The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-06
MIR. WHITLEY AND THE KNIGHTS.

His Reasons for Directing the Employment
of Knights of Labor Workmen.
The Champion City Times gives an outline of
the conference between Mr. Whitley, of the
Champion Reaper works, Springfield o., and
the members of the executive board of the
knights of Labor, which took place on Tuesday
last:
Mr.. Frederick Turner then began with the
question: what is the reason for your antipa-
thy to our organizaticn"
Mr. Whitley gave Foasons, dating back to the
time when he first began making the Champion
machines, and bringing them down to date He
said:
"Our profit is now whitfield down to almost
nothing. Confirming our operations to Spring
field: The employees of the Champion Malleable
Company firsts made a demand for an advance
Of 10 per cent and we could not stand it. We
then took the step Of dscharging the men in
stead of waiting for the day thsy expected their
answer, when we would have had to shut down.
I am a mechanic, and learned the maehinist
trade. / came to this town and worked for $3 a
week, and have worked with most of these men
ever since felt that could work with them
and reason with them, and did not want to have
them controlled by committee that knew moth
ing about our town or business"
Mr.. Turner then remarked, after hearing Mr.
Whitley for some inmates, that he Thought he
would make very good Knight of Labor That
seems to be queer language for me to
use, but / think so because you,
as well as the people, misunderstood
our purpose" MIR. Turner continued that had
the recent demands for the advance come under
the rules of the association, the matters would
have been settled all right wherever we con-
troll the assemblies we have no trouble, but you
must not condemn our order for the mistakes
made by few"
Mr.. Whitley was firm in his stand already
taken, that he wanted no knights OF Labor in his
employ, saying that his was only one out of a
number of factories in this city and the knights
might find work in other factories where they
| want them.
| sarhe only objection see with the stand you
| have taken in this matter is the signing of the
| iron-clad," remarked Mr. Turner.
I'VE said to the men, replied Mr.. Whitley,
s'that if you withdraw from the organization and
| sign the paper you can go to work. and at any
time you want to leave you can destroy the pa
| per-"
The papers were then read, and all agreed that
/ there was nothing more nor less than state
| ment that they did not nor would not belong to
/ any organization while in the employ Of White
| ly. Fassler 81 Kelly.
| Mr. Whitley then said to Mr.. Bailey: II will
| tell you one thing my dear friend; have lived
here for thirty years, and there were many of US
| boys who lived and worked together. There
| were two or three of them who saved their little
| gains; the others spent their money drinking and
carousing. The rich mems sons who came on to
| the scene lived riotously, and are now working
at daily labor. Peace and prosperity are with
| those who want it The men whom we have
| paid the highest wages have the least to show
/ for it, and the ones who got the least have the
| most now. We have lots of men in our employ
who are just this way. and those who save it
make the most of 1t, and plenty and prosperity
are theirs. We want to live in peace, and here
| is one institution out Of twenty in the city. I
! live and work with my men, and they are my
| friends, and think il the world was not better
| off for a mans life. he had better have never
| been born.
out the aid of any organization. There were
about $50 Knights of Labor in the East-street
shops out of the 400 or 1900 men, and they be-
gan to intimidate the many others to join them,
saying that when we get hold of these shops, you
| will co. Wadon't want this kind of men in our
employ. We receive letters every day, hum