New-York tribune., 1886-04-03
TIM RFRELLIOy OF KNIGHTS.

The St. Louis Knights of Labor have openly
rebelled against the authority and the princi-
ples of the order Their strike was IN violation
of its principles Their pen slstence III refusing
to work is direct rebellion against its authority.
They put it on the pretext that Mr. Hoxie will
not take back men who were personally en-
caged in destroying property of the company
and refuses to treat with committeeman who
are not now at work for the company. But
Mr.. Powdcry and the Executive Committee,
when they ordered the strike stopped, did SO
because they had before them satisfactory
dispatch by Mr.. Gould in which nevertheless IL
was expressly stated that men who had de-
stroyed or intcrfered with property would not
be taken back, and that the company would not
treat with any men who were not at the time at
work in its service. Thus it is pretence that
the company is not doing exactly what 1t agreed
to do The fact is that the so-caled knights III
St. Louis are not doing what the principles and
the commands of the order require thch TO do.
1t was suggested some time ago that there
seemed to be an organized effort TO involve
Kn ghts of Labor all over the country ID gem
cra uprising about May !. Hundreds 0t strikes
and local outbreaks do appear But the great
railroad strike which was expected to be the
chief bond of the movement, is not likely to
take place The wisdom of Mr.. Powderly and
the Executive Committee has made 1t impOssi-
bic to use the organization as whole III any
movement against social order and public
peace. Within tho organization itself, sharp
struggle is probable. a special convention has
been demanded, bY the requisite number of dis
tricts. it is stated, for the express purpose of
considering whether some persons or local as
sembles shall or shall not be expelled, and in
such a convention the issue raised by the
Grand Masters recent circular will have to be
met. Certainly part of the workers will sus-
tain their chief the question now is whether
the rebels against the principles and authority
of the order will be able to capture and control
and thus to destroy it,
If NAV seem. at first thought, that those who
disregard the principles and defy the directions
of the order are in the majority. For there
have been literally hundreds OF strikes and boy
colts, of late which were in direct violation OF
these principles As Mr.. POwderly's circular de-
clared. Ut is to be remembered, however, that
the turbulent and quarresomc always make the
most noise. The many workers who are not ar
issue with employers, and the many who have
with success applied the principles of the ORDER
and sought improvement in their condition by
arbitration and conciliatOn, arc not making
any noise at all. A review of labor news for
some months past justtes the belief that tar
greater number OF workers have obtained con-
cessions by peaceful means than have been en-
gagged in strikes or contests of any Kind. If
there are 800, 900 members of the organization,
not one third of that number is engaged in any
contest, or has been within the past three
months. The men who have gained better
wages and better terms by peaceful means,
even in this time of disturbance, greatly out
number those who have resOrtcd to strikes or to
force, and experience therefore strongly sup
ports the teachings of the Grand Master.