The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-04-01
Labor interests.
CIRCULAR FROM MR.. PowpERLy.
KNIGHTS OF LABOR TO AVOID STRIKES.

ST. LOUIS, March 2e.-The following
was published to-day
Noble Order of the Knights of Labor of
America. Philadelphia, Pa, March 10,
1856 The recording secretary will, Oh re-
ceipt of this circular, place it in the hands.
OF the master workman, whose duty it
shall be to issue red letter call for a full
meeting, either regular or special, have a
full attendance. and read it.
Its extreme length must be excused, for
cannot go to each assembly te speak of
the present crisis, and take this method of
reaching them. An order was recently
issued to suspend organization of new as
semblies for forty days. 1t did not go out
until Il careful review of the field had been
taken. Had | not been convinced that it
was absolutely necessary for the salvation
Of the order, my vote would not be cast in
favor of cessation Of the work. One Of
the gravest emergencies that ever faced
human being is squarely before the head
of this order to-day. 1t is not comng-it
is here-and it must he firmly dealt with.
Before taking another step in any dlrec-
tion, / want to go before the great mass of
our membership. through the medium of
this circular, ask of them to speak to me
as frankly as | now talk to them, and tell
me what is best to be done. If the order
is to perform its mission, as intended by
its founders and those who have worked
with it from the beginning, a radical
change must be effected A stop must be
called and the ship brought back to her
moorings. 1t has always been, and is at
the resent time, my policy to advocate
Cancellation and arbitration in the SETTLE
ment of disputes between employees and
employers. The law OF knighthood de-
mands at the hands of our members an adj
herence to that policy Thousands of men
who had become Disguised with the ruin
Gus policy Of the strike as the only remedy
foIthe ills we complain of, were drawn to
us because we had proclaimed to mankind
else had failed. The men and women who
flock TO our standard have knowledge of
theig wrongs. They have endured these
wrongs for years, and in reason are in duty
bound to learn how to right these wrongs
by the least expensive and most salts
factory as well as lasting remedy. Six
months will not teach our principles and
proper methods, yet men are impressed
with the idea that they can learn them in
six weeks or six days; and before the
ground work for proper education is laid
we find our assemblies on strike or lock-
out, and in too many cases the provoca-
UlOu COU1Co HUN uliCIl ONu lldSUy ttiIu III
considerable action. No matter what adj
vantage we gain by the strike. it is only
indicating the symptoms: it does not
penetrate the system, and, therefore, fails
in effecting cure. The only natural
sequence is relapse, and relapse always
means more medicine and a weaker pa
tient than before. You must bear with
me and read this letter to the end, for it
may be the last one | will ever write to
you.
After dwelling at some length upon the
individuality OF taking i'll new members
at present, the address continued I'VE
must not fritter away our strength, and
miss the opportunity of present success in
into useless strikes. To the cardinal
principles of the order we must add
patience. You have had pa
thence for years. and had not the knights
of Labor appeared upon the scene. you
would still be waiting. Your scales of
prices must stand as they are for the pres
ent, if you cannot raise them by any other
process than strike Y GU must submit
to injustice at the hands of the employer
in patience for while longer. Bide well
your time. Find out how much you are
entitled to, and then the tribunal of arbi-
tration will settle the rest.'' Mi. Pow
Ouc dSSGLl UlIeS dSdluSt
receiving into their ranks employers, and
warns the knights of Labor that the poll
tician is planning night and day how to
catch Knights OF Labor for the advan-
tages OF himself and party, and adds that
to use the name OF the order in a political
contest is criminal. and must not occur
again.
Referring to the eight-hour movement,
the circular says: Assemblies of the
Knights of Labor must not strike for the
elght-hour system on May l, under the
fist.nression that they are ,obeying, orders
from headquarters, for such an order was
not and will not be given. Out of the
10000 600 Of people in the United States
and Canada, our order has possibly 3o00,-
coo. Can we mould the sentiments Of the
millions in favor of the shorthour plan be-
fore May ? 1t is nonsense to think of it. y
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 | write dispatch is
handed me, in which | read these words
They discharged our brother and we
struck, for you know our motto is, IAN
injury to one is the concern of all. ~ Yes
an injury to one is the concern of all: but
is it not wise to injure all for the sake of
one. 1t would have been far better to
continue at work and properly investigate
the matter, bringing it before every known
tribunal. than to have struck
Speaking OF the relations between the
church and the Knights of Labor, Mr..
Powderly says: II warn our members
against hasty, ill-considered action The
church will not interfere with it SO long as
we maintain the law. If the law is wrong
it is our duty to change it. | am ashamed
n moot with oInrfrvpo ut borc to oil
them our order is composed of laW-abid-
ing, intelligent men, while the next dis
patch brings the news of some petty boy
colt OF strike In conclusion, the master
workman says Il write this circular to
lay before the order the exact condition
of things. [ am neither mentally nor
physically capable of performing the work
required OF 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 or district assemblies of
the order must obey its laws. Or | must
be permitted to resign from vocation
which obliges me to play one part before
the public and another to our members
[ say to the world that the Knights of
Labor do not approve of OF encourage
strikes, and in one day dispatches come
to me from Troy, N Y. Manchester, N.
H, Chicago. Ill. Cincinnati, Lynchburg,
Va, Springfield, O., and Montreal an
nouncing strikes. 1t is impossible for
human nature to stand the strain any
longer. [ must have the assistance of
the order or my most earnest efforts will
fail. VIII have it IF so, strikes
must be avoided boycotts must be avoid
ed. Those who boast must be checked
by their 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 driven out. Obedience to
the laws of knighthood must have pref
erence over those Of any other order. If
these things are done, the next FIVE years
will witness the complete emancipation
of mankind from the curse of monopoly.
In our members we require secrecy, ODE
dience, assistance, patience and courage
If with these aids you strengthen my
hands, will continue in the work. If
you do not desire to assist me in this way,
then select a man better qualified to obey
your will. and I will retire in his favor
The Long Debate Ended.