Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-12-11
ANOTHER SECRET CIRCULAR.

ANOTHEh SECHET C1kCULAN.
A Special Assessment on all Members o
the x. ct L. in Aid of Their Locked Gu
Brethren.
is issued by the general officers of the knight
| of Labor, with photolithographic reproduc
tons of the signatures and seal of the or
der:
OFFICIAL CIRCULAR MOI.
OFFICE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Nov. 10. 1886.
To alt the Subordinate Assemblies of the Or
der, Greeting:
Previous to the session of the general as
sembly at Richmond, an appeal was issuei
| to the order for funds to assist victimizeG
and locked out members in various parts o.
the country. The response to that appeal wal
| not such as it should have been, and only
about $14, 900 was received thereon. This, II
is manifest to every member, was entirely
insufficient to render the assistance needed
and desired. Many thousand members were
employers, who acted in concert with the
avowed purpose of driving their employee
out of the order, thereby crippling, if no,
destroying its power AMI usefulness. The
order of the Knights of labor has reached
| the most critical period in its history. Il
| stands as power for good or for evil. But
your general officers, while they make nc
special claim to superiority in the purity OF
motive, have sworn that the order shall be
made power for right, and right only.
That the laws shall be rigidly enforced, and
the members shall receive the fullest pro.
lection in their rights, under the laws OF oul
country and our order. Without any provo
cation, except the exercise of the inherent
right of every free man to belong to any or
ganization he pleases, not in conflict with
the laws of the country, thousands of our
members, men and women, without warning,
have been thrown cut of employment.
factory, and to the mouth of the mine,
where but yesterday they were employed,
only to find staring them in the face this
unchristian and unAmerican mandate: "Y0u
cannot return to work here until you sign a
contract to leave the Knights of Labor, and
that You will never become member of
that or any other labor organization. :"
Every man who has Joined the 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 owe to
acred even than an oath, his pledge
of honor, binds him to loya,ly
defend the principal of truth, honor. JUST e
and citizenship. Two alternatives present
themselves, unconditional surrender and
manly defense. Which shall it be? The
locked out members, in their enforced idle
ness turn from suffering wives and starving
children in pathetic appeal to your general
board, to aid them in maintaining their
order. The general assembly 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 sympathy, however kind and
grateful will not supply the needs of these
looked out members. We must have that
which is more substantial. We cannot sup
ply it ourselves, therefore frankly come to
you. Having all these circumstances in mind,
and deeply moved by sympathy for the suf-
fering members and those dependent upon
Them, your general executive board has
resolved to levy an assessment
Of Is cents per member upon all the local as
,emblies of the order, the same to be paid
1nder the following regulations: All local
assemblies that responded to the appeal
above will be credited on this as
with the amount donated All To-
,al assemblies who can are requested to send
ban De. mber 20, '86. The assessment in
his case will be Is cents for each member
% shown by reports to the general secretary
treasurer for the quarter ending October, |
1856, Locals preferring to pay the amount |!
n lnstallments may pay 10 cents for each |
as shown by the reports to October |
1886, to be paid not later than December |
%, S6, 10 cents not later than January 30, 'S6, |
nd five cents, not later than February 20,
8S7, for each member, as shown by the re-
Orts for the quarter ending January, 1887.
his assessment will be known as the special |
efense assessment, and must be paid to the
eneral secretary, Charles II. Ltchman,
9ck box 1856, Philadelphia, Pa, not later
nan the date named. When the appeal
Fas issued in aid of the southwest strike
received most prompt and generous
ssponse. The need for that appeal and
1e crisis to be met, great though they
ere; did not equal the grave emergency
hich compels this assessment With the
summation of that strike began
10 present struggle By capitalists. Every
here throughout the country the lines are
larply drawn. The contest Is upon us, and
lust be waged to successful issue. You
now for what purpose We require money.
u We ask is that before paying il each [
ember put himself in the place of one of
le locked cut, remembering that he gives
nee who gives quickly, and act upon the
olden rule: "Do unto others as you would ,
I'VE them do unto you"
Special NOTES.-The above assessment
INST be sent to the general secretary,
harles 81. Ltchman, lock box 1886, Phil
alpha.
(Signed) r. v. PowDu11,
General Master Workman.
By Order Of the General Executive Board.
Attest: CHAMlB b. LxTuzGAx. Gen. g..