Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-04-24
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Al Organization whose Methods are
Peaceful, and which Opposes Bsycot
ting anu all Other Violations Of Law.


Peaceful, and which Opposes Bsyeot
ting anu all Other Violations Of Law.
The testimony OF Grand Master
Workman Powderly, just given be-
fore Congressional committee,
proves that the powerful organization
known as the Knights of Labor, is one
that should be encouraged and upheld
by all true patriots. Mr.. Powderly
said:
The aim of the organization is to
benefit the laborer, and to secure
better feeling between him and his
employer. All our methods are peace
full. We never counsel anything Of
a violent nature. A member of the
organic alton may once in while
commit acts of violence. We cannot
help that. 1t is matter beyond our
control, because when men feel they
have endured wrong there is no law
which can properly restrain them.
Our association is intended to be a
National one. When said | was
willing to expose everything in con-
nection with the organization If those
who manage railroads or if one man in
particular would examine the thing,
and would report fairly and truthfully,
had no objection to showing up
everything connected with the organ
ization, its secrets and pass words, and
everything else. am willing to lay
everything before the committee and
before the world. | want it under
stood that SO far as our Executive
Board is concerned, have from over
1000 assemblies letters of Endorsement
of the secret circular of mine, which
lsince it was issued) has been made
public. These Endorsements bear me
out in what have said. You can
understand from the tenor of the cir
cular the character of our organiza-
ton. When | stated that our organ .
ization was willing to meet our con-
testants before the courts, had nc
idea that was making a wrong
statement. believe that the law Of
the land is hig her than any organza-
ton, and that when man violates the
law of the land, whether as Knight OF
Labor or citizen. he should be pun.
ished. We aim at having our mem.
bers study the conditions by which
they are surrounded; not only their
own conditions, but those of the men
for whom they work.
We protect not only the labor OF
the country, but aim to protect the
manufacturers as well. We desire
that the manufacturers shall be IN
slch condition that they will be able
to pay good wages. We have nc
quarrel with legitimate enterprise. II
YOU discover that the members Of the
Knights of LIZ Dor along the railroads
have violated the law of the land OF
its own laws land the committee will
discover that fact, we will be as read,
to assist the citizens in his prosecu.
ton as any member of any corpora
ton. He should be punished for it
and his connection with an organiza
ton should be no shield Tor him.
have Thought, on the other hand, tina
man who violates the law and i.
worth millions of dollars should suffel
the same as the poor workman.
have made that statement and the
people have seen fit to see in it an in
vitation to anarchy. If that is anar
chy, in the name of God what is law
Our organization aims to settle al
differences by arbitration and recon.
Citation, and that is one cause why
we have difficulty in managing it. Ii
was never thought of until recently
that our organization should have any
thing to do with strikes. So, too
boycotting is something which we
have never legislated on but once, anG
that was to restrain it, and our re