Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-11-02
Gl)e cailfaster Jntelli9ertfe,
LANcAsTER NOVEMBER ., lsse.
The Fall Of a Leader.

Mr.. Powderly has quite unexpectedly
addressed a Henry George mass meeting in
New York, on the eve of the election.
In view of his expressions hitherto as to
the unadvisability of the connection of his
order with politics, il was not to be sup
posed that he would urge all workingmen
10 support party candidate for mayor OF
New York, even though that candidate
did appear as the workingmens candidate
and not as Republican or Democrat. The
position in which Mr.. Powderly has put
the knights of Labor, in advocating the
election of George, is that of a political
party and it is as this that it must here
after be considered.
1t Is very important change of front
indeed. When the Knights OF Labor set
themselves up as political organization,
proposing to enter into the field with their
own candidates for office, they occupy
very different position indeed from that
which they assume as an organization
4 with q simple and single eye to the protec-
tion of the wages of their labor. That Mr.
Powderly considers that he made good
AA4OVChxCnS ici hio oiSaulAoSAOh III ilahluS
George its candidate, we very much
doubt, in view of his past declaration of
policy he has evidently been worked upon
by the influences around and beneath him.
1t has been urged that George was the
workingmen's candidate and that the
workingmen' s organization should sustain
bim. The argument has been too much
z g. D., NH II
he feels. The proper reply to it was that
+ the workingmen should have no candidate
unless they designed to become a political
party, which it was not the policy OF the
knights Of Labor to be.
Probably it was inevitable that this
should be the result of an undertaking to
band together the labor element of the
country. The attempt has necessarily re-
suited in the formation of a political party.
The power to be sought by united action at
the polls was too tempting not to be
q grasped at. The Knights of Labor see in
their hands the legislature and the eYscu-
tive. Once more an oath bound secret society
steps out to grasp the government this
time it is not the native arrayed against
the foreigner or mason against anti
mason, but the employed against the EN-
ploye. The new effort at class control of
the nation will, of course, in the end be a
disastrous failure, but what is between us
and the end is not so clear. 1t will not be
possible to long array labor against capi-
tai, on the belief that their interests are
apart instead of together. The employer is
needed to provide wages for the
employed. The knights of Labor in
becoming a political order, to sit
upon the employer, will, doubtless
rapidly advance to the doctrine of the
communist, and seek to distribute the
wealth of the country.
We confess to sore disappointment that
Powderly and his organization have failed
to keep the promise they made of being a
conservative influence in the country. We
have no longer hope of it, man and aparty
who cannot keep to one position for few
months at stretch are not to be relied on
as an anchorage.
Mr.. Powderly declared, to reporter OF
the New York Herald, that he did moi
speak in New York for George as the
grand master of the Knights of Labor, but
merely as citizen in the cause of hu
manity.n But that is absurd. Mr.. Pow
derly cannot thus sever himself from hi.
position. .........
There never was man before who haC
his opportunity to become a great leade
and great figure in history. We though
for while that he would be equal to hi
opportunity. But he signally failed in tn,
Gould conference affair; and he ha
totally failed on this occasion. He show
that he lacks the firmness of will and cour
age of conviction needed by great leader
He cannot hold the helm down against til,
heavy waves. He is too weak, we greatl
fear.