The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-01
AID FOR KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
A Secret Circular Announcing a Grave
Crisis in the Affairs of the Order.
A Call for Assistance Which Was but Feebly
Responded to Now Supplemented by More
Urgent and Imperative Demand.

Urgent and Imperative Demand.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 30-The Press to-mor-
row will publish the following important secret
circular, issued by the general officers of the
Knights of Labor with photo-lithographic re-
productions of the signatures and seal Of the
order:
NOBLE ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR OF
AMERICA.
''GOffcial Circular No. 291
"OFFTcE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, !
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. Now 10. 1886
ITO All the Subordinate Assemblies of the Order
Greeting:
Previous to the session of the General AS
sembly at Richmond an appeal was issued to
the order for funds to assist victimiZed and
locked out members in various parts of the
country. The response to that appeal was not
such as it should have BEEN and only about $14-
600 was received thereon. This, it is manifest
to every member, was entirely insufficient to
render the assistance needed and desired. Many
thousand members were thrown upon our hands
by the lockouts of the employers who acted in
concert. with the avowed purpose of driving their
employees out of the order, thereby Gripping, If
not destroying, its power and usefulness.
THE order of the knights of Labor has
reached the most critical period in its history 1t
stands as power for good or for evil But your
general officers, while they make special
clalTn Co superiority In purity oil motive. nave
sworn that the order shall be made power for
right, and right only; that the laws
shall be rigidly enforced and that the
members shall receive the fullest protec-
ton of their rights under the laws
of our country and our order Without any
provocation, except the exercise of the inherent
right OF every free man to belong to any organ
zaton he pleases, not in conflict wish the laws OF
the country, thousands of our members,
and women. without warning, have been thrown
of To
the door of the mill and factory, and
to the mouth of the miue where
but yesterday they were employed only to find
staring them in the face this un-Christian and
IN American mandate: You cannot return to
work here until you sign a contract to leave the
knights of Labor. and that You will never be-
come member of that or any Other labor organ
ization.'
Every man who has Joined me Knights of
Labor has pledged himself to do his duty in the
cause of mankind. No oath binds him TO any
act contrary to the duty he owes to God or his
country. But something more sacred even than an
oath-his pledge of honor-binds him to Loyalty
defend the principles of truth, honor
justice and citizenship. Two alternatives
present themselves, unconditional surrender or
manly defense Which shall it be2 The locked
ont members in their enforced idleness turn
from suffering wives and starving children in
pathetic appeal to your general executive board
to aid them in maintaining their manhood and
their fidelity to the order The General AS
sembly instructed your general executive board
to give them all the assistance in its power
We can render that assistance only in one way
and that through the co operation of the earnest
and loyal members of our order. Words of sym
patty, however kind and grateful will not sup.
ply the needs of these locked -out members. We
must have that which is more substantial We
cannot supply it ourselves, and therefore frankly
come to you.
"Having all these circumstances in mind and
deeply moved by sympathy with those suffering
hnWc nnA hos do
general executive board has unanimously re-
solved to levy an assessment of % cents per
mem Der upon all local assemblies of the order
the same to be paid under the following regula
tions: All local assemblies that responded
70 the appeal mentioned above will be
or ,dited on this assessment with the amount do
mated. All local assemblies who can are re-
quested to remit the full amount OF the assess
ment not later than Dec. 20, 1886. The
assessment in this case will be twenty-five cents
for each member, shown by the
report to the general secretary treasurer
for the quarter ending Oct. l, 1856.
Locals preferring to pay the amount in install
ments may pay ten cents for each member, as
shown by the reports to Oct. !, 1885, to be paid
not later than Dec. 20, 1886. ten cents not later
than JAM 20, 1887, and five cents not later than
Feb 20, 1887, for each member as shown by the
reports for the quarter ending January 1887.
This assessment will be known as special de-
Tense assessment and must be paid to the gen.
eral secretary. Charles H. Litchman, Lock box
ooo fhllauelpnla, Fa., not later tnan the dates
named.
when the appeal issued in aid of the
Southwestern strike it received q most prompt
and generous response. The need for that ap-
peal and the crises to be met, great though they
were, did not equal the grave emergency
which compels TINS assessment With the
termination of that struggle began the bina-
ton of capitalists everywhere throughout the
country. The object of that combination is now
made apparent The lines sharply drawn,
fha yoCf 10 md ho
successful issue. You know for what
purpose we require the money. All we
ask is that before paying it each member put
himself in place of one locked out remembering
that he gives twice who gives quickly and act
upon the golden rule. Do unto others as you
would have them do unto you
SPECIAL notice-The above assessment must
be sent to the general secretary, Charles Fl.
Litchman, Lock box 885. Philadelphia
1T. V. PowDERLY
General Master Workman.
''By order or the general executive board
''Attest: CHARLES Fl. LITCHMAN,
tn