The Dillon tribune., 1886-03-20
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.


The secret workings Of the Order are,
for the most part, unknown to the general
public, but the widespread character Of the
present labor troubles is authoritivelv ex-
planned. By persistent investigation it has
been discovered that all Of the existing
mammoth strikes, and the aggressive
course recently inaugurated under the
auspices OF the Order, are the result OF
confidential committees lately sent out
BY the National Executive Committee of
the Knights Of Labor. These confidential
committees instructed all district Assem-.
blies that had the smallest OF most trivial
grievance, that had not been presented for
adjustment, to press the same TO an I'M
mediate settlement, irrespective Of the dc.
sires Of the local assemblies. Strikes all
over the land followed in rapid succession,
and the business interests Of the country,
in many instances, have been demora'ized
or paralyzed in consequence. Thus sar
the strikers have not gained many points,
and al they have gained could have been
obtained BY quiet arbitration or By other
means than Wholesale striking. The sc.
cset workings Of the Order are not known,
but from pamphlet publications we can
give some information relating t. the Or.
der, when such publications are officially
made by the Assemblies. Still, these
psmphiets show 50 many Inconsistencies
that we are At great loss to know just what
kind Of secret Order it il. A couple Of
extracts from pamphlet Of the Order, be-
fore US, will show that the Order lacks
consistency. On page 7 in the bylaws Of
the Order, article ;, section /, we read as
follows under the head Of "mcmbership:"
"a person desirous Of becoming mem.
Der Of this Assembly must be Of industri.
Gus habits, having some known and honor
able means Of support, and over the age of
eighteen years, 7vyfhonf regard to nation
ol;!y, sex, creed, az eolor."
The italicizing is ours. That section on
membership, it Is true is not plain, but
from it any one will infer that no distinc-
ton is made a. to Cinnamon, niggers Or
any other class Of people. Certainly the
section reads that way, and If It does not
mean that there Is no distinction in admit.
ting members to the Order, on account Of
nationality or color, what does it mean?
From the section quoted from the pam
pi,lct we arc led to believe that the members
arc admitted without regard to nationality
and that the organization does not discriu,.
mate against any class Of men. But as VIC
read the pages Of the pamphlet further we
find that the section on membership
does not express declaration of principle
in harmony with other sections. On page
eleven Of the pamphlet we find that the Or
der does express very emphatic hostility to
persons ON account Of their nationality
From page II, article 5, section ;, on ''pen
allies," We quote:
"Any member who shall patronize o,
employ Chinese shall be suspended from
all rights and privileges of membership
and for second offensc, shall be expelled
from this Assembly,
Itappears quite plain from the section
on ''members ship" that Chinaman may
become member, for that section says
there is no "ycgurd to nationality, Srv, creesi
or coloy." Does the section mean what i,
says: II SO. China,nan is eligible t.
membership. There is nothing palmer
The section on page II, relating to "penal.
ties" is not consistent with the section ON
'membcrship," for il u Chinaman be 4
member of the Order, amy member who pa.
tronizcs said Celestial must be expelled from
membership, tor the second time employ.
ing said dark.colored member. These two
specimens from the pamphlet will show
the inconsistency Of the Order as it ap.
pears on the otticia! pages Of the pamphlet
issued by it. lfthe Order intends to dis.
criminatc against the Chinese the section
regarding membership should hc stricken
plainly says that "without regard to nation
ality, sex creed, or color" Il person may
become member. Other Inconsistencies
might be pointed out, hut these will suffice
or the secret workings of the Order we
know nothing, but il the secrets are as
! buugling as the pupl>hc>; by laws, there is
no wonder that the Knights, all over the
country, are rushing pell.mcll into strikes
of all descriptions.