The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-20
A STARTLING EXPOSURE.
Alleged Inside Work of the Knights of Labor
Signals, Grips. Signs and Passwords.

| New York Special
| The Amsterdam Democrat publishes what il
alleges is exposure of the inside work of the
| knights of Labor. 1t asserts that the instruc
tons to the local assemblies contain these in
structions, signed by Mr. Frederick Turner. the
general secretary of the order:
1 We give herewith the official and correct secret
| work for locals. If there is any sign or part OF
| sign, grip or part of grip, words or symbols
IN use IN your local different from what you find
| laid down here, discard the same at once, no
matter where or from whom received The work
| is here given for the sake of convenience in the
| order In which it occurs in the instructions OF
| the Venerable Sage:
Entering signal, inner veil-Three raps given
| In this peculiar manner: One a short pause two
/ in quick succession.
| Sign OF Obiiteraton-Place the palm of the
right hand on toe left both hands in front of the
ooay at the height of the elbow elbows close to
the hands right ard left as if wpng off the left
| hand. with the right elbow still touching the
sides, right palm down, left palm up, then drop
ootn hands naturally at the sides. Do not bring
.ne the, hands together with slap or noise; do not
hold the hands higher than the elbows in sepa-
| rating them; do not throw them ont sideways
| beyond body line with the body
| Grlp-Extend the hand with the thumb paral-
lei with the forehnger and close to it, clasp the
hands with the fingers, without locking the
thumbs. with a side pressure of the thumbs on
the outside, thumbs still extended parallel with
| each other; then end by locking the thumbs and
| an ordinary shake of the hand.
Sign of Recogntion-The sign is made with the
ieIt hand; the thumb and first two fingers of the
left hand take hold at the end of the right sleeve
| OF the cuff at the right hand: thumb on the out
side OF the two fingers inserted on the inside,
make motion as If to turn up the cuff; the
LANGUAGE of the sign is: 81 am worker"
The answer is made in this manner: Draw the
right hand open across the forehead from right
to LETT, back of the hand to the front The
language of the sign is: Il too earn my bread
by the sweat of my brow
Verbal chalenee-The following words are
used where member might be seeking for work
or information: II have Gomez A member re-
plying TO the challenge, 'Work your way" Any
words can be used after the word 'come" and
way so as not to attract attention such as II
have come to look for work.
Cry OF distress, Ito be used in the dark or
when the sign of recognition cannot be used)-
The words are Il am "A stranger" giving en-
phass to the word stranger" Any member of
the order hearing this will answers IA stranger
should be assisted" Caution: AS the value of
the cry OF distress foF practical use depends en-
tirely on the accuracy of wording great care
should be exercised in instructing candidates.
Inc words given above are of the official work,
although members are allowed to supplement
the words given with others, so as not to attract
| undue attention from those not mem bers as, for
instance, Il am stranger. and need assistance"
aheWeT' n stranger SnOOlQ De assisted. and i,
for one, am willing to help you" Any similar
addition to the words can be used.
Sign of caution-Close the last two fingers of
the right hand leaving the first two fingers ex-
tended. Place the two extended fingers on the
left side OF the forehead, back of the hand to
the front; then draw the fingers across the fore
head towards the right and down over the right
side OF the face; then across the mouth toward
the left. the thumb under the chin in a careless
manner.
The test-The naster -vorLman .nd xror,b,,
foreman are the only officers of local assembly
allowed to be instructed in the test, as the
worthy foreman has to act in the absence of the
master workman and must be competent to ex-
anime visiting member or give the proper in
struction to member who has received travel
ing card. 1t must never be given to candidates
as part of the Instructions nor to any member
until travelling card has been granted except as
hereafter provided. The master workman of a
local assembly is authorized TO instruct in the
test and communicate the annual travelling pass
word TO visiting member of thee order upon
the presentation of a travelling card and a writ
ten request over the signatures of the master
workman, recording secretary and financial Sec
Rotary of the assembly to which the visitors be-
long The master workman may also instruct
In the test and communicate the annual travel
ing pass to any member of the local who may
have been elected representative of the general
assembly.
The General Assembly at Philadelphia decid-
ed to return to the old form OF initiation An
unknown Knight administers the pledge. after
which he proceeds with the candidate to the
master workman for instructions, and then to
the worthy foreman for his addresses, and final
ly to the venerable sage The password issued
by the district master workman Is changed semi
annually These Instructions by the general
master workman as to the proposed manner of
opening local assembly are hereby officially
promulgated: When the master workman has
taken his stand at the capital and says: sAll per-
sons not entitled to sit, etc. the worthy inspect
or takes the globe and lance and proceeds
to make an examination of the outside and
inside wells with them. Previous to these pro-
ceedings all persons are at liberty to enter the
room, but the veiis are then closed, and none
can enter without giving the password. When
the worthy inspector goes to the outer veil to
put up the globe in its place the outside esquire
also takes his place in the ante-room, and when
the worthy inspector enters the inside veil, the
inside esquire takes his place. A member of the
order is not required TO give the password at the
wells until the proper symbol is in its place If
these are not in place while the worthy inspector
is taking up the password a shrewd person can
slip in without giving the password and at the
same time elude the vigilance of the worthy in
spector."
The Democrat says it obtained its expose from
Philadelphia. The matter has created much
comment hereabouts The ritual OF the Knights
of Labor is in the hands of only one person in
each local assembly. and he is generally the mas
ter workman The organizers usually carry
copy with them. IL a person is caught giving
away the secrets of the order he is expelled.
Altogether about one thousand persons have
been expelled for giving out the secrets of the
order, but no one ever before published them in
a newspaper. Many of the expelled members
undertook to initiate men into the noble order
of the Knights of Labor in bar-rooms and were
reported. The Knights of year or SO have been
fighting w. j. Kline, owner of the Democrat. in
which their ritual has just been published The
Knights in the city say that this publication is
to be greatly regretted, but that it will not in
volve their fixing up new ritual right away.
Granda Denies that Fa CoDTarsad