The examiner., 1886-07-17
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
How the Order Originated. and How
IL iA WORKED.

How the Order Originated. and How
1T lis Worked.
On every hand we hear of the Knights
of Labor and their work They have be-
come one of the greatest powers In this
country. The order was formed in 1869
at Philadelphia, and soon spread until
now almost every hamlet has it's local
assembly. In 1878 a convention was
called and the General Assembly of North
America established at which Uriah S.
Stevens, the founder OF the order, was
chosen Grand Master Workman. None
of the present officers know how many
members the order has, for it is increasing
at the rate of 1901 900 year, so that any
correct calculation is out of the question.
Amy person who stands well in his trade
above the age Of IS, whether male or
female, without distinction of creed or
color, whether tradesman, manufacturer
employer or employee, may become
member. Not so lawyers, bankers, brok-
ers, professional gamblers or any person
who derives profit from the sale of in
toxicating liquors.
The Executive Board has the power to
order or terminate strikes, raise, order, or
extends boycotts, it confers with capital
lists and employers and in fact controls
the entire organization, except when the
General Assembly is in session.
The Executive Board has the entirec
troll of the organization, and in their
several capacities the members are con-
tinually on the go from one city to
another arranging labor difficulties. The
salaries paid to the officers are small For
instance the head of the order received
but 81. 500 year the Secretary and
Treasurer $1,000, while the other MEM
bers of the Executive Board receive but So
day, and this only for those days during
which they attend exclusively to the socie-
ty's affairs.
The order was founded to prevent the
encroachment of capital on labor, The
local assemblies govern themselves. They
have the power to boycott whomever they
please in their own district Strikes can
also be ordered by the local assemblies;
if they hope however, to obtain aid from
the General Assembly, the strike must be
legalized To do this the Local Assembly
must notify the District Assembly, whose
officers must investigate the reasons for
discomfort. Two weeks notice is given,
and if in that time the district officers
cannot bring about harmony between en-
ployer and employed, the strike is 1egaliz-
ed, after which the financial support of
the entire district may be worked. If the
strike extends to other branches of trade
or other assemblies and the district is
unable to sustain it, then an assessment
may be laid on the entire organization
GAS WOI1u. uC OIlly UlmC SuCA
tax was laid, was during the great tele.
graph operators strike, and then it was
not collected.
1t is somewhat singular that mode of
proceeding instituted by the peasantry of
Ireland against petty tyrant-Capt.
Boycott-should become the most effic-
lent weapon that the Knights Of Labor
have to enforce their demands.
The head of the ORDER Torrance v. Pow
derby, was born in Carbonate, Pa, Janu-
airy "a, 1S49. He learned the machinist's
trade, and put in his spare time in educat-
ing himself in civil engineering. At the
age of 10 he joined the Machinists' and
Blacksmiths' Union of Scranton, and be-
came its presiding officer. Ten years ago
he Joined the knights of Labor, and be-
came Secretary of District Assembly No.
16. He was active in bringing together
the scattered threads of the order to form
the first General Assembly in 1878, and
to him is greatly due the phenomenal sue
cess of the order. In the great labor
movement of 1877 he was made Mayor of
Scranton, and afterwards was elected to
the same Office by the Democrats, and
again on the peoples ticket He was re-
elected six times to the position of head
of the Knights of Labor. He is a strict
teetotaler, and does not use tobacco in
any form