Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-05-15
GOOD ADVICE.

T.v. POwderly Again Addresses the
knights of Labor, Giving Them Excellent
Advise.
CHICAGO, May 10.-The following circular
of General Master Workmen T. v. Powder
ly was received here by the Knights of Labor
to-day.
NOBLE ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF
LABOR OF AMERICA,
PHILADELPHIA, May 8, 1886.
To the Order Erery,rhere, Greeting:
The response to the secret circular issued
on March - has been SO generous and the
endorsement of the sentiments contained
in it has been so unanimous that / feel en-
couraped and strengthened in the work.
Nearly 1000 assemblies have pledged them
selves to act on the advise contained in the
circular of March Ii. feel that it only
requires the coming to the front of the real
men of our order to set us right before the
world. We have been losing ground so far
as public opinion is concerned for some
time. One of the causes is that we have al
lowed things to be done under the name of
the Knights of Labor for which the organ
ization was in no way responsible. / ssk of
our members to keep jealous eye upon the
doings of labor, and when they charge
anything toour order in your locality set the
seal of your condemnation upon it at once
by denying it.
If a paper criticises the Knights of Labor,
or its oficers do not boycott it, and if you
have any such boycotts on, remove them. A
journal not long since made some uncompi-
mentary illusions to the grand master work
man of the Knights of Labor, and at the
next meeting of the nearest assembly mo-
ton was made to boycott the paper, not only
that alone, but every man that advertised in
the columns of the paper. l wrote to the
assembly, asking them to remove the boy
colt, and it was done. We must bear in
only man, and not above criticism. We
demand for ourselves, the right of free
speech. We cannot consistently deny it to
others. We must tolerate fair, open criti-
cisms. If a reply is necessary make it il. a
gentlemanly, digniied manner. If we are
critised or abused by BLACKBOARD, treat it
as you would the BLACKBOARD himself-in
silence. That our aims and objects are good
is no reason why are members should be re-
garded as beings of superior build or ma
terial. We are no more the salt of the earth
than the millions of unknown toilers who
do the work of the world. In our dealings
with laborers and capitalists we must deal
Justly and fairly by them. If we would
have equity done to us we must in turn do
equity to others. That is the aim of the Knights
of Labor and must not be lost sight of in the
future.
Let me direct your attention 10 few little
abuses. I find that whenever strike occurs
appeals for aid are scattered broadcast
among the assemblies. Don't pay 1 cent
for such purpose in the future unless the ap-
peal comes from your own district assembly.
If boycott notices are sent to you burn them.
/ have in my possession over 400 boycott
notices which were sent to assemblies with a
request that they be acted on. Let me men
ton some of them. A member is editing a
paper. He fears rival, and proceeds to get
and asks the order to carry it out. A certain
paper is influential in one or the other politi-
cal parties, and members of the opposing
party conceive the idea of getting rid of the
paper, and they invoke the aid of the
Knights of Labor, first taking the precaution
to have the paper in question say something
uncomplimentary of the Knights of Labor.
In fact, our order has been used as tail for
a hundred different kites, and in future it
must soar aloft, free from all of them. l
hate the word boycott. was boycotted ten
years ago and could not get any work at my
trade for months. It is q bad practice-it
has been handed to us by the capitalists /
have no use for it only when everything else
fails. Appeals for aid, circulars, petitions
and advertisements of every kind are scat
tered everywhere through the order. My
We have had some trouble from drinking
members, and men who talk about buying
guns and dynamite. If the men who possess
money enough to buy guns and dynamite
would invest it in the purchase of some
well-selected work on labor they would put
the money to GOOD use. They will never
need the gun or dynamite in this country.
It is my opinion that the man who does not
study the politics of the. nation and the
xuon<a r,f 0ur MANILA xUou11 oka buk 1i<<lo
use of rifle. The man who cannot vote
intelligently and who will not watch the man
he votes for after he is elected, cannot be
depended upon to use either gun or dyna-
mite. If the head-the brain of man-can-
not work out the problem now confronting
us his hand will never solve it. If kill my
enemy silence him, it is true, but do not
convince him. would make a convert
rather than a corpse of my enemy. Men
who own capital are not our enemies. If
that held good. the workman of to-day
would be the enemy of is fellow toiler on
the morrow, for after all it is how to acquire
capital and how to use it properly that we
are endeavoring to learn. No; the man of
capital is not necessarily, the enemy of
brought closer together. am well aware
that some extremists will say am
ADVOCATING WEAK PLAN,
and will say that bloodshed and destruction
of property alone will solve the problem
of kindness. l hate the use to which rum
has been put, but 1t is my duty to reach down
and lift up the man who has fallen q victim
to the use of liquor. IF there is such man
within the sound of the secretary's voice
when this is read, ask him to stand erect
on the floor of this assembly, raise his hand
to heaven and repeat with me these words:
~ oR oh I~41s 4 IL
every man should be free from the curse of
slavery whether the slavery appears in the
shape of monopoly, usury or intemperance.
The frmest link in the chain of oppression
is the one forge when I drown manhood
and reason in drink. No man can rob me
of the brain my God has given me unless Il
am party to the theft. In one moments
forgetfulness or inattention to duty while
drunk brings defeat to the best laborer's
can repair the loss. Ipromise never again
to put myself in such a position"
We have through some unfortunate mis-
incurred the enmity of sever
al trades unions. Whiled can find no excuse
for the unmanly attacH made by some of
these people at q time hen We stood face to
face with a most perplezing question, neither
can / see any good reason why there should
be any cause for q QUARREL. We must have
army. If am the cause of the trouble
stand ready at moments notice TO make
way for any one of my rivals whom the gem
eral assembly may select. Break the power
Of the Knights Of Labor and you hand Labor |
bound hand and foot over to its enemies. |
Years ago extended an imitation to men |
he Knights Of Labor. To-day I stand ready |
10 make eveIy honorable concession to do |
lmything IN honor to bring about . better 1