Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-04-30
THE KNIGHTS or LABOR.
THE ORIGIN, PURPOSE. AND GENERAL MANAGE
MRNT OF THE ORDER.


MENT OF THE ORDER.
fAbstract OF tho Statement made by Grand Master |
Workman Pow derly before the Congressional lhNesu-
eating Committed -
About eight months after the close OF the
war the garment cutters Of Philadelphia or
oapized as the garment cutters society OF
Philadelphia. The intention was TO pay to
sick members a weekly allowance and to bury
the dead In fact II was benevolent organ
ization. They continued to hold meetings
for four years. At the end of that time, one
night in October 1869, they were discussing
some measure, when member SAID we
have been coming here now four or hve years
we have our constitution, our laws, our DIN
GERS, and 30 far as that is concerned, that IL
all right. II am taken sick will receive
weekly allowance and IL l die will be cared
for by my brothers. But the conditions sur
rounding me in the workshop have not grown
better but worse. II seems to me that an
organization that will 20 into the workshops
and endeavor TO effect a reform there Is what
Is needed in addition to the association we
now have" That line OF argument was taken
up and continued some weeks. Finally mo
tion was made that that society be disbanded,
and it was disbanded The founder Of the
Knights Of Labor was a member Of it. He
WAS Uriah s. Stephens As the men were
leaving the room that night he asked those
present to remain and hear what he had TO say
He said that If they would form such an asso.
citation as had been suggested, one that would
endeavor TO effect reform iu the manage
ment Of workshops, mines aud foundrles,
they would endeavor to perfect it. Six OF the
men remained, talked the matter over with
him and agreed to meet again. These seven
men aud two others met to perfect the organ
ization on Thanksgiving evening in 1867
and the nine men drafted the FIRST crude form
Of a constitution and a manual for the gov
ernment of the association OF the hnights OF
Labor. No man was to know anything about
il. II was to be secret in all its workings
The man who joined it was not permitted to
mention the name of the association outside
of the meeting room nor was it spoken in
side. When written about. it was to be re-
ferred to by stars. The idea was to bring in
to the association every department Of pro-
| ductive industry. The intention was that no
statutes OF the organ ttion toward the better
| ing or change of the conditions surrounding
employer and employe would be made
until everything connected with the condition
| of things had been discussed and thoroughly
understood. The reason for that was that a
strike Of miners affected not only the miners
themselves, but affected the machinists, the
engineers, the merchants, the clerks and ev-
erybody connected with industry in that re-
gion.
In 1874 was asked one evening II l would
not come with man and become a member
OF club or association, the name Of which
he did not mention. / went with him and
was initiated into the order of the Knights of
Labor. Up to that time knew nothing of
it but when saw in that meeting-room
locomotive engineer, stationary engineer, a
miner, a laborer, a truck man, members of
my own craft and others, made up my mind
that that was an association which, Of all
others, was calculated to do good to the la
borir gman. This man (Stephens), who
formed the first local assembly was after
wards elected master workman and was (at
Reading) elected to the position of first
grand master workman of the Knights Of
Labor. The organization continued under
him for one year and nine months, when his
health failed and, when the convention met
ut Chicago, he sent letter declining to be
again elected, and suggesting two names from
whom his successor should be chosen. l was
elected, and from that time to the present,
have been the chief officer of the Knights of
Labor The organization was intended to
take in not only the men who worked at the
bench or the mine but every honest man who
toiled by hand or BRAIN in any honest occu.
patton We will not take a saloon-keeper.
Even if members wife begins to sell liquor,
we make him take divorce, not from hit
wife, but from the organization.
! The Chairman In other words it is be-
nevolent society for the protection of al
kinds of people who toll, and is entirely with
in the law.
Mr.. Po Edery-Yss, it is entirely within
the law.
Mr.. Parker-What is the number of il
present membership?
Mr. Powderly-Our present membership
does not exceed 500, ,00O although we hav,
been credited with 5000 600 We have on'
assembly of women with q membership o
1905 and from the day of the organization
to the present day a single expulsion or sus
pension had never taken place. They man
age their affairs in such way as to retec
:: credit upon them and TO be pattern for tn
men. We make no distinction in regard tC
r color, creed, sex or condition. We have on
assembly in New York, where the presiden
is a Roman Catholic, the lce-president
U Presbyterian, and the man who occupies tn
" next position a Hindoo. Colored men sci
d dom enter into the assemblies of white mem
bers. They have assemblies of their owl
9 aud are managing them very nicely.
= Mr.. Buchanan-Up to how lately have 20
worked al your trade ?
Mr.. Powderly-Not since March, 1877.
l. Mr.. Buchsnan-S Since that time you hav
n been engaged as you are now?
/ Mr.. POwderly-Yes, principally. wor
IS harder now than ever did. Sometimes l
l. hours day.