, 1886-04-16
ASKING AID.
Master Workman Powderly's
Circular to the Knights.
An Appeal for Aid for the
Southwest Strikers.
Washington Notes and Foreign
Affairs.
An AppaaI for Aid

PHILADELPHIA, April is. General
Master Workman Powderly, of the
Knights of Labor. to-dsy addressed the
following circular to the members of the
order:
O. TO The Noble Order Of the knights Of
Labor Of America-To the Order Wher-
erer Fond-GREErrNG: You have all
read of the great strike on the Gould lines
Of railway in the Southwest; its history is
being written day by day. 1t makes but
little difference now whether the men of
the Southwest acted wisely or not Let
us pass that part of the affair over. for
it, too, has passed into history. The gen.
eral executive board of the order at
tempted to settle the trouble and restore
harmony. Agreements were made with
them by Jay Gould. but when the board
reached St. Louis Mr.. Hoxie would not
treat with them; not that alone, but he
positively refused to employ Knights Of
Labor, whether they had been active in
the strike or not. 1t now becomes the
part Of every nan and woman in the order
to take up the fight of the men of the
Southwest, and assist them to the full ex-
tent Of their means. They have been idle
for nearly two months. They have had
the most trying ordeal to go through and
are in need of funds. 1t requires no elo-
quence or rhetoric to plead the cause of
these suffering people. They require aid.
and it becomes our duty to extend that
aid as quickly as possible for us to do so.
Send every dollar you can spare to the
general secretary.treasurer, who will at
once forward it to the men at St Louis
for distribution. Remember the men out
there do not ask for charity; they
do not ask at all. 1t is your
executive board that makes the appeal in
their behalf. He who gives quickly gives
doubly. Act at once. Another appeal
may be sent to you, and we ask Of you to
prepare for it now. We must be Judged
by our actions in this matter. Do not
pass resolutions c%ondemning capital, for
We are not fighting capital. Do not an
tagonize the contest we have before us.
Let us make a friend of every man who
has suffered through monopoly. This
battle against the man who represents
monopoly must be fought out manfully.
Watch his actions everywhere. Keep an
eye on the doings of congress. Urge the
committee that has been appointed to do
its duty fearlessly; strengthen their hands
and give them every aid.
In conclusion let us again ask hat you
send at once every dollar you can at pres
ent raise to uphold the men who
are now out along the lines of the South
west system of Gould's railways. Do not
delay and at the same time make ready to
bring the whole power Of the order to
bear upon the man who wrecks railroads,
homes, fortunes and lives in his greed for
gold. Let us determine to have it go into
history that the men of 1886 struck as
grandly for liberty as the men Of l776.
The men Of 1916 broke the power of a
monarchy and dethroned a king. The
power which they wrested from the hands
OF the king was not so great as hat which
is now held by one man who, through the
corrupt use OF money, has brought the
manufacturer and workman to ruin. The
power of the king has passed awaY-the
power of wealth is passing away, and it
must now he determined whether man
shall rule or whether illegitimate wealth
shall rule.
(Signed) T. V. PowDERLY,
General Master Workman.