New-York tribune., 1886-06-04
JAROP GOING BACK YARD

u
| powderlv TO the Executive Committee sounds
the death knell of an organization fiom which
| thev had hoped for great results. The most
| obvious effect of the election Will be ID ID
| te,sifv the antagonism between the Knights OF
Labor and the trades unions. Mr. fo"uery
policy in that matter has been to prevent an!
war between the two orGanlzations anu u
commend the Knights OF Labor TO the more
intelligent and thoughtful workiDgmen by lis
good influence and its growing power. Inc
extremists on the other hand, have been trying
10 break up the trades unions III order to iorce
their memrers into joining the knights OF
Labor, and to that end they have welcomed
ever, opportunity of controversy. The leading
trades uni0nists at Cleveland judge that the
election means war, and while they regret 1t,
believing that the cause of labor will ST fer by
antagonism between the organizations, they are
confident that the trades unions have far
greater strength to sustain themselves i'll any
struggle than the Knights of Labor. 1t
happens that the elections We're peculiarly un-
timely because an invitation from Grand Master
Powderly TO one Of the largest and most po"el-
ful trades unions in tue country, the Iron ana
Steel w Workers' Amalgamated Association, was
received with much appearance OF favor AT the
convention of that body at Pittsburg on
Wednesday, and it was thought that there was
some prospect that the association would JON
the knights of Labor i'll body. 1t is likely
that the election Of extreme and violent men
will turn the scale, and prevent the union
desired.
Another effect of these elections is to destroy
whatever was accomplished by the decision
fol bidding strikes or boycotts without col sent
of the Executive Committee. 1t is true, the
force of this iudicious decision had been
already lessened by an amendment conceding
to district assemblies the power to act for
themselves in cases of emergency" 1t is not
difficult to foresee that cases of emergency Will
often arise Bu; with the Executive Committee
in full control of those who favor violent
measures. there is little room to hope that tne
conduct of the organization will in this respect
be improved. Mr. Powdery's comments upon
the elections which were given to the press on
Wednesday night, do not Indicate much conf
dence tnat his principles will ultimately
prevail Perhaps he is right in claiming that
the talk about the /" Home Club" Is of small
consrGuencc. He says with force that the
reported conspiracy against him appears to
have been in PROCESS for several years, and IL it
has been impotent thus far, he argues, 1t Is
hardly reasonable to expect that it has sud-
denly become important now. But the dlih-
Guilty is one which one understands better
than Mr.. Powderly himself, namely, that the
character of the organization has been coin-
pletely revolutionized by the additions to its
| membership duIng the past year. In the con-
venton at Cleveland the new members are not
represented, though it is claimed that they
number half the order more. IL Mr..
| Powderly and his conservative associates are
beaten by bare maj Orily, in convention
representing only the old members, it seems
likely that ,he majority against them i'll a con-
yention representing the whole body will be
oyerv helming. The tendency must be to
destroy the confidence of upright and
intelligent workingmen in an organization
which had promised to exert good influence,
and to restrain not only the more violent lndi-
viduas, but even the trades unions themselves,
from unwise and lawless measures.
The truth is that the difficulty with which
| the best men in this organization have to
| contend is inherent. The power which such an
| organization can WELD is far too great to be
ntrusted to a few indiN Niduals. The men who
exercise it need to be men Of almost super
human wisdom, selfIestraint and integrity of
purpose. But secret intrigues, III Organiza-
tons of this nature, are rendered tenfDld more
dangerous by their methods. The power of
bad men to control the ac,l-- Of their fellows is
not diminished but greatly increased. On the
other hand men who are fit for the important
trusts of leadership, men who are competent to
exercise wisely the vast power of an organiza-
ton embracing representatives of many trades
are sure to be hated by the more violent, the
unruly and the corrupt. 1t has seemed
marvel to friendly observers that man of MI.
Powderlys purposes and character has so long
retained prominent position in an Organiza-
ton which, through its local bodies has so
often acted in direct violation Of his teachings.
The question now is whether he will consent to
retain his position, if the organization is to be
controlled by men hostile to his principles