The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-10-16

place OF accept Inc crumbs OF charity TO sustain
life. History will repeat itself and the fight
for existence viii be wsged with unrelenting
fury.
The machine must become the slave of the
man, instead OF keeping the man in attendance
on and subordinate 10 the machine A plan of
cooperation through which the workman may
control the machine he operates must one day
supersede the present system. To properly map
out suca plan requires more time than have
had or am likely TO have al my disposal. can
only cooperate with Others in the work.
CHILD LABOR.
The thirteenth article in our declaration of
principles reads "The prohibition by law of the
employment OF children under is years of age in
workshops, mines and factories" The end sought
for in carrying this declaration into effect Is not
that the child may live in ideness: 1t is not that
more adults may be employed. IL is that the
child OF the poor man.may be enabled to acquire
an education 10 equip him for the duties which
will in future fal upon him man and citizen.
We cannot afford U pass this question by and
leglsale on some simple question OF trade dis.
cipline. The question of chi d-labor and educa-
tnn is the most important that can come before
us now or at any other time. With an educa-
r!on all things are easy of accomplishment; with
ont 1t, hope itself almost dies. and liberty is a
In our organizations of labor-and it has been
so from the beginning-we take up the work of
reform when the subject is advanced in years
the new member must be above 10 years before
admit him. We attempt to drive from his
mind the false ideas gathered fom the work
shop, or, possibly, the street corner. His habits
are termed, and the work that should have been
begun at years we take up at 20 or later in life.
To attempt 10 settle so intricate question as the
one we are graphing with, or TO successfully
solve the question, is task so difficult that do
not wonder that men drop out of the ranks OF
labor organizations discouraged and hopeless.
To make the necessary progress we must begin
with the child and see to il that he has an educa-
ton If the principles of the Knights of Labor
are highland few men question them-we should
teach them 10 the young. II should be a part of
the duty of every assembly to ascertain the num-
Der of children who do not attend school in its
vicinity, learn what the causes are, and take
steps to have them attend school
The sword may strike the shackles from the
limbs of the slave, but it is education and organ
ization that make OF him free man. He is still
a slave whose limbs alone have been freed.
OF what avail is il to say that are laboring
to establish system of cooperation. when that
which is most essential to the success of co-opera-
ti0n is lacking. A business training is necessary
to successfully carry on cooperative enterprise
If the management of the large or small concerns
now in operation in this country were turned over
to us to-day we would but run them in the
ground, for We lack the business training neces-
sary to succes sfully operate them. Our vanity
may prevent us rom acknowledging this to be
true, but we cannot deny 1t. 1t is through no
fault of that IL is true, but II II continues 1t
win be our fault.
ask that special committee on education be
appointed to prepare and recommend to this gen,
eral assembly plan for the better education of
the American youth.
THE TROUBLE WITH TRADE UNIONS,
in which certain OF our members and assemble
distorted. The proceedings of the Cleveland
special session of the General Assembly and the
report of the general executive board, submitted
to you to-day, VIII be sufficient l need not en-
into detail further than TO say that there were
mistakes made on both sides. Some of our or
ganizers have been so Jealous in their way of or
ganiziDg that they have encroached upon the pre-
negatives of other associations, and on several
occasions the rights of our members have been
seriously interfered with by members of trades
unions. Since the special session of the General
parts of our order and other societies have been
placed before me for adjustment. 1t was not
necessary to place these cases before the general
executive board. few lines IN each case was
sufficient, and the trouble ended. To dig up
past troubles is unnecessary and, in consul
tation with prominent men of the trade
unions | was gratIfied to learn that they had no
desire to revive the past. For the future rec
ommend that all matters likely to create breach
of the peace between our order and any other be
at once submitted to the executives of both or
CARNATIONS If trade union complains of any
action on the part of order let the aggrieved
party submit the matter to the president OF his
| union: he to investigate and falling to effect
remedy, to place the matter before the general
| master workman and executive board. II the
aggrieved party is a member of assembly OF
| the knights Of Labor, let the same mode of pro
| cedure be gene through with, and, above all
| things, let speedy and impartial invest CATION
| and an immediate settlement be made. This
plan has worked well in every new case called to
my attention since the Cleveland session, and ii
| is worthy of adoption.
