The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1886-10-15
POWDERIY TALKS.
The Grand sMaster Workman OF the
knights OF Labor Rev ews the Growth
and educational Necessities of the or
der--Why He Opposed the Railroad and
Finht-Hour Strikes

knights OF Labor Rev ews the Growth
and educational Necessities of the or
der-Whs He Opposed the Railroad and
EiSht-Hour Strikes.
RIcHNosp, Oct. 6.-The only work trans
acted in the National Assembly OF Knights
of Labor yesterday was the adoption Of
the report Of the Committee on Credentials.
Mr. Powderly's address has already been
made public. The Grand Master opens
his address by SAYING that the laws oil the
order reqnire the General Master Work
man tosuhmit at the general assembly
report Of his Official acts during the year,
but for him to do that would be impos-
sible, for the reason. among others, that
such report would take at least four
weeks time to prepare. For Information
a 5 to details OF the Executive Boards ac-
tions tho convention is referred TO the
vari ouss~fxf,s Go be presented and the
Master Nbrkuan proceeds 10 CONSIDER
matters Of IMPORTANCE and make such
suggestions assle deems necessary. The
address proceed
"If we are gui6d by the experience of the
past aud act accordingly, we can place the
order upon a footlg so safe and sure that no
assaults from itssuemies can iujuro H. If
we are not guidel by that cNper cnce and
close this general assembly without having
improved on the Ibst we will fail to properly
represent those W7O sent u here. The rapid
Increase in organ zato on since the Ham
iltou session of he general assembly has
been most mar eiOuS, 1905 assemblies
hay ny been organZed. Thousands have been
attracted toward ne order through mere Gu
riOSity: others hare come Tor purely selfish
mot yes while th, great bulk Of our new IT,
cruits Joined for the good they could DO.
Quite a few have entered our order Tor the
purpose OF redrcSing existing wrongs, and
before waiting to earn any thing concerning
the duty of the klgut- OF the order, have
plunged INTO rash md Ili-cunsderCd strikes.
The car-dr vers Of 81 Louis were organized
under prom SO OF the organizer th-i they
would receive I'D uuStntcd in case
Of "a ke Eya before the receipt of
the charter thcy we're CA strike. Their pro-
cccdugs were characterized by such utter
q ,rcgard tor our tetchiuEs that the paid aud
wei. known agents II their employ err had no
difigIIlty IN securing the passage Of motions
Oi a violent charuCrr It IS an established
fact that men who we're employed by detec-
tive agencies stood A. on the uDOr OF tuai as
sgmbiy urLng the men TO deeds or violence
and that the properly Of the stTcptCur c. IN
panic, bc destrO.cj Fcrthc-c outragcs tue
order was IN no way resi- on>.hie.
The Southwest STRIKE began when the
time and attention Of the general officers
| were taken up WltnOIhcr matters OF vital IHI-
portancc No MOTTO OF the contemplated ac-
ton was given To u. and We knew nothing
whatever concerning " or To the causes lead
| ing to IL until Ii haG been in progress several
days IL has been asserted that cOudCmueA
| the men while they were on strike NO
! such statement ever passed ms lips. | did not
! approve of the Strika. nee confidence enough
| was not rcpOscd n the Executive Board
| 20 give thema Chan~o 20 examine INTO grey
| auces complained o. Ii was only when the
threat was made to stop every wheel IN the
United states that "a sed my voice ia denial
| I did that in defense of the order and the
"a -E- gF0EF 40
| under similar circumstances
The eight hour strike which took place
/ May ] was NOT successful except IN cases
where employers and employees were acting
J in harmony. or where employers were willing
( 10 adopt the plan Ia many cases the Old sys-
| tenn Of WORK ny long hours has been re-
| v'ycd. ! cautioned our mem bers against
] rushing into this movement and atn
firm IN the belief that had ! not done
( great loss would have been eut6I!e,i
upon vast numleTs Of our assemblies. nave
. been accused OF opposing the sight-hOur
| movement No statement was ever further
! from the truth / opposed the str he on May
\ because the education which must always
| pTeCede Intelligent cotton had not been gwen
/ 10 those in need of it. and because no
| definite businesSiike plan for the in
aCrhr-sseS a. tue noN yulc ~ ,,.o
| do -uil 81 pose Il \ radUctiou OF the bours
| OF iabCT i a necessity, aud sooner or later
! must be md. but we must not forget that iu
| many p acts the teu-huur plan has not been
4 adopted We The very discussion OF the sud.
