New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-22
4 BID LINE OF DEYhLOPNENT

| The report of G. III. Lichtman, the special
agent appointed by Mr. POwderly to examine
the Southwestern strike, which was adopted
by the Richmond Convention without de-
bate, is not of character to encourage
friends of labor who haze hoped that
conservative counseis would prevail with
the Knights of Labor. The strike in question
was of bad type. 1t was undertaken without
adequate prOvOcatiOn in defiance of the con-
stituted authorities of the labor organization
and il was conducted on basis of violence
and lawlessness wholly indefensible. 1t is
rightly held that if the Knights of Labor are to
derive permanent benefit from organization
they must learn to discard all impulsve, unre
fecting, disorlerly and lawless action. To
teach them prudence, patience and sagacity,
however, it is essential that their leaders should
take advantage of every opportunity to dem
onstrate the folly and futility of il-considered
and turbulent strikes. Not to do this is to en-
danger the W hole cause of labor, for it is in no
way doubtful that encouragement in such
methods as characterized the Southwestern
strike must lead to general failure and disor-
ganization, and turn public opinion against the
knights everywhere.
Yet self-evident as is the necessity for plain
speaking in such cases, the report of Lchtman
entirely evades the duty. 1t is in effect an
apology for the strike, and being written " it'll
that object it is one sided. prejudiced and full
of suppression and Misrepresentation. No
better illustration of its spirit can be found than
in the fact that it presents as evidence of per-
jury the unanimity of the witnesses who said |
the strike was caused by the DISCHARGE of the |
man Hall. Lichtman presents no evidence to |
the contrary himself. All he does is to repeat |
the vague and loose generalites about @oppIts-
sions" and @petty tyranny which were alleged |
after the strike, but were never materialized
Instead, moreover, of condemning frankly the
method used by the strikers, this special agent
deals with the whole matter from the point of
view OF the strikers. He even gozes over the
dangerous characterization of Martin Irons.
thus giving new force to the conviction that
the order has not the nerve to enforce its own
regulations and that it is unable to punish dis
obedience Of the most fragrant character with
in its own ranks. Nor is this the full measure
Of the mischief Incorporated by this unwise
in his report, for he cites trium-
Dhanty the declaration of certain strikers to
he effect that they would strike again under
similar circumstances thus making a merit of
Ht obviously ucpiordDle Idct that the men |
nave learned nothing from bitter experience
lot even the necessity of observing their own
ules.
more fatuous and mischevous report could
hardly have been made. Its adoption of
curse commits the order to all its hereses and
,lunders, and must greatly lessen the proba-
,iiiiy that netter discipline will prevail hence
orth: that wiser cOunsels will obtain in regard
o the ordering of strikes; that strikes
Undertaken with or without the consent of the
Ulcers of the order will be marked by more
discretion. 1t is true that the strike was
g Lchtman says, IA disastrous failure but
he way to avoid reperitons of such failures is
ot TO wink at all the mistakes which prevented
his one from succeeding. Failures which
each nothing to those who suffer most from
hem are, indeed, calamities only. The South
Iestern strike was pregnant with instruction
. the Knights, but 1t il not likely that they {