| More trouble has been caused us Dy men VINO
| profess to be members of the Knights of Labor
| than by members of trade unions ! respect the
man who, being member of trade union,
| does everything honorable in his power to de-
fend and perpetuate his organiZation; but for the
knights of Labor who would even attempt to
subordinate our order to any other have moth
| ing but contempt. In my estimation there Is
| but one place for such man, and that is on
the outside of our order.
| If the representatives OF the trade unions and
of our order come together, and both ale sincere
+l,oTr To hpir Uizg.
tions, an honest and satisfactory solution OF
every difficulty can be arrived at No sacrifice
of principle or regard for either organization
need attend such a meeting. But the man who
through fear, policy, Indifference or a desire TO
acquire popularity, neglects the interest of the
order he represents is not honest, and should
not be allowed TO act in any capacity for any
society of workingmen.
PERSONAL.
With the session of the General Assembly only
three DAYS away, ii will not be possible for me to
say all that would like to upon the questions
that will come up before US My time has been
entirely taken up with the detail work of The or
der and forced TO neglect this duty in order
to give any time or attention to preparation fol-
the coming OF the General Assembly 1t will sur
prise you to learn that even at this moment when
every member knows full well that we are as.
sembled in general convention, secretaries and
members are addressing me at my Office in the ex
recitation of receiving an immediate reply. Let
| tiers and kilograms by the hundred viii flow In
upon me even while the General Assembly is in
session.
The duties which called me away from home
for the greater part of the year that has CLOSED
made it impossible to give proper attention TO my
| CORES pondence. TO read each letter addressed
| TO me would occupy every moment of the twenty
| four hours, leaving me no time to answer or die
| tate an answer to any of them. / attended to al
that / could and the Others will never be reached
| If this is neglect of duty, then am guilty; but
have no apology TO offer did all that could dt
more could not be expected ofme.
| / have never, during the seven years that
| az :
| member of this order subject of personal oi
| public criticism or abuse. such treatment has
| not been accorded to me. Nhe her the inten
| ton was TO have me reply through the pubic
| press do not know, put have made it a rul
| never TO speak in criticism, harsh or otherwise o
| a man except when standing face to face will
| him. And have studiously refrained from
| replying to or denying attacks or accusation
| against me, except IN the presence of those WHIT
| made them. When called upon to defend the or
der or its principles have attempted to doso.
| | have been accused of displaying "lack o
| nerve" of want of backbone" and of being to-
weak man to lead strong movement"
have never replied to these charges, nor VIII d.
so now. ! simply point back to a record Of sevel
| years of service and ask this question: IT. Will
| holding position such no man, living or dead
ever held before, with the
FULL BLAZE OF PUBLIC SCRUTINY
| shining upon my every action with public opin
ion ready to condemn as to applaud..I have dis
| played a lack of nerve or backbone why is 1t tha
a million men and women of nerve, backbone
| and common sense have gathered around tn
| standard which was placed in my hands seve
| years ago by the founder of the order himself?
| have proven a weak man, why do so man
| strong men support me- l dislike to speak {
| these matters, but l believe that, in justice {
| yourself and me, you should know of them. B
men who are not knights Of Labor l have bee
called weak because / discountenaneed violenC
and hasty, ill-advised action. | have no excus
to offer. for If this is offense let the 1eners
Assembly itself offer the apology. My views VI
on such questions were known to each Generf
Assembly before my ELECTION as general mastt
workman, and in electing me they indOrsed an
made themselves responsible for these sentiment
| 1t has been charged that between members
the general executive board and myself seriou
disturbances have taken place; that rupture
have occurred of a serious character. Othel
| have charged that the board constituted itself
ring to manage affairs. These statements, IL
ventions of the enemy, have damaging efie'
! when told to the unwary. The first assertion
utterly false, for between the board and myse
there has been no rupture or even difference.
at first we did not agree upon question we di
| cussed 1T until the fullest possible light shoI
| upon il. and, when we went to the world with
we went as one man. Every attempt 10 divide
has been failure. That we have constituted ou
selves ring to manage affairs Is true; that
what you elected US for. We are ring, solid al
unbroken: and hope the next board will be q
same. For standing together in unity we ba'
no apologies to Offer For myself, | say may