The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-31
MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAI--wEDNEsDAY, MARCH 81. 1885.

0AASNA OS ~
paid like mechanics, SO and expenses
for every day of actual work in the
cause. Delegates and organizers Of
new assemblies are the only other
members who receive pay, and then
they get it only when lsboring.
STRENGTH OF THE ORDER.
II is impossible to estimate closely
the strength Of the Order Of the
Knights OF Labor. Though all the
trades unions are not embraced in the
order, there are thousands of men be-
longing to those separate bodies who
are members of the common brother
hood. Naturally the Knights desire
to keep their strength unknown TO
outsiders, lest by knowledge Of the
full extent OF the power which would
have to be met, capital in some cases
might feel justified in meeting con-
test OF in proloDging its resistance TO
labor's demands. There are said TO be
about 5000 local assemblies OF the Or
der in the country, and it is believed
that a modest estimate would put the
average membership at 100 to each as
sembly. OF couTse many OF the local
bodies number fewer members, bat on
the other haod there are many which
contain several bundled on their rolls.
Not less than 500, 900 members may be
credited II the order throughout the
country; careful inquiries lead one 10
place the present maximum member
ship at not over 100000. The
St eugth OF the order, however, is
rapidly increasing; in fact, admission
OF new assemblies has been suspended
until June, first, because there is
go much to be done in writing up
the rolls OF those recently organic I'd,
and, second, because the order does
not care to weaken itself by admitting
labor trades which might tax the
whole organization for support in a
possible contest over unreasonable
demands. The Brotherhood OF Loco
motive Engineers aud the Anal
gamated Iron and Steel Workers are
the two most powerful unions OF Ia
boring men in the country, but they
are not, as bodice, members OF the
knights Of Labor. The Knights are
believed to be strongest in the Middle
States. They are weakest, in point Of
numbers, probably, in New Eogland. \
Among the cities, New York, without
doubt, furnishes the largest number
to the order. There are fully $4,000
members here, as nearly as eau be as
certained. Throughout the country
the cigarmakers furnish the largest
number Of m smbers TO the organiZa-
ton, and after them come, in regular
order, the car drivers and anthracite
coal miners. In New York City the
quota Of Knights furnished by the
printers undoubtedly exceeds that
supplied by any other class of wage.
earnere, but the carpet workers are
also strongly organized. Before this yea.
is out these proportions will probably
be changed. The telegraph brother
hood is likely to be in the oTganiza-
tion, and strong effort is being made
to make the railroad operators unite
with their commercial brethren. Ac-
tive proselytiBg, moreover, is eoingon
among the brakemen, gatemen, ticket
sellers, station men and every other
employe connected with the railroads.
The order embraces many other than
manual laborers. In the membership
are merchants, employers Of labor in
numerous trades and manufactures,
arch tects, clergymen, physicians,
newspaper men and, more than might
be expected, Congressional and State
legisl ztors and members OF State and
municipal governments are Knights Of
Labor. The only businesses which are
dsbarred from admission are those of
the banker, stock-broker, lawyer aud
liquor dealer. With regard to the last
business the exclusion is 50 wide as to
keep out all persons who derry: y
profit or income from the sale ON <
icating drinks. Many women tare
members of the organization, and one
of its fundamental principles is "equsI
pay for equal work" Inferentiallydhe
right ofsufffage is conceded ID women,
and the Michigan branch of the order
recently adopted resolutions specifical-
lY favoring the extension of the ballot
to female citizens. r.I
NEW FEATURKs-sTRIKEs
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