, 1886-03-09
rowderly Interviewed.

Master Workman Powderly, the head of
the Knights of Labor organization, who
is in this city attending a meeting of the
general executive board, said tonight TO
a representative of the Associated Press,
that he had received no to st.
Louis to settle the difficulties between the
strikers and the Gould system of roads;
that there is no Significance in the fact
that so many strikes are now in progress
in the United States by assemblies of the
X. of L. 1T is coincidence merely, "
said he; and there is no concerted ac-
ton contemplated by the order, as has
been suggested, the strikes being inciden-
tai, and | think chiefly owing to the fact
that this is just the beginning of the
spring trade and the opening of Il period
of prosperity in business.
Mr.. Powderly, upon being asked
whether he did not think that the increase
in the number of strikes Just now was
owing to the knowledge of an increased
power by organizations of labor, said; II
doubt it. | think that | can speak for
the general executive board. | do not
think it is wise to i%nauguratc so many
strikes unless il can be show there Is an
extreme necessity for them. If many of
the men who are striking would display a
a little more common sense and use Il
little more patience, they would get all
that they are striking for, and save their
time and money in the bargain. II they
would exercise proper moderation in their
negotiations with their employers and
submit their claims firmly made and
properly represented to arbitration, [ am
free to say that | am sure that nine out Of
ten cases which end in a strike,
could be as satisfactorily arranged without
resorting to such an extreme and general
ly doubtful expedient; indeed in nine
cases there would be no necessity for a
strike. There is n feeling now that labor
must be recognized by the employer;
that The employer must listen to the en-
ployes and the time has como when the
sh0pman, mill owner and manufacturer,
in every department of trade is ready to
listen to the demands of his men and to
yield to them when those demands are
reasonable. The organization, Discipline
and realization of right and might in the
case has brought about this change and
these advances on the partof the employer
should not be refused by hasty and incon-
siderate action on the part of the work
ing men.
Arbitration, then, and not strikes, is
the theory of the order2' said the re-
porter.
eyes; arbitration always, when it is
possible, and strike only M a last resort;
but when that point is reached, strike
hard, strike in earnest, and never surren
der except to just concessions. Why, this
board, pointing to the members who
were listening, has. since the LIST of JAN
uary, settled by arbitration $50 cases
which would otherwise have resulted in
strikes without gaining a single point by
the strikes. The Knights of Labor and
other labor organizations in sympathy
with the plan constitute at the present
time the most powerful organization of
w%orkingmen ever known in the history Of
the world. Its strength is increasing
every day and its influence is felt
every day in every branch of
trade in this country. 1t is dan
gerous to abuse this power. 1t
can always insist upon just demands
which are fully considered and thought
fully digested. II can't afford to lritter
itself away upon every little p%retense of
wrong, hastily formulated and high-head-
edly insisted upon. The growth of
power of labor should be an occasion for
calm deliberation aud moderation. Work
ingmen should see to it that they do not
sap and undermine their strength by ex-
IRENE demands and unreasonable assump-
ton of their Importance and power. 1t is
as someone has said before ne, a good
thing TO have the power of Grant, but is
an evil thing to use it like Grant