The Russellville Democrat., 1886-05-19
PowDERLY TALKs.
Secret Circular Issued by the
 General Master Workman.
Strikes and Boycotts sapping
 the Foundations of the Order.

Strikes and Boycotts Sappins
 the Foundations of the Order.
 "The following secret circular hal been received by the Knlghts of La bor or Chicago, and will be read ir the ssElse various assemblies during the coming week:
 NOBLE ORDER oF THE KNlGHTs oI LABOR OF AMERICA, PHiLADELPHIA May 3, 1886. To the Order Every where, Greeting The response tc the secret circular issued on March IS has been 50 generous, and the in dorsement of tho sentiments contain ed in 1t has been % unanimous, that I feel encouraged and strengthened in the work. Nearly four thousand assemblies have pledged themselves to act on tie advice contained in the circular Of the 18th uls. I feel that It only requires the coming to tue front of the real men of our order to set ns right before the world. We have been losing ground, so far as public opinion is concerned, for some tune. One of the causes is that we have allowed things to be done under the namc of the Knights Of Labor for which the organization was in no way responsible. I ask of our mem bers to keep jealous eye upon the doings of tue labor men who never labor, and when they charge any thing to onr order in your locality set the seal Of your condemnation upon it 1t once by denying it.
 FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.
 Ifa paper criticizes the Knights of Labor or it's officers, do not boycott it, and If you have any such boycotts on remove them. A journal not long since made some uncomplimentary allusions to the general master work man of the Knights of Labor, and al the next meeting of the nearest as sembly motion was passed to boy colt the paper; not that alone, but every person who advertised Tn the columns of the paper. l wrote to the assembly asking that they remove tue boycott. aud it was done. We must bear in mind that our general master workman is only man and is not above criticism. We demand tor ourselves the right of free speech. We can not consistently deny it to others. We must tolerate fair, open criticism. If a reply is necessary, make 1t in gentlemanly, dignified manner. If we are criticised or abused by blackguard sheet, treat 1t IS you would the blackguard him self-in silence.
 
 BURN THE BOYCOTT.
 If boycott notices are sent you, burn them. l have in my possession over 400 boycott notices which were sent to assemblies with a request that they be acted on. Let me men tion some of them; A member is ed fling a paper. He fears rival, and proceeds to get into an altercation with him, boycotts him, then asks the order to carry it out. A certain paper is influential in one or the other political parties. Members Of the opposing party conceive the idea Of getting rid of the paper, and they invoke the aid of the Knights of La bor, first taking the precaution to have the paper in question say something .uncomplimentary of the Knights of Labor. In fact, our order has been used as tail for hundred different kites, and in future 1t must soar aloft, free from all of them. l hate the word boycott. I was boy cotted ten years ago and could not get work at my trade for months. It is bad practice; it has been handed to us by the capitalists. Lave no use for it only when everything else fails.
 sENsELEss RESOLUTIONS.
 In future the general executive board must not be interfered with in the performance of It's duty. If you have confidence in them, sustain them and obey them; if not, ask for their resignations. While the board was endeavoring to settle the southwest troubles, assemblies in some places, with the best intentions, no doubt, were passing and publishing resolu tions condemning Jay Gould. These things did no good; on the contrary, they were injurious. In the settle- ment Of troubles it becomes the duty of the executive board to meet every body and go everywhere. While they are doing this they must not be hampered by the actions of those who do not know what their task is. Keep quiet; let your officers do their best, and if you can not find way to aid them, do not retard their prog ress. Resolutions do not pre- vent land stealing, stock watering, or gambling Tn the necessaries Of life. If I had my mind made up to rob bank at midnight string of resolutions as long as the moral law, protesting against my contemplated action, would not influence me par ticle: but if some interested party would take the trouble to study up the question aud would inform him