The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-27
FREIGHT TRAFFIC STILL BLOCK.
I'd BY THE SWITCHHEN.
Only One Train Sent Out, and That
Under a Strong Guard
Of Police.
SECRET CIRCULAR FROM GRAND
MASTER POWDERLY.
The Wabash Strikers Return to
WOrk-KO Change In the Cen
eral Situation.


Chairman Martin Irons, at East St.
Louis, last night. 49,,
YEA answered Mr.. Irons, "the
strike will probably extend through
ont the United States.
"Willit be confined to railroad en-
ployes2" -
"No, sir; the move to-day is but the
beginning Of the end. Not only the |
railroad employees will be called out,
hut the order viii 90 out to ell the !
Knights Of Labor Of this country, re-
CARELESS OF their occupations"
"Then it will be general striker
eyes, sir; the order OF the Knights
Labor has got TO be recognized"
when will the general order be
given2" go
81 cannot say as to time, but 1t will
be very soon II matters are not settled
within few days"
STRIKE OF THE WABASH swITCHMRN.
Whenl the usual hour arrived this
morning for the day force OF switch
men to relieve the night gang at the
Wabash yards, in this city, no men
appeared, and few minutes later the
announcement was made that the en-
tire force had struck. This adds about
TWENTY-FIVE more strikers to the entire
number now out. These men were, 1t
is understood. ordered out by the Elk.
ecutive Committee OF the Knights oil
Labor in support OF the posi- ion taken
by the striking Missouri Pacific en-
Ployes
THE SITUATION AT EAST BIT. LOUIS
this morning Is becoming serious. The
yardmasters OF the different roads have
been attempting all the morning to
make up and start out freight trains,
but they have in every instance been
prevented from carrying out their de-
signs by the striking switchmen, who
are using all means at their disposal TO
make the freight blockade in that city
complete. COupling-pins are removed
from their positions and the trains be-
come separated; switches are reversed
and the trains are run upon the wrong
tracks, and in some instances the yard
masters have been fo;cibly restrained
in their eEoFts TO resume freight traf-
fic. No serious trouble has o. yet oc-
CURED, but IL is understood that the
officers OF the law will be called upon
to-day to preserve order and property,
aud conflict between them and the
strikers 10 expected to occur.
SECRET CIRCULAR FROM MASTER WORK
sa MAN PowDERJY.
General Master Workman Powder
ly has issued q secret circular to the
noble order OF the Knights OF Labor
Of America, which has Just been made
public. Mr.. Powderly instructs the
secretary of every assembly to call o
full meeting and read before 1t the
sentiments which follows. The adj
dress opens with an order to the as
semblieB 30 cease initiating new mem.
bers until the relations OF capital and
labor Ahall become less strained than
at the present time, and continues
ITO attempt TO win concessions or
gains with our present raw, undiscl-
plined Membership would belize hurl-
ing an unorganised mob against a
well drilled regular army. IL Is not
fair 70 the older assemblies to bring In
new members, pick up their quarrels
as soon q organized, and have them
TO expect pecuniary aid from those
who helped build the order up for a
noble purpose.
After dwelling at some length upon
the individuality OF taking in new
membeEsat present, the address con.
tinues: 1--WE must not fritter away our
strength and miss the opportunity oil
present success In the struggle sgainst
capital by rushing headlong into use.
less strikes. To the cardinal principles
Of the order we must add another
patience. You have had patience fol
years, and had not the Knights ol
Labor appeared upon the scene you
would still be waiting Your scales Of
wages must stand ~ they are for the
present. II you cannot raise them by
any other process than strike, you
must submit to injustice at the hands
Of the employer in patience for while
longer. Bide well your time.
Find out how much you are Justly en-
titled TO, and the tribunal of arbitra
ton will settle the rest"
Mr.. Powderly then cautions the as
sembies against receiving into theil
ranks employers, and warns the
Knights OF Labor that the politician
is planning night and day how t
catch the Knights of Labor for thu
advantages OF himself and party, anC
adds that to use thenam OF the ordel
in g political contest is criminal, an(
must not occur again.
Referring to the eight hour move
ment the circular gays: Assemble
of the Knights OF Labor must no
strike for the eight hour system Of
May Ist, under the impression ths
they are obeying orders from head
quarters, for such an order was nc
and will not be given. Gu
Of the 60000,000 OF people in tn
United States and Canada, our orde
hes, possibly, 100000. Can we moul
the sentiment OF the millions in iavo
OF the short hour plan before May LIST
1t is nonsense to think Of It,"
After speaking OF the quslitie
which the officers OF assemble
should possess, and expecting Ii
Knights to elect honest men OF eve
temp srament, Mr.. Powderly col
tinues "While write a dispatch
handed me in which | read the
words: They discharged our brothe
and we struck, for you know oil
motto is, IAN injury TO one is Il
concern of all" Yes, AN injury
one is the concern OF ALL But Il
not ,oise 10 injure all for hs sake Of on
II you'd haze been far better 10 cOntiR
oil work snd properly investigate Il
matter, bringing it before every know
tribunal, than to have struck"
Speaking Of the relations betwee
the church and the knights OF Labo
Mr.. Powderly says; II warn our mer
bers against hasty, ill-considered a
ton. The church will not inteTie
with as 80 long as we maintain d
law. Ii the law is wrong it is Of
duty to change it, / am ashamed
meet with clergymen and others
tell them that our order is compose
OF law.abidiDg, intelligent men, viii
the mkt dispatch brings the news
come petty boycott or strike"
Ia conclusion, the Master Woi
man says Il write this circular TO |
before the order the exact -onditi
OF things: an neitfS - cs
IL ~ y Z