The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-03

A Student of Modern Industrial Movements
Discusses Their Methods,

A Student of Modern Industrial Movements
Discusses Their Methods.
New York Sun.
A close student Of the movements of labor
one who deeply sympathizes with the efforts of
all true reforms in the direction aimed at by the
knights of Labor, and who has often conyersed
with leading men among the Knights about their
federation. gives the following as the substance
OF what were the Impressions study of the
order had left:
That great order confirms the impression
that labor in America is at stage long since
passed In England, and yet is following the
English process of evolution so closely that one
can see what is to come. The English, too, had
their secret and mysterious societies appealing to
superstition and to the less noble passions which
make man feel that he has connected himself
with what may be used as terrible under
ground machine for the pursuit of revenge and
the accomplishment of the destruction of an
enemy. The boycotting is rather new word
than new idea, and strikes are very hard and
for the slightest cause. These two avenues by
which the Knights make themselves felt are
milestones the English laborer has left behind
him The amount Of money spent here in
strikes is something simply st1pendous. One
strike in Western city cost 5000 900 in weekly
payments by all trades to one on STRIKE aud even
then the strike did not succeed. And this ex-
penditure goes on all the while. Each member
pays pittance, but in the aggregate the pay
ments become tremendous lump and this is
salaries, organizing, etc.
I'm England, on the other hand, labor has
10000, 900 invested in cooperative stores, SO
managed that the laborer buys necessaries
very cheap, and the profits are divided among
ALL They understand there that you as good
as increase wages when you increase the pur-
chasing power OF money, and this increase
they make as great as possible. They under
stand that legislation will not increase wages
because the influences governing the laws Of
trade are different in different places, and labor
and capital must be left to arrange their own
affairs In this respect. Strikes are few in
England. and are quickly over. Labor there has
had moro experience, and the injury of indis-
criminate striking has been powerfully felt.
The Knights of Labor are becoming Ameri-
canized. Their ranks contain practical. farsee-
Ing. shrewd Americans and also the dreamy,
theoretical and socialistic Germans, Austrians
and others There is all the time, consciously
or unconsciously, now openly and always in
wardly. conflict between these minds, and it
seems to me the American is winning the day.
1t is a good sign. sign of success of the real
Improvement of the condition of the laborer.
1.-THE Knights of Labor have too much to do
with politics They expect too much of legisla-
tion-eight hours, high wages. anti-monopoly,
prevention of child labor, and / don't know
what all-all through the lesser politicians, who.
as rule. care nothing for them after each
election day Some of their worst present
troubles the Knights will overcome. They have
bad advisers are caught by the chaff of false
pretenses In some men wnom they greatly adj
mire In New York they constantly seek the
advice of so-called anti-monopolist whose re-
form career is o mere matter of notoriety seek
ing; whose private and business career bellies his
pretensions as a reformer, and who is not COM
potent to see the labor question as it should be
viewed in labors interest
Possibly the most dispiriting result Of a
study of the order land it is that time and
experience may remedy is that it does not seem
in all branches at all times wholly controllable
by its officers. Strikes and boycotts follow.
though the chief aim of the order is said to be to
prevent them, and there are suggestions of an
archy and hints of corruption. though every
rule of the order and every act of the chief Off
Gals convinces one that such things are not
sanctioned in the organization