News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-06-03
CONDEMNED BY POWDERLY.
The General Master Workman DenOunces
the Grimes of the Anarchists.

General Master Workman Powderly
was called upon for the purpose of as
certaining his views on the reign of ter
ror in Chicago.
In reply to the question as to what he
thought of the stormy situation in that
city, he said
''At time like this there is a ten
dency among some well meaning but
poorly posted people to blame all work
ingmen for the sayings and doings of a
desperate few, who are never so happy
as when they are riding the crest waves
of the tempest of passion. A distinc-
ton should be drawn. however, be-
tween the followers of the red fac. and
those WHO owe allegiance to lS1lsnsr
but the Stars and Stripes, and between.
The anarchists who preach ruin anS--
tue representatives of labor
lieye in lawful methods for aSn 1g
desirable reforms"
"Then there is no affiliation between
the Knights of Labor and the anarch-
ists?n
Most emphatically no. The scenes of
bloodshed and disorder which have
taken place in Chicago are disgraceful,
est condemnation and punishment. The
men who march under any flag but the
Stars and Stripes are not American
wOrkingmen, either native or national
lzed. Honest labor is not represented
in the ranks of those who array them
selves under the emblem of blood and
destruction. | have no sympathy with
the men who have instigated such deeds
as have been perpetrated in Chicago.
1t is the duty of every organization of
workingmen in the United States to
condemn the outrages committed in the
name of labor. / believe the man who
| comes to this country, and who refuses
| to become a citizen of the United States
| after having sufficient time to do so,
| has no more right to be here than the
alien land grabbers who take possession
| of the acres of the West. The work.
| ingmen of America have more power
| full weapon than the bullet in the ballot,
and if they use their lawful rights as
citizens judiciously they will have no
occasion to resort to desperation.
care the men whose names are given
as the leaders of this movement in Chi
cago Knights of Labor2
mo, and If Knights of Labor have
taken part in these murderous proceed
ings they should be permanently ex-
PEELED from the Order. Our organiza-
ton means no antagonism to necessary
capital, nor have we any conflict with
legitimate enterprise; and when we
have occasion to take issue with legiti-
mate enterprise we will do so under the
law, which protects rich and poor alike.
1t is the duty of every Knight of Labor
to support laws made to harmonic the
interests of labor and capital"
"Can you speak with any authority as
to the attitude of the trades unions to-
ward the disgraceful doings IN Chi
cago2"
'I can. There is not trades union
in America that will countenance wrong
doing, or uphold the men who have
been engaged in such scenes of blood
hG3 hG3e Fl faH@6 aSstFGfti3H F 9f property iss as
of the trades union is to protect and
elevate labor and not to degrade or de
stroy it, as the anarchists have attempt
| ed to do"
Mr.. Powderly spoke with feeling and
was deeply indignant when discussing
the scenes that took place in the West.