New-York tribune., 1886-03-09
A TALK WITH GRAND MASTER POwDERLY.
lie SAYS THAT THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR SHOULD
NOT ABUSE THEIR POWER.


NOT ABUSE THEIR POWER.
PHILADELPHIA, March Strand Master
Workman r. v Powderly the head of the Knights Of
Labor organization. who is in this city attending a
meeting OF the General Executive Board. said tonight
thar he had received no summons to ST. Louis to settle
the difficulties between the strikers and the Gould sys-
TEN roads MIR. POwderly said that there Ia no
significance in the fact that many strikes now in
progress in the United States by assemblies OF the
Knights OF Labor at Is coincidence merely" said
he land there is concerted action contemplated by
the order has been suggested the strikes being Incl
dental and think chiefly owing to the fact that this Is
just the beginning OF the spring trade and the opening
of period Of prosperity in business"
Mr.. POwdcrly upon being asked whether he did not
think that the increase In the number of strikes just
owing to the knowledge of an increased power
by the organizations OF labor said. doubt It. and
think that can speak for the General Executive BoaId
do not think that 1t ia wise to inaugurae 40 many
strikes unless 1t be shown that there an extreme
necessity for them II many OF the men who are strlk'
Ing would display little more common sense and use
a little more patience they would get all they are
striking for and save their aud money in the bar
gain II they would exercise proper moderation IN their
negotiations with their employers and submit their
claims firmly made and properly represented, to arbi-
tration. free to that sure that nine out or
ten which end in strike could be as satisfactorily
arranged without resortlng TO such an extreme and
there would be necessity for n strike"
Arbitration then. and strikes, ia the theory OF tho
order " asked the reporter.
Yes arbitration always when II Is possible. Strike
only last resort but whom that point ia reached
strike hard sro I'm earnest and never surrender eI-
cept just concessions Why, this board" pointing to
the members who listening TO the talk has since
tho lst day OF January last settled by arbitration
$50 cases which would otherwise have resulted In
strikes, without the gaining of single point Dy tue
strikers Tho Knights of LABOR, aud the other labor
organizations In sympathy with Its plans constitute az
the present time the most powerful ofsAnlLatoh oI
working ever known In the history OF the world It's
strength Is increasing every day aud It's ihnn'nce IA
felt day To every branch Of trade In tins country
II s dangerous TO abuse this power IL can always lnSr
upon Just demands carefully considered aud
thoughtiuy digestcd. Now that We nave
the power which comes from orghnl
ZatiOn mast use that power wisely and moderately
aud be careful that do not change positions with tho
employer and refuse to treat with him except at the
point OF the pistOOr tho strike. which s about the
same thing. strko should lie the last resort when
everything else has failed. and not an everyday OK
creascs IN frequency our power VIII be- ia time greater
than now think It Will last so long "A We use II
wisely and II will beso used as power no less import
ant than the constitution itscf
the strike the only Last OF the knights Of
Labor r. asked the reporter.
Tho master workman snilcd. see" said he, what
you are driving strike IL bad thing, but boy
colt g. its results. strike stops production
merely; a boycott kills strike tor week is only
colt for week be the utter ruin OF the business
iscif We have never failed In a boycott which has
been ordered ly the General Committee Its elective
Eess ls undoubed. but 1t Is an extreme power which
we ube with caution"
is there danger that your organ znuon may be-
come engaged IN political movemenis and thuS Iose us
pOverf
existence work OF tho Knights Of Labor nrc noarer
10 its members than matters OF partisan pOtlcA Mo
have here. as you see on This OF tnr
crauEs like mys self We are not politicians here