Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-01
LABOR.S CRITICAL POINT.
A Special Defense Assessment Called
for by the knights.
MONEY DEMANDED 10 HELP THOSE LOCKED OUT
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER OR MANLY DE-
TENSE" THE ALTERNATIVES OF THE ORDER.

for by the knights.
MONEY DEMANDED 10 HELP THOSE LOCKED OUT
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER OR A MANLY DE-
FRNsE' THE ALTERNATIVES OF THE ORDER
The Philadelphia Press to-day says: A few days
ago most significant and important circular was
issued by the general officers OF the Knights OF
Labor TO the local assemblies of the order through
out the country, numbering In all upwards OF 1000
requiring especial defense assessment" Of twen-
ty-f1ye cents for each member. Considering the
fact that these ZOO local assemblies contain a
membership OF over 1,OooO O0 II will be seen that
the amount TO be raised Will be nearly 100000.
FULL TEXT OF THE CIRCULAR.
To Al the Subordinate Assemblies Of The Order,
Previous to the session OF the general assembly
at Richmond an appeal was issued 10 the order Tor
FUNDS TO assist yictlmiZed and locked-out men,
bers in various parts OF the country. The response
TO that appeal was not such as II should have
, peen, anu 1, onty aoou. Sl4,ooo were ncemea
was entirely insufficient TO render the assistance
needed and desired. Many Thousand members
were thrown upon our hands by lockouts OF the
employers, who acted i'm concert with the avowei
purpose or driving their employees out OF the
order, thereby gripping, II not destroying It's
The order OF the Knights OF Labor has reached
the most critical period In its history. IL stands
as power for good or for evil But your general
oncers, while they make no special claim TO supe-
r1or1ty In purity OF motive, have sworn that the
order shall be made power for right and right
only, that the laws shall be rigidly enforced, and
the members shall receive the FULLEST protection OF
thelr rights under the laws OF our country and our
order.
Without any provocation, except the exercise OF
the inherent right OF every free man TO belong TO
any organization he pleases not I'm conflict with
the laws OF the country, thousands or our men,
Ders, men and women, without warning have been
thrown out OF employment. They have gone To
the door OF the mill and factory and to the mouth
OF the mine, where but yesterday they were en-
fhAylt IN, no
un-Chr1Stian and un-American mandate: "You can
not return to work here until you sign contract
W leave the knlgnts or Labor, ana that you VIII
never become member OF that or any other labor
organization"
Every man who has joined the Knights OF Labor
has pledged himself to do his duty In the cause of
mankind. No oath binds him TO any act contrary
to the duty he owes to God or his country. But
something more sacred even than an Oath-his
pledge OF hOnOr-bindS him to loyalty defend the
principles OF TRUTH honor, justice and citizenship.
Two alternatives present themselves: uncondi-
tional surrender or manly defense. Which shall it
be?
The locked-Out members, In their enforced idle
ness, turn from suffering wives and starving
children In pathetic appeal 60 your general eXecu
1--WE board TO aid them in maintaining their man.
hood and their fidelity TO the order. The general
assembly instructed your general executive board
to give them all the assistance in its power.
We can render that assistance only i'm one way.
and through the cooperation OF the earnest anu
loyal members of our order. Words OF sympathy,
however kind and grateful, will not supply the
needs of these locked-Out members. We must
have that which is more substantial. We can not
supply II ourselves, therefore frankly come 10 you.
Having all these circumstances In mind and
deeply moved by sympathy for these suffering
members and those dependent upon them, your
general executive board has unanimously resolved
to levy an assessment OF twenty-five cents per
member upon all the local assemblies OF the ORDER
the same to be paid under the following regula-
tiCnS:
All local assemblies that responded to the appeal
mentioned above will be credited on this assess
ment with the amount donated.
1a,. ma,
remit the full amount OF the assessment not later
than December 20, 1886. The assessment in this
case will be twenty-fiv cents for each member, as
shown by the reports TO the general secretary
treasurer for the quarter ending october i, 1SS6
Locals preferring TO pay the amount I'm INSTALL
shoWs Inv may psy rsn Sr eaHS rel no. az
not later than December 20 1856; ten cents not
later than January 20, 1887 and five cents not
later than February 20, 1887, for each member as
shown by the reports for the quarter ending Janu-
airy L. 1887.
This assessment will be known as special de-
tense assessment, and must DE paid to the gen.
eral secretary, Charles II. Utchman, Lock Box
1856, Philadelphia Pa, not later than the dates
named.
when the appeal was issued in aid OF the SOUTH
west strike 1t received most prompt and gener-
Gus response. The need for that appeal and the
crises TO be met, great though they were, did not
equal the grave emergency which compels this
sessment. With the termination OF that struggle
began the combination OF capitalists everywhere
throughout the country. The object OF that CON-
sharp drawn, the contest Is upon us and must be
waged to a successful issue. You know for what
purpose we require the money. All We ask is that
before paying It each member put himself I'm the
place or one lOcked-Out, remembering that she
gives twice who gives quickly" and act upon the
golden rule, "Do unto Others as you would have
them do unto you"
Special Notice.-The above assessment must be
sent to the general secretary, Charles II. Litch-
man, Lock Box SS5. Philadelphia, Pa.
T. " POwDERLY
General Master Workman.
BY order OF the general executive board.
Attest: CHAS. ii. LITCHMAN,
General