The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-03-27

Stoppeu - Also 1Oycoits G'SHt-
Hour Rule May Iat-Rcview of the
Situation on the Gould Lines.
ST. LOUIS, March 27-GeneIal Master
Workman PowderIy has issued secret Cir
cular to the Noble Order of the Knights of
Labor of America which has just been
made public. Mr.. Powderly in,tru Is tie
secretary of each assembly to call ull
meeting, and read before it the senti tents
which follow:
The address opens with an order to the
assembly to cease initiating new mem ncrs
until the relations of capital and labor have
become less strained than at the present
time, and continues:
TO attempt to win con 'essions or gains
with our present raw, undisciplinei mem
hership would lie ike hurting IN unorgan-
led mob against well drilled regular
army. 1t is not fair to the Ole assemblies
to tring in new niembe S. pick up their
quarr,ls as soon as organized AMI have
them expect pecuniary aid from those who
helfed build the order up Tor a noble pur
pose -
After dwelling at some length upon the
nadvisalI tiles of taking in new membe
at lItS'nb, INC dtHlItSs tpntlnHts.
We must not frittcr away our strength
and miss the opportunity of PRESENT su cess
in the strug le against capital by rushing
into useless strikes To the cardinal principle
Of the order we must add another patience
You have had patience for years, and had
not the Knights Of Labor appeared upon
the scene you would still lie waiting Your
sale of prices must stand as they are for
the present if you can not raise them by
any ether process than strike You must
submit to Injustice at the hands OF the EN-
ployer in patience for while longer Bide
well your time = Find out how
much your are justly entitled to and tirb-
unal of arbitration will settle the rest
Mr.. Powde ly then cautioned the Assem-
bles against ecei,ing into their ranks en-
ployers and warned the Knights of Labor
that the politician is planning night and
day how TO catch the Knights of Labor for
the advantages of himself and party, and
adds, that to use the name of the order in a
political contest is criminal and must not
occur again. referring to the eight hour
mo oyement the circular says
Assemblies of the Knights of Labor must
not strike for the eight hour system on May
! under the impression that they are obey
ing orders from headquarters for such an
order was not and viii not be given. Out
of the 60,0O0,000 of people in the United
States and Canada our order has possibly
100000 Can we mould the sentiments OF
the millions in favor of the short-hour plan
before May 1: 1t is nonsense to think of
itn
After speaking of the qualities which the
nfA;,
pecting the knights to elect honest men of
even temperament, Mr.. Powierly continues:
while | write a dispatch is handed me
in which | read these words: They dis
charged our bi other and we struck, for You
know our motto is An injury to one is the
concern of all " Yes, an INJURY to one is
the concern of all, hut it is not wise to in
jure all for the sake of one. 1t would have
been far better to continue at work and
properly investigate the matter, bringing it
before every known tribunal than to have
struck"
Speaking of the relations between the
church and the Knights of Labor, Mr..
Powderly says:
Il warn members against basty, illcon-
sidered action. The church will not inter
fere with us so long as We maintain the law
If the law is wrong 1t is our duty TO change
it. | am ashamed to meet with clergymen
and others to tell them that our order is
composed of law-abiding, intelligent men,
while the next dispatch brings the news of
some petty boycott or strike"
In conclusion the master workman saws:
Il write this circular to lay before the or
der the exact condition of things i am
usither physically nor mentally capable of
performing the work required of me | am
willing to do my part, but not TO be asked
to maintain false position before the world
any longer. One of two things must take
place-either the local and district assem-
bles of the order must obey its laws or |
must be permitted to resign from vocation
which obliges Inc to play one part before
the public and another to our members
say to the world that the Knights of Labor
do not approve OF or encourage. strikes and
in one day dispatches come to me from Troy,
N. Y. Manchester, n. il Chicago, Cincin
natl, Lynchpurg, Va; Sprinfield
Ohio, and Montreal 1t is impossible for hu-
man nature to stand the strain any longer
must have the assistance of the order or
my most earnest efforts will fail Win
have it! Ii so strikes must be avoided; boy
colts mu t be avoided.
Those who hoast must be checked by their
assemblies No move trust be made until
the court of last resort has been appealed to-
| Threats of violenee must not be made Poll
ticians must be hushel up or driven out
Obedience to the laws of knighthood must
have preference over those of any other
order. If these things are done the next
| five years will witness the complete emanci
! patton of mankinl from the curse of
monopoly. Of our members We require Sc
crecy, obedience, assistance, patience and
courage. If with these aids you strengthen
! my hands | win continue in the work. If
| you do not desire to assist me in this way
| then select man better qualified to obey
| your will, and | will retire in his favor"