Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-04-08
rnr IAnon raoUBLEs.

A Notable Circular to the Knights OF
Labor Issued by Grand Master Work.
Ean Powdsrfy-He Severely Crisieises
the Brethren for not Exercising Mere
Patience and Threatens TO Resign.
81. Louis, March 26.-Grand Master
Workman Povderly has issued . secret cir
cular ITO the Noble Order OF the Knights
of Labor OF America" he instructs the
secretary OF each assembly TO call full
meeting and read before Il the sentiments
which follow. The address opens with an
o-der to the assembly to cease initiating
new members until the relations Of capital
and labor shall become less strained than
At the present time, and continues;
ITO attempt TO win concessions or gains
with out present raw, undisciplined MEM
bers would be like hurting an unorganized
mob against welldrilled regular army.
1t is not fair to the older assemblies to
bring in new members, pick up their quar-
rels as soon as organized and have them
expect pecunia.ry aid from those who
helped to build the order up for 8 noble
purpose After dwelling at some length
upon the inadyisability of taking in new
members at present, the address continues;
Eve must not fritter away our strength
and miss the opportunity Of present sue
cess in the struggle against capital by rush
ing into useless strikes. To the cardinal
principles of the order we must add
neutrality-suspicious.. You have had pa
tience 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
emit il you cannot raise them by any other
process than a strike. You 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 Justly en-
titled to- and the tribunal OF arbitration
viii settle the rest" Mr.. Powderly then
cautions the assemblies against receiving
into their rarks employers, and warns the
knights Of Labor that the politician is
planning night and day how to catch the
Knights of Labor for the advantage
OF himself and party, and adds
that to use the name OF the order
in a political contest is criminal, and muss
not occur again. Referring to the eight
hour movement, the circular says: AS
semblies of knights Of Labcr must not
strike for the eight-hour system on May 1,
under the impression that they are obeying
orders from headquarters, for such an or
der was not and viii not be given Out OF
the sixty million people in the United
States and Canada, our order has posi-
bly, three million. Can we mold the senti-
nlents OF the millions in favor of the short
hour plan before May /? 1t is nonsense to
think of it, After speaking OF the quail
ties 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 discharg-
ed our brother and we struck; for you know
our motto is, An injury to one is the con-
Germ OF all But it is not wise to iniure
all for the sake of one. II would have
been far
BETTER 20 CONTINUE AT WORK,
and properly investigate the matter, bring
ing 1t before every known tribunal, than to
have struck Speaking OF the relations
between the church and the knights OF
Labor, Mr.. Powderly says: Il warn our
members against hasty, ill-considered as-
ton The church will not interfere with us
30 long we maintain the Law. II the law
is wrong, it is our duty to change il.
| am ashamed to meet with clergy
men and Others to tell them that
our order is composed OF law
abiding, intelligent men, while the next dis
patch brings the news OF some petty boz
colt or strike. | write this circular to lay
before the order the exact condition OF
things. am neither physically nor men
tally capable OF performing the work re-
CURED OF me. am willing TO do my part
position before the world any longes. One
Of two things must take plaee--either the
local and district assemblies or the order
must obey it's 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 She Knights Of Labor do not
approve of or encourage strikes, and in
one day dispatches came to me from Troy,
\. Y, Manchester, n. H, Chicago, H.,
Cincinnati, Ohio, Lyuehburg, Va,
Springfield, Ohio. and Montreal II
is impossible for human nature to
stand the strain any longer. must have
the assistance of the orEler, or my most
earnest efforts will fail. VIII have it, II
so, strikes must be avoided; boycotts must
beayoided. Those who boast must be check
ed 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 hnshed up
or driven out. Obedience to laws ofknight-
hood must have preference over those Of
any other order. II these things are done
the next five years will witness the complete
emancipation of mankind from tile curse
CT monopoly. In our members we require
secrecy, obedience, assistance, and courage.
II with these aids you strengthen me my
hands will continue in the work IL you do
not desire to assist me in this way, then
select man better qualified to obey your
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