Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-07-16

VINO was comparatively unhnONn Ill tue
country at large, six months ago, is now the
best known representative wOrkingman In
America, and possesses more power and in
fiuence than any man out of official posi-
tion on the continent Powderly in Ameri-
ca corresponds in position with Psrnell in
ireland, and may be termed the uncrowned
king of the American toilers. But this
high position has been attained by him as
the result of the wisdom and good sense he
has shown, and by the conservative and
statesmanlike course he has pursued, In 8
great emergency. He has been especially
wary as to politicians, and has warned the
willy devices and revolutionary and dan
gerous plotting.
And now II is reported that Mr. Powderly
proposes to descend from his pre-eminent
position and become politician himself
We protest
We have some stock in Mr.. POwderly.
A few months ago it was feared by some
persons that the Knights OF Labor were
This belief was based upon reports that the
order was growing rapidly and becoming
very strong. and there were rumOTs that a
general strike was TO be organized. Then
il appeared that Mr. Powderly was at the
head of the Knights and it must have been
inferred by the alarmistS. from his very
name. that he was an explosive sort of a
fellow and would go off. at half cock, per
haps, and do a great deal of damage. u
timately there were labor troubles, but
events showed that the Knights were not
the originatorS of the outbreak. And MI.
Powderly came to the front, with his i'm
mense following reasonably well in hand,
and proved most powerful regulator and
pacifcator He surprised friends and foes
by denouncing strikes and boycOtts, except
as last resort" and declared in favor of
obedience TO law and the paying Of respect to
individual and property rights, and proved
to be, really, peacemaker instead of a
revolutiOnSt-a wise man and good citizen
making few mistakes, but not many
and commanding the almost universal ap-
proyal Of the press and the people. Each
had secured on public esteem and conf
dence He denounced the politicians; de-
clared that he, himself. would accept no
nomination for office; warned his followers
tisans; and, as crowning act refused an
increase of salary, prefering TO work for the
public good, at a small salary, because he
considered the privilege of 80 doing suffi-
cient compensation in itself.
Really, Mr.. POwderly occupied halfway,
connecting position between capital and
labor and he has already done more toward
bringing the two into common and co
operative position than has ever been done
by any one man or any one organization.
For these reasons the people of the
country will greatly regret the
reported abdication. by Mr.. Powderiy, OF his
powerful vantage ground, and his turning
his back on his utterances and record. No
doubt, he would be an honest politician and
a good executive officer. But he would find
himself among class of men rather
smarter, in their line. than he is. and il
elected governor, or even president, lie
would be i'm position of very little real
power-certainly with no force at all as q
friend of the labor interests of the country.
As governor Of Pennsylvania. or presi-
dent OF the United States, he would have
a few unimpOrtant offices which he might
fill with competent workingmen, and he
would have the merely negative power of
vetoing such bills as he did not approve.
He could originate nothing and all attempts
to promote legislation would be properly
resented by the legislature or congress. Mr..
Powderly could do more for his cause tor
we hope he does not propose to forsake it,
by going TO the legislature or TO congress,
in which bodies he could propose measures
and advocate them i'll a way that would
command the attention and we have No
doubt the support of the masses of the
American people. But Mr.. Powderly is
stronger and more useful in his present pO-
sition than he could be in any other and il
is to the interest of the working men and
the capitalists of the country that he should
remain as a great master workman and
prosecute TO higher and broader results the
good work so well begun.
Since the foregoing was put in type we
have discovered in the Cincinnati CONNER
cidl Gazette, the following:
Grand Master Workman POwdery says he
has grown sick of denying that he is a Candi-
date for gov, THOr OF Pennsylvania, OF for any
other political Office Mcneil. OF Massachu-
sets, has been named as candidate against
Mr.. Powderly for the office of master work
man.
II is evident that Mr.. Powderly will not
abdicate.