The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-01
LABOR'S BIG ORGANIZATION.
The Profound Secrecy Practiced in the
Early Days of the Knights of Labor.
Four Million Men and Women Have Taken the
Obligation in the Past Eighteen Years
How Expelled Members Are Treated.

PHILADELPHIA July 29.-lt IS doubtful II the
half-a-dozen men who met in a back parlor Of
small Philadelphia residence in 1867 and organ
szed the Knights of Labor had the remotest idea
that within score of years that infant organiza-
tIon would grow to be the most powerful in the
world. That it has become, with its eight
thousand local assemblies, upon whose rolls are
p total membership of nearly two million. For
two years the growth Of the order was very slow,
owing to the extreme secrecy maintained, no
record of the meetings even being kept. through
fear of divnlging even the existence of such
society. Great care was taken in selecting per-
cons for membership. and no effort was made to
extend it beyond very narrow limits in the city
of its birth.
A few men with ideas were initiated during
those two years. however, and they made plans
for the enlargement and strengthening of the
organization James L. Wright, the most promi-
nent member at that time. insisted that the
order could be made something more than
local society. Up to that time the initiation
was little more than the taking of an oath not
TO reveal the fact that such an organization
existed. New charges to candidates were pre-
pared. the secret work was extended, and an
effort was made to organize local assemblies in
other cities.
Several trades-unions took hold of the order
Mt the end Of two years. 1t grew rapidly in
Philadelphia, Camden, N j., as well as the
suburbs of Philadelphia and several cities in
the interior of Pennsylvania had locals"
within few months New Yorks first num-
Der was ''26 there being about 8 900 members
In the order when "a A. %" was formed the
members Of that assembly being ld-beaters.
The chief obstacle to the growth Of the order
however, was its extreme secrecy 1t was at
that time the most secret organization in the
world. taking into consideration the extent of its
membership No one knew what he was join
Ing A friend called upon him at his house or
met him upon the street and proposed walk
Or asked him to ACCOMPANY him on business
The meeting place reached. the friend asked
him 90 wait in the ante-room few minutes
while the friend attended to a little matter"
Two minutes later ne was confronted by man
whom he did not recognize, and was asked if he
was willing to become q member of society the
object OF which was to benefit the work
lngman Counter questions were use
Jess and remained unanswered. If
he was willing to become member after being
told that no obligation which would in any way
confict with his religious political opinions
would be administered the initiation, short and
Impressive. followed. If not he was allowed to
90. and was none the wiser for being taken to
the ante-rooni by his friend Until after the oath
Of absolute secrecy was administered, the can
didate could lot recognize person in the hall.
30 careful were the members in selecting per-
Bons for admission that very few failed to enter
when the testquestion was asked. A few did,
however, and the fact that there was in exist
ence secret society composed of workingmen
became known. Tho name of the organization
Or who were members of IL, was not known un-
til three years after it was organized
Much OF the original secrecy was removed,
and at the third annual session Of the General
Assembly big fight occurred over motion to
do away with what, in fact, no longer existed
The original members contended that it would
not do; that if 1t became known who were mem
bers every one of them would lose his employ
mont Finally an entire change in the working
OF the order was adopted, the principles remain
ing they were.
The oath was done away with and simply an
obligation on honor was adopted. The only
changes, in fact, were TO allow the name and OBJ
5ect OF the organization to be known and to per-
NIT member to tell that he belonged to it il he
chose, but still prohibiting him from divulging
she name OF any other member without that mem
bers permission. This was considered suffici-
emit guarantee that employers would not be able
70 learn who Of their workmen were Knights of
Labor unless the latter were willing that they
Dhould know. The obligation formulated at that
session OF the General Assembly remains the
same. with few minor changes. A preamble
setting forth the object and principles of the
order. was authorized, and a constitution to gov
ern all local assemblies was adopted
The increase in membership after the adop-
ton OF the changes by the local assemblies was
very rapid, and when the time for the next an
nual session arrived it was found necessary to
divide the order into districts The late u. S.
stephens, whose portrait hangs in thousands of
local assembly rooms, was then general master
workman, and 1t was he who suggested the dis
trict assemblies Philadelphia took No. 1, and
Camden,s district. across the Delaware, was
No 2 The membership then was CO. 00O
Assemblies were formed in every large city in
America within year after the veil of secrecy
was raised Many 'locals" lapsed but the mem
bership increased steadily. 1t is estimated that
IMAM aud k~x~~ &~I~~ -Ifs
ton of the Knights of Labor during the past
eighteen years. The greatest growth was during
May last when 877 new assemblies were organ
lied and ITO were reorganized. Included in the
latter list were Nos 8 10, IL IL and 20in Philade
phia and Is in New York, showing that many Of
the oldest assemblies have lapsed. but were re-
vived during the great struggle in the Southwest
in April
A visit to the HEADQUARTERS of the order at
Fifth and Locust streets Philadelphia. would
surprise many who believe that the strength
OF the organization has been exaggerated.
In Secretary Treasurer Turner's Office score
OF clerks or both sexes are busily at work
eight hours each day, and Chief Clerk Henry
It, Taylor, of New York, finds it necessary often
70 employ extra help in order to keep up with
the increasing business. When the vast amount
pf work that Is done by the secretary treasurer
and his assistants is considered, the large force
0t clerks does not seem out of place. There are
three times as many men in the pay of the Gen
eral Assembly in that one building there
were persons who attended the organization of
the order eighteen years ago.
glance at the secretary treasurer's report for
one month goes far to show the vast extent of
the order. AS audited by General Auditor John
G. Caville, of No. $50 Fulton street. Brooklyn,
1t is seen that tho receipts for per capita paid
during May last was So, 1856 SO. There was $780,
DO0 In the hands of the treasurer on May l. The
expenditures for current expenses for the month
were SIC, S96 r. In addition TO the receipts
from per capita, several thousand dollars were
received for the Assistance fund" Che per
capita Is SIX cents per quarter, and the $27 800
received IN May was the last of the quarters re-
Eepts.
A score of different sets of figures have been
given IS the amount collected for and expended
by the General Assembly for the Southwest
strikers. The exact figures are as follows: