Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-12-11
oFETcIAL cTRCULAR 10 2.

lions of the signatures and seal of the or
der:
OFFICIAL CIRCULAR NO 2.
NOBLE ORDER OF THE X. or L OF AMERICA
OFFICE OF TIE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
PEuLADELPEIIA, Pa, Nov. 10, 1886. }
To all the Subordinate assemblies Of the Or
DER Greeting:
Previous to the session of the general as
sembly at Richmond, an appeal was Issued
to the order for funds to assist victimizsd
and locked out members in various parts of
the country. The response to that appeal was
not such as it should have been, and only
about $4,000 was received thereon. This, 1t
Is manifest to every member, was entirely
insufficient to render the assistance uesded
and desired. Many thousand members were
thrown upon our hands by lock outs of the
employers, who acted In concert with the
avOWed purpose Of driving their employees
out OF the order, thereby gripping, If not
destroying its power ami usefulness. The
order OF the Knights of labor has reached
the most critical period IN It's history. 1t
stands as a power for good or for evil. But
your general officers, while they make no
special claim to superiority in the purity of
motive, have sworn that the order shall be
made power for right, and right only.
That the laws shall be EigidIy enforced, and
the members shall receive the fullest pro
lection in their rights, under the laws of our
country and our order. Without any provo
cation, except the exercise OF the inherent
right OF every free man to belong to any or
&t+L4AdL4OL4 Nc EA1daE5H 4DL III CO4L4LEt Win
the laws OF the country thousands of our
mem b6rs, men and women, without warning,
have been thrown cut 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 employed,
only to ind staring them in the face this
unchrlstlan and uuAmeELeau mandates ''AOu
cannot return to work here until you sign a
contract to leave the Knights of Labor, and
that YOU will never become a member of
that other IHHDF lF1F7 ~
Every man who has Joined the Knights of
Labor has pledged himself to do ms duty in
the cause Of mankind. No oath binds him
to any act contrary to the duty he owe to
God or his country. But something more
acred even than an oath, his pledge
of honor, binds him to Loyalty
defend the principal of truth, honor. justise
and citizenship. Two alternatives present
manly defense. Which shall it beg The
locked out mem bers, IN their enforced idle
ness turn from suffering wives and starving
children in pathetic appeal to your general
board, to aid them IN maintaining their
manhood and their fidelity to the
order. The general assembly instructed
your general executive board to give
them all the assistance IN It's power. We
can render that assistance only in one way,
and that through the co operation of the
earnest and loyal members of our order.
Words of sympathy, however kind and
grateful will not supply the needs Of these
which is more substantial. We cannot sup
ply it ourselves, therefore frankly come to
you. Having all these circumstances IN mind,
and deeply moved by sympathy for the sui
fering members and those dependent upon
them, your general executive board has
unanimously resolved to levy an assessment
of % cents per member upon all the local as
semblies of the order, the same to be paid
under the following regulations; All local
assemblies that responded to the appeal
mentioned above Will be credited on this as
sesEsment with the amount donated All 10
cal assemblies who can are requested to send
the full amount OF the assessment not later
than D5J nBer 70 so. The assessment III
this case will be % cents for each member
as shown by reports to the general secretary
treasurer for the quarter ending October,
1886, Locals preferrlng to pay the amount
IN miscellaneous may pay 10 cents Tor eaCn
member, as shown by the reports to October
I, 1886, to be paid not later than December
20, Sc, 10 cents not later than January 30 So,
and five cents, not later than February 20,
1887, for each mem Der, as SHOWN by the re-
ports for the quarter ending January, 1887.
This assessment viii be known as the special
defense assessment, and must be paid to the
general secretary, Charles ii. Ldtchman,
lock box $50, Rhllad6L pdlas Pa not later
than the date named. When the appeal
was issued in aid of the southwest strike
It received most prompt and generous
response, The need for that appeal and
the crisis to be met great though they
were, did not equal the grave emergency
which cOmpels this assessment. With the
termination of that strike began
the present struggle by capitalists. Every
where throughout the country the lines are
sharply drawn. The contest Is upon u.s. and
must be Waged to successful issue. You
know for what purpose We require money.
All We ask Is that before paying 1t each
member put himself in the place of one of
the locked out, remembering that he gives
twice who gives quickly, and act upon the
golden rule: 'DO unto others as you would
have them do unto YOU"
Special NOtice-Ihs above assessment
must be sent to the general secretary,
Charles H. Litchman, lock box 635, PhiIa-
delphia.
(Signed) z. v. POwDEHLZy
General Master Workman.
By Order Of the General Executive Board.
Attest: CHARLES ii. lIICHALAsJ, Gen. Sec.