The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1886-03-27
Comes Boldly to the Front---A Mani
festo to the Knights and Pro-
position for Compromise.

|
Workman Powderly has issued secret Gil
culsr to the noble order of Knights {
Labor of America, which has just bee
made public. Powderly instructs the SCI
retary OF each assmebly to call d full NEE,
ing and read before it the sentiments whic
follow. The address opens with an orde
to assemblies to cease initiating new mem
bers until the relations between labor an
capital shall become less strained than q
the present time, and cOn'lnues: To at
present raw, undisciplined membership
would be like hurting
AN UNORt.ANiZED MOB
against d well drilled regular army. 1t i
not fair to order assemblies to bring in nev
members to pick up their quarrels as soo1
as organized, and have them ex ,,ect pecun
iary aid from those who helped build th'
or er up for noble purposes. After dwell
ing at some length upon the inadvisa bility
OF taking in new members st present, tint
address continues: I'VE must not frittel
away our strength and miss the opportun
ity of the present success against capita
by rushing ito useless strike.' Pow
derly then cautions the assemblies against
receiving in their ranks employers, and
warns the Knights that politicians re
planning night aud day to catch the
Knights for the advantage OF himself and
party. and adds that to use the name oi
the order in political contest is criminal
and must not occur again. Referring to
the eight-h.'ur movement the circular says:
Assemblies OF Knight, must not strike
for
THE EIGHF-HOUR SYSTEM,
on May 1st, under the impression that
they are obeying orders from headquar.
ters, for such order Was not aad viii not
BE given.
Out Of sixty million of people in the
United States and Canada our order has
possibly 5000, 900. Can we mould the SEN
timents OF millions in favor OF short-hour
plan before May 1st? 1t is nonsense to
think Of it," In conclusion the Master
Workman says: II write this circulur to
lay before the Order the exact condition OF
things. ! am neither physically. nor men.
tally capable of performing the work re-
quired OF me. am willing to do my part,
but not to be asked to maintain
A FALSE POSITION
before the world any longer. One of two
things must take place. Either local and
district assemblies of the Order must obey
it's laws or must be permitted to resign
from vocation which obliges ME to play
one part before the public and another to
our members. / say to the world that the
Knights OF Labor do not approve of nor
encourage strikes, and in one day dis
patches that they did come to me from
Troy, Manchester, Chicago. Cincinnati,
Lynchburg, Springfield and Montreal. 1t
q impossible for human nature to stand
the strain any longer. I must have the as
sistance OF the Order or my most earnest
EFFORTS WILL FAIL.
Will have it? If so strikes and boy
,otts must be avoided, those who boast
must be checked by their assemblies, no
move must be made until the Court OF last
report can be appealed to, threats Of vio-
ence must not be made. politicians must
be hushed up or driven out, obedience to
the laws OF Kuighthood must have prefer
,nce over those OF any other order. If
these things are done the next five years
will witness the complete emancipation OF
from the curse OF monopoly. In
our members we require secrecy, obedience,
patience and courage. II with
these aids you strengthen my hands l will
-ontinue in the work, il you do not desire
better qualified to obey your will and l
will retire in his favor.
THE WABASH MEN STRIKE.
ST.. LOUIS, March 26.-When the usual
hour arrived this morning for the day
|orce of switchmen to relieve the night men
1T the Wabash yards in this city, no men
appeared and few minutes later the an
WIS made that the entire
|orce had struck. These men, it it is
underst ood, were ordered out by the ex-
ecu;ive committee in support OF the posi-
zion taken by the striking Missouri Pacific
employees.
TROUBLE IN EAST ST. LOUIS.
The situation at East st. Louis is be-
coming serious. The yard masters OF the
different roads have been attempting all
morning to make up and start up out
freight trains, but have in every instance
been prevented from carrying out their de-
signs by the striking switchmen who are
using all means at their disposal to make
The freight blockade in this city complete.
pins are removed from their posi-
tions and trains become separated, and
switches are reversed and trains run upon
the wrong track. In some instances yard
masters have been forcibly restrained in
their efforts to resume the freight traffic.
No serious trouble has as yet occurred. but
it is understood that the officers OF the law
will be called upon to-day to preserve order
md property, and a conflict between them
and the strikers is expected to occur.
PowDERLY ENDORSED.
PHILADELPHIA, March 26.-General Sec
retary Turner OF the Executive Board of
the Knights of Labor this afternoon, in an
interview endorsed the sentiments con-
tanned in the secret circular telegraphed
from st. Louis to dayin which the assem-
blies are advised to cease admitting new
present strikers. This circular he said was
not intended for publication, but now that
it had reached the public he feels ga atished
the orders therein contained will he sane
toned by the friends OF the order.
ONE FREIGHT TRAIN.
ST.. LOUIS, March 26.-The officials of the
Missouri Pacific Railway this morning with
the aid OF a large force of police. succeeded
in starting from this city freight train
. onsisting of eighteen cars.
TRAIN DIrcHED.
Sr. LOUIS, March 26.-News has been re-
ceived from Pacific, Missouri, about fifty
miles from this city that the accommoda-
ton train running between here and that
place, was ,iitched by the strikers this
morning. No particulars Of the affair have
been received. An engine and tender car
rying t"enty five detectives, armed with
Winchester rifles, have been disp Atched
thither in anticipation OF conflict between
the authorities and the strikers. when the
freight train sent out # IN here this morn
ing shall reach that place. The Vandalia
and Burlington routes succeeded in sending
out two freight trains from East Louis this
afternoon without serious interference by
striking switchmen. There were only two