| deHiutrOdgCtiOBO Of the c.Eht-hOurp plan injured
| business. Millions OF dollars worth Of work
| was left unione because Of the uncertainty
| in regard ts taking contracts The move vas
! I'm the rigntdlreCtioH, but the time aud cir
| cUmstaucet we're not suitable. Before tie
| & Eht EOur. plan Is adopted the knights Bl
| Labor aud The trade unions OF America must
las as dc tiR r icalOu-Ics aud 'hclr differences,
( come gOgcGer aud adopt pan OF action
! which mus tie gradual and such a. VIII not
! Inlet iuiury upon either employer or en-
no q. Before a short hour - stem that WI! be
OF any bcneht TO mankind eau he inaugu
| rated the relation which the workman bedis
| To the }aborsavng machine must undergo a
| radical change y plan of Co-OpgTa
| ton through winch the workman may con
| troll the MACHINE he operates mus:-onc day
| supursede the present system
| - The question Of child ialOr and education
| i the most important that can come before
4 rs Row or al any time To make the uecc-
| saIy progress We must see that the child ha.
| an education. 4 should be a part OF ever
| aS-cmbly's duty to ascert Ia the number OF
| children who do not attend school IN II, vein
ity, learn what the causes are. ana take step
! TO remedy the EVIL. IL is useless 10 labor iOi
1 the establishment OF "A cooperative - SiCII
| when We lacH the business training necessary
| to operate IL. I ask thgta special committee
| be az pointed TO prepare plan Tor the betJel
| education of the American youth
The address then refers TO the trouble
| with trades unions, which Mr. POwderlG
| said has been exaggerated aud distorted
! while admitting that there have beer
| faults on both sides HcreCommcnds that
in the future al matters OF dispute be
| tween the Knights and other societies b,
| submitted to the executives OF boil
| organizations for settlement, and. abovt
all things, let speedy aud impartial in
| ye.tigution be made Mr.. POwderll
| then replies a. follows TO the crit
| icisms of which he has been made the sub
jet;
Il have never during the seven years tina
| have served H. General Master Workman
| made q member Of this order "A subject o
! personal or public criticism or abuse nav
| innde II a rule never 10 speak in criticism
| harsh or otherwise, of man, except whcl
| 6 audiug face 20 face with h1n have beef
| accused OF displaying lack of nerve, o
| want of backbone, and of being too weak
man TO lead strong movement If, Will
| holding "a position such rs no man Ny
| ing or dead ever held before, have dlsplaye'
| a lack of nerve or backbone, why is il that
| million men and women OF nerve, OF back
| bone and common sense nave gathers
| around the standard which was placed in N
| hands seven years ago. II I have bee
| proved a weak man why do so man
| strong men support me! BY men VIII
| are not Knights OF Labor lave been calle'
| weak because ! discountenanced violenc
and hasty, ID advised action. ! have no eN
! cuse TO offer, for If this - an Otfense, let tn
! general assembly Itself offer the apology.
| will now speak as have never spoken TO
session OF the general assembly before. Rel
| reSentatives have been instructed to vote 70
me for General Master Workman. I fee
compl mented. but release every membe
! from bis obligation to vote Cor me. IOu ar
free to vote for any other Enan you choos'
and II you act in accordance with my wisht
you viii select another to MI my place.
voting for the General Master Workman don
| be. guided by sentiment or sympathy. br
vote Tor the best interests OF God suiferin
poor aud the cause of united labor"
~