlined the great work of the
order and faithfully portrayed tine pos5ibili-
ties of the bread-winner. Mr.. Powdcrly de-
serves great praise for the conservatism be
exhibits in dealing with the complex ques-
tions of capital and labor. He explicitly
tells workmen that if they unjnstly
and unnecessarily antagonize capital that
they will find iu the end that they have sown
deprecates strikes only as dernier resort.
But he at the same time acknowledges the
rights OF Knights Of Labor aud favOrs the
maintainance OF those rights to the bitter end.
That Capital has, for the last decade, been
systematically forging band of iron
around the neck of Labor, is so ptlpable
that the fact needs no demonstration. The
history of the workshops Of this country for
the past twelve years has been one contnu-
alton of reduction in wages. The various
enterprises commanding capital have a
cemented brotherhood which depress wages
at pleasure and there is no appeal.
Reduction, reduction, reduction in wages
until ninety cents day is what hundreds
and hundreds of men in this eity are now
receiving for laborous days work.
Ninety cents day means fitch and puta-
toes seven days in the week.
Ninety cents day means the ohildrons'
toes out in the Id. Ninety cents day
means want, deprivation aud sorrow
Ninety cents day means, sooner or later
landlords distress for rent.
Ninety cents day will not keep soul and
body together and the labor element have
been goaded into taking the question Of
wages into their own hands.
Wages are reduced upon tha slightest pre-
text and when work is brisk and the laborer
modestly asks for an increase Of wages his
proposition is treated as presumptuous de-
mand. In this very city men have bern dis
asked for a commensurate compensation for
their labor.
The Knights Of Labor have justice and
right with them and if the eutre brother
hood are as temperate in their demands as
are the Knights of Wilmington, great and
permanent good will crown the history OF
the order
Wherever the laborer has been unreasona
BILE and extortionate in his demands and the
case referred to the Knights for arbitration,
they have invariably refused to sustain the
unjust demand. Only few days since, {
member of the order became abusive to tht
superintendent of a shop, imagining because
he was a knight Of Labor he bad specia
license to work after his own peculiar fash
ion and went so far as to defy the official t.
discharge him. But when the mans case wa
heard by the arbitration committee of tn
Knights, they not only advised his summa
ry discharge but also his expulsion from hi
assembly. Among such large membership
it is quite natural that some worthless Cnar
acters will creep in, but if they imagine tha
a membership of the order will be a protee
tion to slothfnlness aud worthllness, the.
will speedily have their minds disabused 0
all such extraneous ideas.
The leading spirits in the brotherhoo
of the Knights are earnest, careful, capabl
men and while they demand increase fc
the wage worker and shorter hours of labor
they will also demand with equal force tha
S no undue advantage shall be taken Of til
employer.