Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-15
TR0MA SMALL BEGINNING
ORIGIN OF THE KNIGHTS OF La
BOR ORGANIZATION.

some OF It's Oilo eEs--ANs DeNetnplheh
in Georgia-rhe Local Assemble
happily Increasing in Membership
The Principles or the Order
The Savannah Knightsl of Lab or an
nounce that on Wednesday night they
will hold a public meeting at the theatre,
when MI. r. r. Trevellick, a prominent
official of the order will deliver lecture
on the principles and aims Of the organi'
cation. Recent labor strikes IN various
parts of the country have brought the or
der conspieuously before the public. In
Savannah it is having a phenomenal
growth. It's increase has been so quietly
achieved, however, that outside OF the or
gauizatIon it attracted little attention.
A little over three years ago there was
not an assembly IN the whole State OF
Georgia. In Savannah tod day the railroad
men. printers, bakers, and bali dozen
other trades have assemblies, with a
membership counted by four figures. One
assembly alone had, 10 is reported, over
$50 Qualifications for membership at its last
meeting.
Al present T. V. Powderly is the head
executive officer with the title of General
Master Workman Of the knights of Labor.
DIV the advice and consent OF his four assO-
oiates in the Executive Board he can
blockade the wheels of commerce and can
render inactive the machinery, the loco
noJiyes and the cars OF a great railway.
This power Is the result of the thought,
energy and faith OF Z riah :. Stevens, on cea
pOOrcloth cutter of Philadelphia Stevens
was born in Cape May county, N. D.,
Aug. 3, 1921, Of parents in comfortable
circums tances. He received an excellent
education and was destined for the minis
TRY, bus became tailor. His sympathies
were with the labOring classes, and he
was a refOrmer by nature.
He began the work of forming this or
ganization in 1869, at first mainly among
the clOth-cutters. The first local assem-
bly, was properly organized in 1873. This
was Assembly No. l, and it has been du-
phcated IN form in every city in the I'm
ION at present. The body spread rapidly
In Philadelphia until it included nearly
all the trades and the vast majority of the
working men.
Having gained ascendency in Philadel.
phis it's tentacles began to reach out TO
other places. An assembly in Trenton,
IN. j., proved failure, but in Pennsylva-
mia the movement found ready sympa-
thizers. 1t swept across the State TO
Pittsburg and captured the centre of the
coal and iron trade. Stevens believed in
secrecy. The name from the beginning
was the Noble order of the Knights of
hers knew its name. Outside of the
meetings it was never breathed. The
orders and con municatlons bore the sig
nature, 4, and was spoken OF
by the members as the five asterisks,"
DR. ''tiVe stars" The calls for meetings
were made by means OF cabalistic signs
made in chalk on the sidewalks, and there
was intense excitement in Philadelphia
when it was discovered that a few chalk
marks in front Of Independence Hall
called together 1900 or 5000 men.
The first general convention was held
in 1878, when the General Assembly of
North America was formed. Stevens was
elected General Master Workman, hold
ing the Office through two terms. He be-
came one of the most influential labOring
men in this country, was twice candi-
date for Congress, and before his death
in 1882, saw the order he had founded
firmly established and growing in
strength M.th wonderful rapidity. To-
day, although the rule of secrecy is care
fully observed and exact information can
not be obtained as TO the strength of the
order, il is safe to state that the five men
OF the Executive Board control fully
5000 to GOO, 600 workingmen.
twas estimated some months ago that
from 100 to 40 new local assemblies are
organized every month. The annual in
crease in membership is put at over $780,
600.
The order does not vet include every
trade. Fhe members OF trades and Occu-
patiOns, however, are coming in one after
another, as difficulties arise. The organ
izatiOn is modelled to include all kinds OF
laborers, and contains in its member
ship Senators, Representatives, munich
pal Assem- blymen, Mayors, clergy
men, physicians, journalists, farmers and
even employers and capitalists. Mem
bers Of both sexes and workmen in any
calling with certain qualifications, such
as good character and membership in the
organized lodge of fellow-workmen where
Dne exists, are eligible to membership. In
forming a local assembly three-quarters
OF the charter members must be wage
workers or farmers. The local assemblies
as far ae possible are composed of persons
following one calling.
The local assemblies govern themselves
and can boy and take other action in
their own precinct, but all general mat
ter which the local or district assemblies
cannot handle, come under the jurisdic-
ton of the Executive Board, which is ALI
powerful and has the entire order and
each individual oft under absolute con-
troll. They fine, investigate, arbitrate
and issue all orders pertaining to the gem
eral interest Of the Knights.
The cost Of membership in the order is
slight. The initiation fee Is usually
buldlt, duOuL 81 LOT men ana 90 cents Tor
women, although in some strong assem-
bles with large funds on hand tits placed
as high as SO. The monthly dues vary
from 10 cents to 40 cents per month. Few
salaries are paid. The Master Workman
OF district, who must devote
his entire time TO his work.
receives only as much as he can earn at
his trade. The General Master Work
man receives a salary Of only $1,000, aud
the General secretary-rreasurer only ST.
200, with expenses when travelling or
away from home, while the members of
the Executive Board get only So a dav
and expenses while at work. Each mem.
Der must pay his annual per capita tax
10 the general treasury OF twenty-fOur
cents, which pays all general expenses.
The active members Of the board are
T.V. Powderly, president and chairman,
and Frederick Turner. secretary and
treasurer, and the work falls on their
shoulders. Mr.. Powderly was born at
CarbOndale, Pa, January "a, 1919. He
learned the trade OF a machinist and stud
jed mechanical engineering. He joined
the Machinists' and Blacksmiths Union
Of Scranton, when ~ years OF age, and
was presiding officer Of that body.
He Joined the "k. Of L. IN 1874, and
became, shortly after, the secretary
OF his District Assembly. He was prOmi-
nent I'm the order a. the FIRST convention IN