Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-06-24
BE ON aUARDK. OIL.
rowderly Issues Another Important Lot

Powderly Issues Another Important Letter
The following secret circular of General
Master Workman Powderly has been made
public:
member of the order employed by
wealthy corporation places the following
letter in my hands. 1t Is printed in cir
cular form, and the presumption Is that
similar letters have been put in the hands
name of the firm sending out the docu-
ment is withheld in order to shield the
member to whom it was sent. IL was
quite evident that the sender OF the docu-
ment did not know that the recipient was
Knight of Labor. The letter OF instruc-
ton reads:
confidential.
"Dear sir-You have been named as
reliable trustworthy man in whom con-
fidence can be placed. You have 1t in
your power to confer a lasting benefit up
on your employer, and at the same time
advance your own interests. We wish 10
know something concerning the secret
workings of the knights of labor. You are
urged to join that body and become thor
oughly informed upon the minutes and de-
tails of the management. III you can Sc
cure an election as delegate to the annual
conclave of the supreme assembly or that
order il will be gratifying to those VINO
furnish employment to you. III while act
ing in the capacity of delegate you secure
the passage of radical or revolutionary
legislation we will not regard it as being
inimical to our interests.
IF after your admission to the knights
of labor you succeed in initiating the most
prominent local politicians of your neigbor-
hood, regardless of party, we will feel that
you are working in the interest of your
employers. We feel that, having thrown
out these hints, you will at once place
yourself in communication with those
who will secure for you an election to the
association named. We have given the
key note to future action and will expect
faithful performance of duty on your
part. Should you be discharged for any
action you may take in the labor move
ment your time will go on.n
Failing in breaking up the order by
means of misrepresentation and rldicule,
its enemies would now resort to the po-
litical trick of packing the general assem-
bly,. Every effort must be put forth to
prevent the nefarious scheme from being
consummated. From now until the
general assembly meets we must expect to
hear all manner of evil reports concerning
the order, its members and officers
Everything that can be done to make the
next general assembly a failure will be
done.
When Washington, at Valley Forge,
gave order, "Put none but Americans on
guard tonight" the roll call OF his entire
army would not muster as many men as
the knights Of labor, and the interests they
represented were not so great. Let the
word go along the line, from the district
assembly to the newest recruit, to put
none but knights of labor on guard at the
next general assembly. Scan well the
characters, the records and the abilities of
those who will go to Richmond in October
Send no politicians there. Send no creatures
of corporations there. Send no members
there who would stamp the impress of COM
tint nf
the knights of labor Send no members
there who will not pledge to vote for the
best men for the positions to be filled
Send no members there who will not
promise to do their part to enact just laws
and to render obedience to them when
passed. Send no members because of their
fine speeches or oratory. Remember that
one or two shrewd persons obeylng such
instructions as are contained in the above
letter could pack convention to elect
representatives TO the general assembly.
Be on your guard at every point. Make
no mistakes. Uninfiuenced by friendship
or hatred you will select members of cool
judgement and wise counsel. Remember
that many q dishonorable person works at
an honorable calling. In selecting repre-
sentatives see that the member is as hon
orable as the calling.
Bear in mind that the question to be dis
cussed at the Richmond general assembly
will be: Shall intelligent, prudent action
on the part of organized labor manage the
affairs of the worker or will we allow an
inanimate thing called Capital to regulate
our affairs for uss Let neither calumny,
fear, ridicule, coercion, fiattery, bribery,
friendship, hatred or religious or political
feelings influence you in selecting the
representatives to the next general assem-
bly,. Remember the warming: Put none
but Knights of Labor, true and tried, on
T. V. PowDERLY.