St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-27
The Grand Master Workman Points Out
to Impatient Knights the Error
of their Way,
And Threatens to Resign if BOycotts and
Strikes are Not Displaced by
Arbitration.
He Says That the Statements OF Irons
Regarding n General Strike
are Unauthorized.
Mr.. Gould To be Asked to Submit
the Matter to a Committee
of Seven.
Brave words of Powderly.

ST. LOUIS, March 26.-General Master
Workman POwderly has issued a secret
circular''To the Noble Order of the Knights
of Labor of America" which has Just been
made public. Mr.. Powderly instructs the
secretary of each assembly to call full
meeting and read before it the sentiments
which follow. The address opens with an
order to the assembly to cease initiating
new IN mbers until the relations of capital
and labor shall become less strained than at
the present time, and continues:
To attempt To win concessions or gains
with our present raw, undisciplined members
would be like hurting an unorganized mob
against a well-drilled regular army. 1t is not
fair to the older assemblies to bring in new
members, pick up their quarrels as soon as
organized, and have them expect pecuniary
aid from those who helped build the order up
for noble purpose.
After dwelling ut some length upon the
inadvisability of taking in new members at
present, the address continues:
We must not fritter away our strength and
miss the opportunity of present success in
the struggle against capital by rushing into
useless strikes. To the cardinal principles
of the order we must add another
PATIENCE.
You have had patience for years, and had
not the Knights II Labor appeared upon the
scene you would still be waiting. Your scales
of prices must stand as they are for the pres
ent If you cannot raise them by any other
process than strike. You must submit to
injustice at the bands of the employer in pa
ticnce for a while longer. Bide well your
time. find out how much you are
justly entitled 10, and the tribunal of arbitra-
ton will settle the rest.
Mr.. POwderly then cautions the assem-
blies against receiving into their ranks en-
plOyers, and warns the Knights of Labor
that the politician is planning night and
day how TO catch the Knights of Labor for
the advantage of himself and party,
and adds that to use the name of the
order in political contest is criminal, and
must lot occur again. Referring to the
eight-hour movement, the circular says:
Assemblies of Knights OF Labor must not
strike for the eight-hour system on May 1,
under the impression that they are obeying
orders from headquarters, for such an order
was not and will not be given. Out of the
GU, 100000 people in the United States and
Canada. our order has possibly 100000. Can
we mould the sentiments OF the millions in
favor of the short-hour plan before May 1? 1t
is nonsense TO think of it.
WHAT THE MOTTO MEANS.
After speaking of the qualities which the
officers of assemblies should possess, and
expecting the knights to elect honest men
of even temperament. Mr.. Powderly con-
tinues:
While write, dispatch is handed me in
which read these words: ''They discharged
our brother and we struck; for you know our
motto is An injury to one, is the concern of
all But 1t is not wise to injure all for the
sake OF one. 1t would have been far better
TO continue at work and properly investigate
the matter, bringing it before every known
tribunal than to have struck.
Speaking of the relations between the
church and the Knights of Labor, Mr..
Powderly says:
] warn our members against hasty. ill-con-
sidered action. The church will not interfere
with us so long as we maintain the law. If
the law is wrong, it is our duty to change it.
I 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 some petty boy
colt or strike.
THREATENS TO RESIGN.
In conclusion the Master Workman says:
write this circular to lay before the order
the exact condition of things. L am neither
physically nor mentally capable of perform
ing the work required of me. i am willing 10
do my part, but not to be asked to maintain a
false position before the world any longer.
One of two things must q o place-either the
local and district assemblies of the order
must obey its laws or must be permitted to
resign from a vocation which obligeS me 10
play one part before the public and an
other 10 our members. i say to the world
that the Knights of Labor do not approve or
encourage strikes, and in one day dispatches
came to me from Troy, n. V, Manchester,
n. H., Chicago, ILL.,, Cincinnati, o., Lynch
burg, Va. Springfield, o., and Montreal. 1t
is impossible for human nature to stand the
strain any longer. must have the assistance
of the order or my most earnest efforts will
fail. viii have it? If so, strikes must be
avoided; boycotts must be avoided Those
who boast must be checked by their assem-
blies. No move must be made until the
court of last resort has been appealed to.
Threats OF violence must not be made. Poll
ticlans must be flushed or driven out. 0be-
dience to the laws OF knighthood must have
preference over those OF any other order. II
these things are done, the next five years will
witness the complete emancipation OF man
kind from the curse of monopoly. In our
members we require secrecy, obedience, as
sistance, patience and courage. If with these
aids you strengthen me my hands will con-
tinue in the work. If you do not desire to
assist me in this way, then select a man bet
ter qualified to obey your will and will retire
in his favor.