Telegram-herald., 1886-06-19
Confidential

recipient was a knight OF Labor The letter
of instruction reads:
Confidential
Dear Sir-lou have been named as q reliable
trustworthy man ia whom confidence can be
placed You have 10 IN yOgr power 20 confer "a
lasting benefit upon yonr employer and al the
same Time advance your own Interests We wish
70 know something concerning ihC secret work
ings OF the Knights Of Labor You are urged o.
Join that BODY and become thoroughly informed
upon The minutes and details Of the management
II yOu can secure Al election a. SeeEsfc a. the
annual concleve Of The supreme Assembly ~ that
order it Will be gratifying to those who furnish
employment 60 you. IT. while acting The ca
paciiy Of delegate you secure the passage Of rad-
cal or revolutionary legislation We val not re-
gard il ss inimicai 90 our interests.
II After your admission 70 the Knights RI labor
You succeed in initiating the mo-i prominent
local politicians 8 your neEhDorhroH regard ess
OF party. We viii feel that You are working iu the
interest Of your employers We feel that having
thro~n out these hints you VIII place yourself lu
communication with those who will secure flr
you al election to the association named. Ne
have given The key note 70 future action and " Il
expect faithful performance oi duty on yelr
part should you bc dis 'hergcd ier any ariion
YOU may take in the labor movement your time
viii 90 on.
Failing in breaking mp the order bv
means Of representation and ndlcule its
enemies would now resort o. the political
trick OF packing the general assembly
Every effort must be put forth 20 prevent
the nefari0us scheme from being consum-
mated. From now until the general as
sembiy meets We must expect 20 bear al
manner Of evil reports concerning tie
order, its members and officers hverv-
thing that can be done 20 make the next
general assembly failure viii bo done
When Washington. al Valley Forge gave
the order. Put none bat Americans on
guard tonight" the roll call of hi- entire
army would not muster SIS many men a.
are 20 be found in district assembly Of the
knights of Labor. and the interests they
represented we're not 50 great let the w0ri
10 along the line from district assembly o.
the newest recruit. n uut none bar Knights
Of labor ora eusn3 ~ the next general
assembly. Scan well The characters fhe
records and the abilities of those vho will
20 20 Richmond in October send no poi-
iHcians there send no creatures
of corporations there. send no members
there vho vouid stamp the impress af
communism or anarchy or The Cons afion
oi The knights 0f Labor send ho members
there who wil not pledge % vote for the
best men for the positions ~ bc filled send
nc members there who vii not promise ~
So fheir part 81 enacf Just laws and ~
render obelience % them when passed
send nc members because ~ their fne
speeches OF oraforv. Remember thsf
one or tvo shrevd persons otev
ng soch instructions As are contained in
above letter could pack a convention o.
eieff Representative fo fhe General ArsaFn-
hv 30 on vour guard ~ every paint Wake
no mistakes ninfueuoed by frienishipor
hatred veu viii select members ~ good
Judgment ard vise counsrl Renfentf fif.r
thai manv dishonorabie person vorks 81
an bon0rehle ce8ng ln selecting Repre-
sartaf' rps sae fhsf fne men tnr is o. honor
ah'e g. tie calling
Rear in mind that fhe q8esf1n ~ lse
discussed at the Richmond ftenersi saern
hr v he shalt fnfe' Eent prudent
srfisn on fhe psrt 81 Organized lahoT rneuagf
the sEafrs af fhe worker ~ vili Te aiire sr
inart1frr thing 81 iei C-ffai - ~e-rIlsfe
nnr sHars ffr ~ - nethes csinunr fear
rdfa'e c1sa-oigr HafferF. bribery frer1
shin hst-na ~ rriieloEs " poiiira' f~e nes
in aener ral in selecting fhs repre-ef
fFes to tae reEt feueraI As. rntr Ee
Z 7aer fer fhe va~e' E fef n7ra hut Knight.
4 ri fanor tras ani tfed. on farr6 sf Hich.
nnra 8 Ee7ffaIT