Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-03-27
POWDERLY TALKS,
Hs Threatens to Resign as lsader
Of the Knights Of Labor
Unless His Orders Are 0bsysd BY
Local Assemblies.
The Grand Master Workman For
bids Strikes and Boycotts,
And is Against the Admission Of
New Members.
Hs COunssIs Arbitration and Pa
tisnes to the Order.
Chairman Martin Irons, Of East
ST. Louis,
Saws the Strike viii Take In the
Whole Country.
The Grand Master Workman For
bids Strikes and Boycotts,
Hs COunssIs Arbitration and Pa
tisnce to the Order.
Chairman Martin Irons, Of East
ST. Louis,
Saws the Strike viii Take In the
Whole Country.

ST. LOUIS, No, March 26.-Grand MsS-
tsr Workman Powdesly has issued secret
circular to the noble order Of the knights
Of Ls5or of America which has Just been
made public. Ar. Powderly instructs the
secretary of each assembly to call full
meeting and read before it the sentiments
which follow. The address opens with an
order 10 the assembly to cease initiating
new members until the relations Of capital
and labor shall become less strained than
Ct the present time, and continues; TO at.
tempt to win concessions or gains with our
present raw undisciplined membership
would be ike hurhDg az unorgsnized
mob against q we'll drilled regular army.
Ii is not fair to the older assemblies to
bring in new members, pick up their quar-
rels ss soon as organized and have them
expect pecuuiary aid from those who
helped build the order up for noble pur-
pose"
After dwelling OF somo length upon the
iuaisyisabiity of taking in new members
st present, the address continues: I'VE
MUST NOT FRrrTER AWAY OUR STRENGTH
and miss the opportunity Of present success
IN the struggle against capital BY rushing
into strikes. To the Cardinal principles Of
the order We must add ano.her-paience.
You have had patience tor years, and had
not the Knights Of LlboS appeared upon
the scene you would still be waiting. Your
scales Of prices must stand as they are for
III prs:en, It yol cannot raise them BY
any Othe- process TRAN q strike. You
mus, submit 10 iDiGstics at the hands of
employers in patience for awhile longer.
Bide well your time FIND
out TO how much you are justly entitled
and then the tribunal of arbitration Will
settle the rest.
Mr.. Powderly then cautions the
assemblies against receiving into
their ranks employers and warns the
Knights of Labor that the politician ia
planning night and day how to catch the
Knights Of Labor for tbs advantages of
himself aad party, snd adds that to use
the name of the 07des in political con-
.est is criminal and must not occur again.
Referring TO
THE EIGHT HOUR MOVEMENT.
The circular says Assemblies Of the
knights OF LABOR must not strike for the
eight hour system on May lst under the
impression tha, thsy are obeying orders
from headquarters tor guch an order was
not and will not be given. Out OF the
sixty million ofpsopls lathe United States
and Canada our order has possibly three
millions. Can We mould the sentiments OF
the millions 10 fsvo. Of the eight hour plan
before Msy lst2 Il is HoOsenss to think
Of il.
After speaking as the qualities which
the Olhcers of assemblies should possess,
and expecting the kuigals to elect honest
men of even temperament, Mr.. PowderlI
continues While write a dispatch is hand
ed ne in which | read these words: They
discharged our brother aud We struck, for
you know our motto iS An injury to one
g ,ss concern of all Yes "a in injury to
one js L5e concern Of all but il is not wise
to iuiure sl for the sake Of one. 1t would
have been far better to continue at work
and properly investigate the matter. bring
ing it before every known tribunal than to
nave struck"
Speaking of the relations between
-HE CHURCH AND THE KNIGHTS Or LABOR,
Mr. PoRderly ssys: II warn our mem.
bers against hasty, illcousidered action.
The Charch will not interfere with rs so
long as We maintain the law. IL the law Is
wrong /: i5 our duty TO change It sm
ashamed 70 NEE, with clergymen and others
TO tell them that our order is composed
OF swsbidiHg, intelligent men, while the
next dispatch brings the news OF Scme pet
" boycott or strike"
n conclusion the Master Workman
says.
4 vsots this circular to lag before the
Order ,hs exact conduct of things. an
neither physically nor mentally capable OF
?ertOrmlHg the work required OF me.
an willing to do my part but will not be
asked 10 maintain q false position before
the world any longer 0ue Of two things
must take place: Either the local aud dis
trlcl assemblies Of the Order must obey it's
Avs
OR MUST BE PERNiTTED TO RESIGN
from violation which o5iiSes me to play
one part before the public aud Euother to
our members. say to the world that the
hnigh:s Of Labor DO not approve of or en-
courage strikes, and in one day dispatches
come to me fzom Troy, y, \ Manchester,
n E., Chicago, III CineinEsti, Lynch
oa's Va, Springfield, o., and Montreal:
1t impossible for human nature to stand
'ne strain sny longer, it muSt have the as
s,s'ance Of the order or my most earnest
efforts will fail Viii / have il? 1t so,
strikes must be aYoi9ed, boycotrs must be
svolded. Those who boast must be check
cd oy their assemblies. No move must
9e nsde until the court OF the
last TezOrt has been appealed
TO-. Ihrsass Of .Yiolence,must not be made,
politicians mQsG DO hushed up or driven
out, obedience 10 the lava Of Knighthood
must have preference oyer tASSs OF any
o'oeF order. II these things are done the
ae&t hve years will witness
sE COMPLETE EMANCIPATION OF MANKIND
S nom the curse OF monopoly In oar mem
osts We require secrecy, obedience, assist
A9ee' patience and courage If with these
S's you strengthen nv hands, | viii con-
an:s IN the work. Ifyou d. not desire to
Sssls' AS IN this way, then select q man
better s1sLaed to obey ytur will and viii
retire 10 bis favor"