Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-24

The knights of Labor in Politics.
There is a difference ofopinion,i it seems,
among Knights OF Labor whether or not
they ought to take part in politics as an
! organization. There Is no question, OF
! course, about their duty as citizens to
/ take such part in politics as will tend to
help put good men into office. This ques-
ton of the organizations becoming a
sort OF political machine, however, is one
that IS, If reports are to be credited, ex-
citing considerable discussion among
Knights.
1t is by no means certain that the Rich
mond convention, which will meet on
Oct. 4, will touch this question. 1t ought,
however, to take it up and settle it final
ly. The local assemblies ought to be no.
titled whether, in the opinion of the rep
reseutstives of the entire organization, it
is advisable to undertake to force united
action in political affairs.
No doubt there are those In every as
sembly who are anxious that the knights
shall attempt to control local politics,
and there are men in the organization who
would like to see the knights acting in
solid mass in State and national politics,
but all of these men are ambitious, and
have selfish purposes in view. They,
doubtless, hope TO be able to
secure political power and office
through the aid of the knights.
They do not care so much for the welfare
of the knights of Labor organization as
they do 10 be able to use it to accomplish
their aims.
Il the Knights, by using their organiza-
tion as political machine, could purify
politics, insure the making of better laws
and the election of better men to office,
they should go into politics by all me ans.
But can they do anything of that kind?
OF course they cannot. In the first place
they could not agree among themselves
respecting the men to be nominated and
the policies to be adopted. The majority
would have to rule if anything were ac-
complished at all, and the widest and
shrewdest of the politicians among the
Knights would manage to get the ma
jority to follow their lead.
II the Knights were to act together
without regard to their past political az
fliations they would array the existing
political organizations against them, and
as they are In the minority in most COM
munities they would be unable to achieve
any success except in isolated cases,
II they should not nominate a separate
ticket, but should determine to support
the ticket OF one or other of the great po-
litical parties, they would accomplish
nothing in the way of reform, and would
do nothing towards securing a better
class of men for public servants. The
same methods for securing nominations
would be employed then as are employed
now, and the best wire pullers, as a rule,
would get the political prizes.
the strongest reason why the knights
should keep out Of politics, as an organi-
cation, however, is that politics would
introduce discussions among them. There
are men of as strong political convictions
among workingmen as among any other
class of men, and they are not going to
abandon them without excellent reasons
1t would not be always possible to give
satisfactory reasons why one man should
be supported in prefersnce 10 another,
and, consequently, there would be trouble.
Ii the Knights are wise they Will, as an
organization, letpolitics alone, but as IN
dividuals they viii do what they can to
promote the good of their organization,
of workingmen and of the country, 1t
would even be advisable for them to lnflu-
ence their members to vote against dema-
gogues, and others seeking places who
are VIGOROUSLY bad. 1t would be mis-
take, however, to turn the organization
from its legitimate purpose of lettering
the condition of workingmen to support
ing the schemes and aspirations of ambi-
tious and designing men.