Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-04-30

And while the midnight snow weaves cruel pals,
and my soul are waiting the reply.
IS. B. Nc Manlus in The Current.
How the Knights of Labor Orga nizat1on
Started.
[Grand Master Workman Powderly's testimony
before the Congressional Investigating Com
mitteel
About eight months after the close of
the war the garment cutters of Philadel-
phia organized as the Garment Cutters
Society of Philadelphia. The intention
was to pay to sick members weekly al
lowance and to bury the dead. In fact, it
was benevolent organization. TEey con-
tinued to hold meetings for four years. At
the end of that time, one night In Octo-
Der, 1869, they were discussing some
measure, when member said: 1--WE have
been coming here now four or five years;
we have our constitution, our laws, our
officers. and so far as that is concerned,
that is all right. If am taken sick will
receive weekly allowance, and if die 1
will be cared for by our brothers. But the
conditions surrounding me in the work
shop have not grown better. but worse. 1t
seems to me that an organization that
will 60 into, the workshop and endeavor
to effect reform there, is what is needed
in addition to the association we now
have" That line of argument was taken
up and continued some weeks. Finally a
motion was made that that society 5s a,diss.
banded, and it Was discarded. The found.
or of the Knights of Labor was member
of it. He was Uriah s. Stephens. AS the
men were leaving the room that night he
asked those present to remain and hear
What he had to say. He said that if they
would form such an association as had
been suggested, one that would endeavoI
to effect reform in the management OF
workshops, mines and foundries, they
would endeavor to perfect it. Six of the
men remained, talked the matter over
with him. and agreed to meet again. These
seven men and two others met to perfect
the organization on Thanksgiving evening
in 1869, and the nine men drafted the first
crude form of constitution and manual
for the government OF the association of
the Knights of Labor. No man was to
know anything about it. It was to be
secret in all its workings. The man who
joined it was not permitted to mention
the name of the association outside of the
meeting room, nor was it spoken inside.
When written about, it was to be refer
red to by stars. The idea was to bring
into the association every department of
productive industry. The intention was
that no statutes of the organization to-
wards the bettering or change of the con-
dtions surrounding employer and en-
ploye would be made until everything
connected with the conditions of things
had been discussed and thoroughly under
stood. The reason for that was that a
strike of miners affected not only the
miners themselves, but affected the ma
chinists, the engineers, the merchants,
the clerks, and everybody connected with
industry In thai region. In 1874 l was
asked Que evening if would not become
member Of club or association, the
name of which was not mentioned. l
went, and was initiated into the order of
the Knights of Labor. Up to that time l
knew nothing OF it; but when l saw In
that meeting room locomotive engineer,
a miner, laborer, truckman, members
of my own craft and others, 1 made up my
of all others, was calculated to do good to
the laboring class.
The organization remained under one
Grand Master Workman for one year and
nine months when his health failed, and
and when the convention met at Chicago
he sent a letter of declination, declining
to be again elected, and suggesting two
names from whom his successor should
be chosen. was elected. and from that
time to the present I have oeen the chief
officer of the Knights of Labor. The Or
ganization was intende to take in not
only the man who worked at the bench or
in the mine, but every man who toiled,
by hand or brain, in any occupation. We
left out one or two honest occupations
lawyers and bankers-because we felt they
we're fully capable of taking care of them
selves.
The Chairman.-'How about preach
ers 7"
Mr.. Powderly.-"Once in a while we
get one of them. We will not take In a
saloon. keeper. Even if members wife
begins to sell liquor, we make him take a
divorce, not from his wife, but from the
organization"
The Chairman.-"In other words, it is a
benevolent society for the protection of all
kinds of people who toll, and is entirely
within the law ~
Mr.. Powderly.-"Yes, 1t is entirely
within the law"
Mr., Parker.-"What isthe number of
it's present membership 2"
Mr.. Powderly.-"O Our present member
ship does not exceed 500, 600, although we