The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-03-10

the members, who were listening) has, since
the 1st of January, settled by arbitration
$50 cases, which Would otherwise have re-
suited in strikes, without the gaining Of
single point by the strikers. The Knights
of Labor, and the other labor organizations
in sympathy with its plans, constitute at
the present time the most powerful organi-
zation of workingmen ever known in the
history of the world. Its strength is
increasing every day, and its in
tiuence is felt every day in every
branch of trade in this country. It
is dangerous to abuse this power. 1t can al
ways insist upon Just demands, carefully
considered and thoughtfully digested. 1t
can not afford to fritter itself away upon
every little pretense of wrong, hastily form
ulated and pig-headly insisted upon. The
growth of the power of labor should be an
occasion for calm deliberation and modera-
ton. The workingmen should be careful to
see to it that they do not sap and undermine
their strength by extreme demands and I'M
reasonable assumption of Importance and
power. 1t is, as some one has said before
me. a good thing to have the power of a
giant, but il is an evil thing to use 1T like a
giant. 1t was the disposition on the part of
the employers to refuse to treat with his
workmen that made the labor organization
a necessity to them. Now that we have the
power which comes from organization, we
.
and be careful that we do not change
position with the employer and refuse
to treat with him, except at the point
of the pistol-or the strike, which is
about the same thing. A strike should be
the last resort when everything else has
failed and not an every day expedient which
used as such, loses its power as it increases
IN frequency. In the old assemblies which
are familiar with our plans and pur-
poses, strikes were infrequent 1t is the new,
and as yet not fully informed organizations,
which upon sometimes insufficient: and fire.
quently trivial causes make this desperate
and final appeal. AS our organizations grow
there will be less strikes. Our power will be
in time greater than men think. 1t will last
so as long as we use il wisely land it will be
so used); power no less important than the
Constitution ITSELF"
'Is the strike the last resort of the Knight.
of Labor
The Master Workman smiled. ~ see,"
said he, ''wbat you are driving at. A strike
is bad thing, but boycott is worse in its
results. A strike stops production merely;
a boycott kills it. A strike for a week is
only the loss of a weeks business trade and
wages. A boycott for a week can be the
utter ruin of the business itself. We have
never failed in a boycott which has been Or
dered by the general committee. It's effect
iveness is undoubted, but it is an extreme
power which we use with caution
'Is there not danger" said the reporter,
that your organization may become en-
gagged in political movements, and thus lose
its powerE'
II have no fear of that. The matters in
volyed in the existence and work of the
Knights OF Labor are nearer to its members
than matters of partisan politics. We have
here, as you see, on this committee MEM
bers of the two old parties Greenbacker,
and with SMILEY other cranks like myself.
We are not politicians here. We have a
method of dealing with those who as some
have, entered our ranks to serve political
ends; we turn them out. We have had no
part in politics. 1t is bread and butter, the
rights of the employed, the material things
Of everyday life that constitute the elements
which do now and always viii hold rs
together, and these are stronger than parti-
san political ties. That is why L do not fear
the intrusion of politics When people
talk, as sometimes they do, about using the
utter the most arrant nonsense. 1t is not
worth while to discuss the matter with such
man. He is either liar or an empty
headed fool"
In conclusion, Mr.. Powderly said that the
Knights of Labor, as an organization, had
nothing TO do with the strike in the btu
minous coal region, as the miners were un-
der a separate organization, but he was salts
fled that the day was very near when all the
labor organizations of the country would be
united under one general supervision and
control. He will remain in Philadelphia
with the General Committee several days.
unless called away, as he thinks possible, 20
the West to arrange the difficulties there,