The Wilmingtonian., 1886-03-13
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
General Master Workman POwderIy
Talks about the Great Organization.

al Master w orkmeu OF the hnights ol LABOR
OF America clearly explained the tenets of
the knights Of Labor aud discussed the four
great problems which now agitate the indus
trial circles of the world-hnance, the short
hour system, competitive labor and the
economy of land. He said
"rhe progress made by the Knights Of
Labor in the last four years is certainly |
amazing. When we first brought our Or
ganization into general organization in
January, 1878, we had representatives from
400 assemblies throughout the United
States now we have on the rolls Of the or
der some $500 assemblies since Janu-
ary, 1878. Within the last two or three
years the organization has grown very rap
idly and | account for it in tins way. The
hardest work in an organization of any kind
is always in the start. When the purpose OF
the movement becomes known and people
become Interested in it there are moie work
ers to help it forward, and as consequence
more people will knock at our doors for ad-
mission AT the present time, instead of
going out to seek people and ask them to
join the Knights of Labor, we find people
knocking at our doors in greater numbers
than we can admit.
PURPOSE or THE KNIGHTS or LABOR.
"Our order is intended to gather within
the folds of one organization all the branches
OF labor and to give to each a thorough
knowledge of the workings of the other-to
show to each branch that it cannot stand
alone and Independent of the others. 1t is
intended, also, to demonstrate to the manu-
facturer that he cannot stand alone and that
he too, is dependent upon labor for his ex-
steDce. Our organization is intended not
only to educate the laboring man, but to
stand between him and he employer.
"That there are INSCRIPTIONS employers
is to be regretted, but they exist neverthe-
less. And one OF two interruptions men
in any other occupation of life will cause
others to be the same in order to compete
with them. Consequently cne bad man will
make others Dad. When the course of one
man has downward tendency it induces
others to go in that direction.
"In some places We find manufacturers
who, no matter how good their intentions
may be, are forced by the competitive sys-
tenn Of the day to ,eompota with rae,,
not as scrupulous or as good as themselves,
SO that while they are not naturally inclined
to be oppressive and do not want to be grind
by circumstances to be SO. 1t is our desire
to put an end to this by bringing manufact-
men by educating the workmen up to that
standard Of Intelligence as will teach
them that they are justly entitled to share
of the wealth which they create and that no
manufacturer or employer of labor has
right to deprive them OF it.
''Some employers with whom | have
talked-and l have talked with great many
SAY 81 don't want 10 oppress my men; I
want to be as kind to them as possible
want to allow them all the privileges they
desire, but cannot, because 1 must do as
, others do" For instance, take the eight
/ hour question, which is a most important
est. Our order desresto see the introduce
. tion of shorter hours Of labor, to the end
an unmixed blessing than it is at present
said to be and toaiT1rd employment for more
| press that workiugman's orgauizl tious here
and there are adopting resolutions to put
That the eight-hour movement will prove
: successful have no doubt, but that it will
| be established on The 1st of May l have
doubt, for the reason that we cannot get al
. the manufacturers aud all the workingmer
educnted to that point by that time. They
must be educated to the needs and necessity
of shorter hours before they can intelligent
y put that system into successful operation
e THE sHoRT-uoUR SYSTEM
!; IfI Should ask one Employer oflA in thi'
# city to run his factory eighth 1urs a day anC
give ten hours'pay fol the eight hours worl
he would be competing with other men il
the same industry who are operating for lei
. hours day, having the benefit of the extrl
IS two hours Of labor on the part ofther work
men. II would be only question of yer!
short time before lie would be pushed to th
e wall. What we want to do is to make TIN
eight-houy system universal, so that manu-
/ facturers will suffer no more from its pTactic
5 than the workmen When we do put it int,
3 operation it is not our intention to delnant
c ten hours pay for eight hours work. w
T" will take the shorter hours AID the wage
/ will naturally regulate themselves, Then