Telegram-herald., 1886-10-10
KNIGHTS IN POLITICS
A Powerful influence Dlsinte-
grating the Assemblies.
The SUBJECT or STRIKES DISCUSSED.
Decisive Action 10 os Taken on the
Political Q.estiOn-Grsatsr Firm
ness ia the Support OF
Strikes Probable.

RilHAoSD. OCT. 81 There Is great deal
of discussion among the knights ~ Labor
about collateral issue that Is damaging
the orzanzAiiOn in many localities aud II
4. to receive very decisive attention during
the session of the convention IL is poll
ties Delegates say that there j. not district
Ia Tie country aud very few local assemblies
that have not a local candidate before the
people Tor some office Ia SOME instances
a single assembly has two candi iates for
political offices. The result Is a division
Of the membership. much III feeling ~
cugeudeied and al some places politics
threaten 10 ruin the organization. Assem-
bhes are appealing one % other for
financial or moral support IN the approach
ing election. and the attentiOn Is being
drawn from the material in
tefe-ts 10 political machinatiOn. Richmond
presents a vivid example The knights
Of Labor have al independent regularly
endorsed candidate for Congress. The
Democrats have party candidate 50 have
the Republicans The recent race issue
has altered many white knights from their
candidate 10 the others and the cOnse-
gueucr Is division ln the ranks Of the
Knights which threatens 10 break the
two assemblies in this section, causing
either reOrgsu lLatOn or dissolution Ia
Iowa Nebraska and many OF the States.
both East and West politics = reported %
he the contendins issue OF the organization
and more attention IS given 10 that
subject than % those affecting labor
The question arises i'm the minds
of the Knights here % make national laws
for the ORDER "Nil not politics weaken or
ruin oar organization and defeat all of our
primary objects as il did the Patrons of
llusbaudry aud other societies With the
farmers And this phase OF the question -
% come before the convention and Will oc-
cupy great deal of time IL Is stated
that lhe Master Workmen in many local
i,ies have been and are yet leading the labor
wing Oi the political campaigns SD that they
are politically ambitions and that the
national officers have recommended the
Kni.hts a. work and vote only for
candidates who are known to be- friends Of
the organization which has had the effect If
suggesting the candidacy of The majority
oi the knights who have entered actively
into politics. All frankly admit that the
political aspect the organization has assum-
"a is very impOrtauL and serious one.
Opinions seem 20 be pretty well divided as
% the result. there being a seeming majority
who hold that politics. ia time, Will dwarf
or defeat the whole purposes and objects Of
the order
"Everv strike instituted properly and
having proper aims in view. will be sus-
tanned said a New England Knight of
Labor delegate to the nited Prcss cores
pondeut tonight. The strike and the
bovc1lt are our strongest weapons CON
tinuei he. "and We propose 10 use them
iudiciously and vet with tirmuess
Then t is not the purpose Of the conven-
ton as prescribed by some newspapers, 10
a. abandon the bovcoti2' was asked
Not by any means. promptly replied
the DELEGATE. "and should think that the
very ready and decisive response made 70
the strikers a. Amsterdam. y Y. Peabody
and Salem. Mass. aud al number of other
points would indicate that the organization
in session here means 10 stand by tne guns.
OfcOurse the action OF the couveutiOn today.
In sending TWO Master WOrkmen 20 Chicago
o. negotiate for peace was rather remark
able. especially since no indication was re-
cfived that the pork packing employees
were willing 90 negotiate. but that is
more OF a sign of strength than weakness.
lhe Knights want % avoid strikes wher-
ever possible and 10 reach an amicable adj
iu~tment In every instance where strike Is
instituted We hope 20 avoid the necessity
Di resorlug to extreme measures VITA the
Armoar- The fewer strikes we have, the
better. not only COR the health OF the orsan-
iza'ion huf f1r he welfare Of the members
personally
"Do you think the strikers in New York
and Massachusetts, viii win
Yes. ] do. especially the tanners at
salem and Peabody Mass II must not be
forgotten that strikes are not ohndly begun
in nearly every instance the employees know
when the employers can aiiord 20, or Tlil
acceie to demands They know the con
dition 81 the markets and tie profits of pro-
nv