The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-05-26
THE KNIGHTS OF LAR0R.
Grand Master We. Rman POWderly
Issues a M.nifesto.

Grand Master We. kman Powderly
Issues Nj. nifesto.
A secret circular from General Master
Workman Powderly, of the knights of
labor. has been issued and read in the Varl-
GUS Assemblies On topics of current inter-
est to the order Mr.. Powderly speaks very
frankly. He says:
1--WE have been losing ground. so far as
public opinion is concerned, for some time.
)ne of the causes is that we have allowed
things to be done under the name OF the
Knights of Labor for which the organization
WAS in no way responsible. l ask OF our
members to keep a jealous eye upon the
doinrs of the labor men who never labor, and
when they charge anything to our order IN
your locality set the seal of your condemna'
tic, upon it at once by denying It,.
The Master Workman distinctly advises
against boycotting newspapers for CRITICISMS
unfavorable to the order or its officers, since
the knights demand for themselves the right
of free speech" and cannot consistently deny
# to others. Speaking OF the abuses arising
from illy-consdered strikes, Mr.. Powderly
say1: l. ea .b.t ,yhsrever . strike occurs ap-
reals for aid are scattered broadcast among
the assemblies. Do not pay, one cent Tor
uch purposes in future unless the appeal
.omes from your, own district assembly OF
vhe general assembly If boycott notices are
sent to YOU burn them. have in my
possession 400 boycott notices which
We sent to assemblies with a request
that they be enacted. A member
editing paper: he fears rival and pro-
eeds to get into an alteration with him,
,ycotts him and then asks the order to
carry it out. Our order has been used as a
tail for a hundred different kites. and in fu-
Gre it must soar aloft, free from all Of
them. l hate the word boycott. was boy
cotted ten years ago and could not get work
In the future, Mr.. Powderly asserts, the
Executive Board will suffer no interference
in the discharge of its duty: he condemns
the passing of resolutions by local assem-
blies. denouncing Jay Gould and other capl-
talists since such actions do no good, but only
retard the efforts of the General Board to ar
hitrate differences with these men OF their
representatives. Mr. Powderly says that his
time is so taken up that he cannot undertake
to answer any questions addressed to MN oy
mail.
Mr.. Powderly takes determined stand
against violence in the following sentences:
''If kill my enemy ! silence him, 1t Is
true. but I do not convince him. would
make q convert rather than corpse OF my
enemy. ~
"Men who own capital are not our enemies.
If that theory held good, the workman of to-
day would be the enemy Of his fellow toller
on the morrow, for, after all, it is how
to acquire capital and how to use it
properly that we are endeavorlng TO
learn. I am we'll aware that some ex-
tremists will say I am advocating
weak plan, and will say that bloodshed aud
destruction of property alone will solve the
problem. If man speaks such sentiments
IN an assembly, read for him the charge
which the master workman repeats to the
newly initiated who joins our army OF
peace If he repeats his nonsense, put him
out.
I'm the hands of men entirely great the pen
is mightier than the sword" To that l add:
"In the hands of men entirely mouth the gun
is as harmless as the sword"
The writer advises his readers to boycott
strong drink. He also says that through
some unfortunate misunderstanding" that
knights have incurred the enmity of several
trades unions He finds no excuse for the
attack made on the order by some Of these
trades unions, especially at a time when the
knights stand face to face with most per-
picking que tion, but he thinks there is no
cause for quarrel and asserts that at the
special session of the General Assembly the
entire trouble can and must be settled. In
conclusion Mr. Powderly says:
"There is one thing that will not be done
while stand at the head of this organization
it will not be used to further the schemes of
individuals, cliqueS or parties, and twill be
subordinate to no other organization on
north."