St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-30
VIGOROUSLY DENOUNCED.
Scathing Reputation of Socialism
and Anarchy MIR. POWderIy.

NEW YORK, Dec. 29.-The ill feeling
between the socialists and Mr.. Powderly
dates back for several years. On several
occasions he has expressed his disapproval
of their doctrines and methods, and secret
communication which he wrote to Knight
of Labor in this city some time ago was
given out yesterday for the first time. In
this letter he denounces socialism and an
archy in plain and vigorous terms. The
following extracts express the views that
he held at that time:
You have men in New York who would
move heaven and earth to rest ore the old Gus
toms and make the order again an oath-bound
organization. I know them. You have men
in New York who have co-operated with men
in Philadelphia to break up the order by going
to a Catholic preIate of eminenee and telling
him that an old oath is still in force; that the
word of honor is but u blind to make cats
paws of the Catholic members, and that the
general master workman is a party TO the i'll
famous transaction. The curse of the knights
of Labor has come from the promptness with
which acknowledged leaders of the socialistic
element have put themselves forward at
meetings, and while speaking, plainly hinted
at the
MUSKET AND GATLING GUN
as the remedy for labor's grievance. Many
Of the men who advocate these principles of
socialism do not understand them nor do
they care to understand them. They set
forth the idea and convey the impression
that the only weapons by which labor can
hope to secure the desired reforms are the
knife and bludgeon. Men may entertain such
ideas as they please, they may advocate them
if they please, but they should not seek,
under the cloak of the Knights of Labor, to
promulgate such doctrines and make the
order responsible for them. 1 claim the right
to differ as to the means best calculated to
bring about reform, and am willing to respect
the opinions of others, but until the Knights
of Labor adopt the shot gun as their chief
weapon 1 will vigorously object to allowing
socialistic advocates to step to the front at
all meetings got up in the interest OF labor.
They must not be permitted to
ADVOCATE BLOOD ANDpFIRE,
and yet proclaim themselves to be the mouth
pieces of the labor cause. The conduct and
language of these men have caused the
cleraymen to regard us with an eye of sus-
picion, and it will require strenuous efforts
on our part to remove the erroneous impress
sions concerning US. 1t is my firm and hon
est belief that, as vast as is this country, as
broad and exclusive as is its territory, there
is not room enough within its bounds for the
exercise of q single rifle. l have no respect
for the man or men who will faunt that ac-
cursed red flag and advocate the use of the
dirk and bullet for 1854 days in tine year, and
who, on the 355th day, deliberately walk up
to the polls and vote for the continuance of
the system which they.denounce. l am sorry
that the order ever found foothold in
New York. for no good has ever come
from large cities, which are prolific of whisky
and crime. There are many good knights in
your city New York;. If 1 require any de-
termined action give me the man who reads
and thinks. instead of the man who drinks.
There are more of the latter In a large city
than the former. However, the Knights of
Labor will live, their principles will spread
and eventually triumph. Bah on the crea-
lures who stand up as the champions of labor
in the presence of unthinking men and advo-
cate the knife and bullet. Bah on the meh
who flaunt the red flag. They are too vile to
respect and too cowardly to uphold the Amer
ican flag, sanctified by the blood of patriots.
They disgrace it every time they go to the
polls and vote for monopoly and usury. They
are not to be trusted.