New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-04-07
TIE LABOR TROUBLES.

TIE LABOR TROUBLES.
q Notable Circular to tho Knights 81
Labor Issued by Grand Master Work.
man Powderly-He Severely Criticises
the Brethren for not Exercising More
Patience and Threatens to Resign.
ST. LOUIS, March 26.-Grand Master
Workman Powderly has issued a secret cir
cular ITO the Noble Order OF the Knights
| 81 Labor of America He 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
and labor shall become less strained than
at the present time, and continues:
ITO attempt to win concessions Or gains
with out present raw, undisciplined mem
;bers would be like hurting an unorganized
| mob againsta well-drilled regular army.
1t is not fair to the older assemblies to
bring in new members, pick up their quar-
rels as soon as organized and have them
expect pecuniary aid from those who
helped to build the order up for a noble
purpose After dwelling at some length
upon the inadvisability OF taking in new
members at present, the address continues:
I'VE must not fritter away our strength
| and miss the opportunity OF present suc
cess in the struggle against capital by rush
| ing into useless strikes. To the cardinal
principles Of the order we must add
| another-pat thence. You have had pa.
thence for years, and had not the
knights OF Labor appeared upon the scene
you would still be waiting. Your scales of
| prices must stand a S they are for the pres
ent ii you cannot raise them by any other
nrOcnSS a 10
to injustice at the hands OF the employer in
patience for a while longer. Bide we'll your
time, find out how much you are Justly en-
titled to, and the tribunal OF arbitration
will settle the rest" Mr.. Powderly then
cautions the assemblies against receiving
into their ranks employers, and warns the
knights OF Labor that the politician is
planning night and day how to catch the
hnlghts OF Labor for the advantage
that to use the name of the order
in political contest is criminal, and must
not occur again. Referring to the eight
hour movement, the circular says: "As-
semblies OF Knights of Labor must not
strike Tor the eight-hour system on May /,
under the impression that they are obeying
orders from headquarters, for such an or
der was not and will not be given. Out OF
the sixty million people in the United
States and Canada our order has posi-
bly, three million. Can we mold the senti-
ments OF the millions in favor OF the short
hour plan before May 1? 1t is nonsense to
think OF it, After speaking OF the quail
ties which the officers OF assemblies
should possess, and expecting the
Knights to elect honest men of
even temperament, Mr. Powderly continues
while l write. dispatch is handed me in
which read these words: They discharg-
| ed our brother and we struck; for you know
our motto is, AN injury to one is the con-
Germ OF all But it 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, bring
ing 1T before every known tribunal than to
have struck" Speaking OF the relations
between the church and the Knights OF
Labor, Mr.. Powderly says: II warn our
members against hasty, ill-considered ac-
ton. 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..
l am ashamed to meet with clergy
men and Others to tell them that
our order is composed of law
abiding, intelligent men, while the next dis
patch brings the news Of some petty boy
! colt or strike. | write this circular to lay
| before the order the exact condition OF
things. am neither physically nor men
tally capable OF performing the work re-
| CURED OF me. I am willing to do my part,
but not to be asked to maintain a false
position before the world any longer. One
| OF two things must take place-either the
| local and district assemblies or the order
must obey its laws or | must be permitted
to resign from vocation which obliges me
to play one part before the public and
another to our members. l say to the
world that the Knights of Labor do not
approve OF or encourage strikes. and in
one day dispatches came to me from Troy,
n: Y, Manchester, N. H. Chicago. ILL.,,
Cincinnati, Ohio, Lynchburg, Va,
Springfield, Ohio, and Montreal. Ii
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. Will have it? II
SO, strikes must be avoided; boycotts must
beavoided Those who boast must be check
ed by their assemblies. No move must be
made until the court OF last resort has been
appealed to. Threats OF violence must not
| be made. Politicians must be hushed up
or driven out. Obedience to laws ofknight-
hood must have preference over those OF
any other order. Ii these things are done
the next five years will witness the complete
emancipation OF mankind from the curse
CT monopoly. In our members we require
secrecy, obedience, assistance and courage.
| Ii with these aids you strengthen me my
hands will continue in the work. If you do
not desire to assist me in this way, then
select a man better qualified to obey your
will, and | will retire in his favor"
A Story of the Late Delegate Raymond.
Washington special.-The late Delegate
Raymond Of Dakota was the last man to
see Gen. MCPHERSON alive at the battle OF
Atlanta. He was in the act OF delivering a
message to the general when the party Of
confederate horsemen came upon them, and
| Mcpherson was shot down and Raymond
was taken prisoner and sent to Anderson
vile. After he had been there year or so
| there was an exchange OF prisoners, and all
| the men in the prison were assembled in a
| line to hear read the list OF those who were
to be exchanged. Those whose names
were read were ordered to an
swer Here" and step forward. When the
| officer in charge was going over the roster
] hn 1lol lo Is l. i