The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-04-03

ence The men who work for them will ex-
press themselves as they feel, AM, in my
opinion, 1t would be best TO treat with an
emp. eyer as he is rather than as brother
Knight We can deal just az fairly by him
beyond the walls as within the sanctuary.
Take in as few employers as possible.
The name of this order and It's principles
are published everywhere. and men who
stood openly a. rayed against us two years
ago are now our friends. Beware of them.
Take them in II you will, but watch them.
The politician is planning night and day
how to catch the Kniglrs of Labor for the
advantages of himself or party, and, rest
assured, he has his emkssares in our ranks
We must expect this, and we must stamp
out every effort of the party man-it
matters not of which party-who at
tempts to use us for political purposes. 10
those assemblies which drag the name OF the
order into the political action OF any party
say: We are greater than any party on
American soil to-day, and we must remain
so. Every reform that could possibly come
through the organization of new party can
be obtained without one. We are every day
gaining conce ssions from State and Nation.
Thus the lie is given to those who urge the
formation of n new party. TO use the name
of the order In political contest is crimi-
nal, and must never occur again.
1t Is evident that our members are not
properly instructed. else we would not find
them passing resolutions approving OF the
action of our executive officers in fixing the
lst of May as the day to strike for eight
hours" The executive officers of the Knights
of Labor have never fixed upon the lst of
May for a strike of any kind Assemblies of
the knights of Labor must not strike for the
ight.hour system on May under the i'm
preston that they are obeying orders from
headquarters, for such an order was not and
will not be given. Neither employer nor
employee are educated to the needs and ne
cessities for the short hour plan. II one
branch of trade or one assembly Is In such
a condt ton, remember that there are many
who are in total ignorance of the movement.
Out of the sixty millions of people in the
United States and Canada our order has
possibly three hundred thousand. Can we
mould the sentiments OF the millions in
favor of the short. hour plan before May 1?
1t Is nonsense to think OF 1t. Let us learn
why our hours Of labor should be reduced,
aud then teach others,
Nearly every State assembly that has been
formed since the general assembly met has
been organized amid discord and conten-
ton. fear that the struggle 3 not to serve
the order so much AS to serve personal ends.
Nearly every assembly in the State of Kan
sas and Michigan has complained to me
about the attempts being made to organ 20
State assemblies. To attempt to elevate la
Dor by starting out an assembly OF any kind
with fight Is folly. 1t would be far better
to stop work in these States now and begin
again in practical way, than to carry the
work forward under preudices and animosi-
ties now resting in the breasts of the disap-
pointed ones.
Our order is q business institution. 1t must
be run on business principles, and If 1t is not
managed In this way Ii will go the road of
all mismanaged concerns. In selecting Off
GERS to manage banking concern the men
best qualified are chosen The rash, incon-
sderate man is set aside; the man who Is
quick of temper and hasty OF speech Is
passed over, and the man of maturer judg-
ment and business qualities Is selected.
l am panied to witness the quality of
men some parts of our order select for
important work. These words of mine
must be needed or this order goes down as
surely as night follows day. Elect no man
because of his fine speech or impetuosity;
put none but the coolest men in positions
of any kind. Keep them there and uphold
them in their work. 1t is not the duty of an
officer to picture the wrongs of man until he
excites his assembly TO fever heat. Heaven
knows the indiynties which labor COM
plains of are grievous enough, and requ ire
no painting We must look at them as
they really exist, and settle them as best
we can
WhileI write, dispatch is handed me in
which read these words; "rhey discharged
our brother and we struck, for you know
our motto Is AN injury to one is the concern
of all" Yes ian injury to one Is the con-
Germ Of all" but it Is not wise to iniure all
for the sake OF one. 1t would have been far
better to continue at work and properly in
vestigate the matter, bringing it be-
fore every known tribunal, than to
have struck. The thousands of men now
earning nothing could have given ten
cents apiece to support the brother for a
and months IN idleness Many OF them will
never be restored to their former positions.
In this case the injury to one was not re-
paired, and all concerned will be more or
less injured We could nave prevented our
brother from being injured by assisting him
III far different way. Zeal in the cause
sometimes brings on The discharge of a
member Sometimes too open expression
of opinion does It. 1t Is not necessary to in
dulge in the latter.
Now a word on another subject The
church has been watching our order for
years. In our infancy we had bat little
power for good or for evil to. day we are
the strongest, as well as the weakest, labor
organization on earth. Strong in numb ers
and princip es; strong In the justice of our
demands, II properly made, we are weak in
the methods we use to set our claims before
the world strikes are often the forerun-
ners of lawless actions One blow brings
on another, and If a single act of ours en-
courages the anarchist element we must
meet with the antagonism of the church.
l warn our members a 'ainst hasty, i'll con-
sidered action. The church will not inter-
| fere with US so long rs we maintain the law.
II the law as wrong 1t is our duty to change
IL am ashamed to meet with clergymon
and others to tell them that our order ia
| composed of law-abiding, intelligent men,
| while the next dispatch brings the news OF
some petty boycott or strike. The daily pa.
| pers have column devoted to stTik es and
| boycotts every day, and some OF the causes
| are ridiculous.
| write TINS circular TO lay before the order
| the exact conditions of things. am neither
| physically nor mentally capable OF perform.
| ing the work required of me- 81 am willing Ia
! do my part, but must not be asked to main
tain false position before the world any
| longer One of two things must take place
| either the local and district assemblies oil
the order must obey its laws, or must bC
| permitted TO resign from position which
obliges me play on: part before the pub
| lie and another to our members / say Ia
the world that the knights OF Labor do NOT
approve of or encourage strikes, and in one
| day dispatches come to me to come to Troy
! \. Y, Manchester, n. H., Chicago, ILL.,. Gin
cinnati, o., Lynchburg, Va, springfield, o.
| and Montreal, Can. 1t Is impossible for hu
| man nature TO stand the strains any longer
| l must have the assistance of the order, OF
my most earnest efforts will fail.
VIII have itp II So strikes must be avoid
| ed; boycotts must be avoided.
| Those who boast must be checked by thei
| assemblies. No move must be made until
the court of last resort has been appealed
to.
Threats of violence must not be made
Politicians must be hushed up or driver
out
Obedience to the laws of knghthood mus
have preference over those of any other or
| der.
II these things are done the next fiv
| years Will witness the complete emancipA
! ton OF mankind from the curse of monopoIN
In our members we require secrecy obedi
ence, assistance, patience and courage. !