Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-10-05

no fault of ours that it is true, but if it
continues it will be our fault.
l ask that special committee on edu-
cation be appointed to prepare and recon-
mend to this General Assembly plan for
the American youth:
TRADE UNIONS.
The trouble with trade unions in which
certain of our members and Assemblies
have been engaged was greatly magnified
and 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,
will be sufficient. need not enter into
detail further than to say that there were
mistakes made on both sides. Some Of
our organizers have been so Jealous in
their way of organizing that they have en-
croached upon the prerogatives of other
associations, and on several occasions the
rights of our members have been seriously
| interfered with by members of trade unions.
Since the special session of the General
Assembly over fifty cases of dispute
between parts of our Order and other So
cieties have been placed before me for adj
justment 1t was not necessary to place
these cases befor the General Executive
Board. A few lines in each case was suf-
/ fcent, and the trouble ended. To dig up
past troubles is unnecessary, and, in con-
sultation with prominent men of the trade
union, was gratified to learn that they
had no desire to revive the past. For the
! future, 1 recommend that all matters
| likely to create q breach of the peace be-
tween our Order and any other be at once
submitted to the executives of both organ
izations. If trade union complains OF
any action on the part Of our order, let the
aggrieved party submit the matter to the
President of his UuiOn-he to investigate;
and, failing TO effect q remedy, to place
the matter before the General Master
Workman and Executive Board. lfthe
aggrieved party is member of an Assem-
bly, of the knights of Labor, let the same
mode of procedure be gone through with,
and above all things, let speedy and I'M
partial investigation and an immediate
settlement be made. This plan
has worked well in every new
case called to my attention since the Cleve-
land session, and it is worthy of adoption.
More trouble has been caused us by men
who profess to be members of the Knights
of Labor than by members OF trades
unions. respect the man who, being
member of trade union. does everything
honorable in his power to defend and per-
petuate his organization; but for the
Knight of Labor who would even attempt
to subordinate our Order to any other |
have nothing but contempt. In my eStl-
nation, 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 are sincere in their devotion to their
respective organizations, 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 men who,
through fear, policy, indifference, or de-
sire to acquire popularity, neglects the in
tercsts of the Order he represents Is not
honest, Ond should not be allowed to act
in any capacity ior any society OF work
ingmen.
With the session of the Grand Assembly
only three days away, it will not be pos
sible for me to say all that would like to
upon the questions that will come before
us. Ny time has been entirely taken
up with the detail of the
Order, and | was forced to neglect
this duty in order to give any time or at
tention to preparation for the coming of
the General Assembly. 1t will surprise
you to learn that even at this moment,
when every member knows full well that
we are assembled in General Convention,
Secretaries and members are addressing me
at my Office in the expectation of receiving
an immediate reply. Letters and kilograms
by the hundred will flow in upon me even
while the General Assembly is in session.
The duties which called rue away from
home for the greater part Ofthe year that
has closed made it impossible to give
proper attention to my correspondence. To
read each letter addressed to me would
occupy every moment of the twenty-four
hours, leaving no time to answer or dictate
an answer to any of them. | attended to
all 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 dO-mOrc
could not be expected Of me.
have never, dvring the seven years that
| have served rs General Master Workman,
made a member of this Order subject OF
personal or public criticism or abuse Such |
treatment has not been accorded to me.
Whether the intention was to have me re-
ply through the public press | do not
know, but / have made it a rule never to
speak in criticism, harsh or otherwise, of
man, except when standing face to face
with him. And | have as studiOnsly re-
Trained from replying to or denying attacks
or nc cuSatiOns against me, except in the
presence of those who made them. When
called upon to defend the Order or its
principles, | have attem pied to do so.
| have been accused of displaying
"lack of nerve" of want of backbone"
and of being too "weak 4 man to lead a
strong movement" have never replied
TO these charges, nor will do so now. /
simply point back to record of seven
wears of service and ask this question: IF,
while holding position such as no man
living or dead ever held before, with the
full blaze of public scrutiny shining upon
nv every action, with public opinion as
ready to condemn as to applaud, | have
displayed 4 lack of nerve or backbone,
WHY is it that a million men and women
of nerve, backbone and common sense
have gathered around the standard which
was placed in my hands seven years ago
by the founder of the Order himself? If
have been proven weak man, why do so
many support me? dislike to speak of
these matters, but believe that, i'll JUS
tice to yourselves aud me, you should
know of them. BY men who are not
Knights of Labor have been called weak
because l discountenanced violence and
hastv ill-advised action. | have no eX-
cuse to offer, for if this is an offence let
the General Assembly itself offer the Opol-
ogy. My views upon such questions were
known to each General Assembly before
NV election rs General Master Workman,
and in electing me they endorsed and
made themselves responsible for these SEN
timents.
| will now speak as have never spoken
70 n session ofthe Grand Assembly before.
REPRESENTATIVES have been instructed TO
vote for me for General Master Workman.