The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-03-27
sRcRET CIRCULAR
OF Grand Master WorEmau POvdsrlyto the
KRiShts Of Labor.

81, Louis, March 2s,-GEand Maate
Workman Powdsrly has Issued q secse
circular to the aNoble Order Of III,
knights Of Labor Of America = which ha
Just been made public, Mr.. PoWderly in
structs the Secretary Of each Assembly h
call q full meeting and read before themthl
sentiments which follow, The address
opens with an order 10 the Assembly 4
cease initiating new members until the re-
lationa OF capital and labor shall become
less strained than at the present time, auC
continues:
ITO attemptto win concessions or gain
with our present raw, undlsclpllned mem
bership would be like hurling an unoIRan
lied mob against q well drilled regular
army, II Is not fair TO the older assemblies
to bring in new members, pick up theil
quarrels as soon as organized, and have
them expect peCuniary aid from those who
helped build the order up for noble ppr'
pose"
After dwelling Rt some length upon the
inadVisability Of taking in new members
at present, the address continues: 1--WE
must not fritteF away our strength and
miss the opportunity Of present success IN
the struggle against capital by rushing
into useless strikes. To the cardinal
principles OF the order, We must add an.
other, patience. You have had patience
for years, and had not the Knights OF
Labor appeared upon the scene you would
still ba waiting. Your scales OF prices
must stand as they are for the present II
you cannot raise them by any other pro-
cess than 9retrik0E You must submit 10
injustice atths hands Of the employer In
patience for while longer. Bide we'll
your time. Show how much
you are Justly entitled and then a tribunal
Of arbitration will settle the rest"
AWoRD OF CAUTION.
Mr.. Powdsrly then cautions the Assem-.
blies against receiving into their ranks
employers, and warns the Knights Of
Labor that the politician ia planning night
aud day how TO catch the Knights Of
Labor for the advantages Of himself and
party, and adds, that to use the name Of
the order In q political contest Is criminal
and must not occur again.
Referring to the eighthour movement
the circular Gays: Ensembles Of the
Knights ot Labor must not strike for the
eght.hour System on May under the
Impression that they are obeying orders
from headquarters, for such an order was
not and will not be given. Out OF the
sixty million Of people In the United
States and Canada, our order has possibly
three million. Can we mould the senti.
ments Of the millions in favor Of the short
hour plan before May II 1t is nonsense
to think oiit."
MODERATION AND WISDOM coUNsRLLHD.
After speaking Of the qualities, which
the officers Of assemblies should possess.
and expecting the Knights to elect honest
men Of even temperament, Mr.. Powderly
continues: "While I write, q dispatch is
handed me In which l read these words:
They discharged our , brother and we
struck, for you know our motto is-an in
Jury to one Ia the concern OF ALL Yes,
an injury to one 10 the concern Of all, but
1t is not wise to injure all for the sake Of
one. II would have been far better 10
continue at work and properly investigate
the matter, bringing 1t before every known
tribunal than 10 have struck"
Speaking OF the relations between the
Church and the Knights OF Labor, Mr..
Powderly says: ~ warn our members
against hasty, ill,considered action. The
Church will not interfere with us 80 long
as we maintain the law. II the law Is
wrong, 1t Is our duty to ehangeit. am
ashamed to meet with clergymen and
others, to tell them that our order Ia com.
posed Of law.abiding, intelligent men,
while the next dispatch brings the news
Of some petty boycott or strike"
WILL NOT DEAL DOUBLE.
1t conclusion the Master Workman
says: ~ write this circular to lay before
the order the exact condition Of things.
am neither physically nor mentally ca.
pable Of performing the work required ol
me. ! am willing TO do my part, but not
to be asked to maintain false position
before the world any longer. One Of two
things must take place-either the local
and district assemblies Of the order must
obey 'itA laws, or must be permitted 10
resign from O vocation which obliges me
to play one part before the public and
another to our members. / say 10 the
world that the Knights Of Labor do moi
approve Of, or encourage strikes, and In
one day dispatches reporting strikes come
to me from Troy, New York Manches'
ter, N. H.; Chicago, Ills; Cincinnati
Lynchbnrg, Va; Springfield, Ohio, ant
Montreal. II Is impossible for human
nature to stand the strain any longer.
must have the assistance Of the order q
my most earnest efforts will fail. Will
have itH 1fgo strikes must be avoided
hnvnhtk TnnRt ha avnidad