New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-25
4 rHRE1TENED WRONG.

The militia have been ordered out In Missouri
to protect railroad property and employees
from strikers. Meantime the knights OF
Labor are far from accepting the
views of their own Grand Master Workman.
In published interview the other day
Mr.. Powdery was reported az saying
"Candily do not see the necessity for this strike
or for It's continuance In fact, the day OF srikes Is
past never ordered one IN my life and. with two
exceptions failed in an endeavOr TO meet em
poyers for settlement Of dGoreuces with employees"
Yetit is now threatened that all railroads reach
ing St. Louis and Chicago will be stopped within
a few days by orders OF the Knights of Labor.
What common offence have these roads com
mItted 1t il not even pretended that they
have committed any. In what way are they
responsible for the contest in Missouri and
Texas 1t is not even pretended that they are
in any way responsible. What controversy Is
there between these companies and their men
or the knights of Labor which the owners OF
the roads can possibly settle II they please :
There is not a trace of any. The roads are to
be stopped because the Missouri Pacific has re-
fused tC do something which the managers
state they cannot do. Be the merits of the
Missouri contest what they may, how can other
roads centring at st. Louis and Chicago from
all directions control the action of the Missouri
Pacific? No man in his senses will pretend
that they can. Yet their traffic is to be stopped
it is threatened until the Missouri Pacific can
be forced to do what the managers say they
cannot do.
The Knights of Labor have become an i'm
portant organization, with possibilities OF great
usefulness which we earnestly hope it may at
tain. Its managers need wisdom at this junct-
ure wisdom enough not to make demands that
are clearly unjust, and that will place them In
an attitude of wantOn hostility TO the public
prosperity. The stoppage OF railroads would
throw many thousand men out of work, and
great suffering would fall upon vast multitude
of workers in various avOcatiOns who have no
concern whatever in the contest. 1t would
affect the industry and trade OF the whole con-
tinent. To take such step without Just
grounds, and without any practical end to be
attained that iustifes such loss to labor, would
largely deprive the organization of public con-
fdence. The interests of the men, therefore,
and especially of the organization require that
great care should be taken that there is full
Justification before any interference with traffic
is ordered.
the knights of Labor according to Western
dispatches, declare that the struggle is in
eyitable" One of them says:
It's matter OF necessity with us. Defeat means
epslav ement aud death Is preferable. don't mean to
say that all the wrong IN this fight has been on the side
of the railroad companies and all the right on our side
Not at all To tell the truth, think 1t was grave
mistake to order strike against the Missouri Pacific
without first laying grievances before the company
and asking tina: they heard and righted. That was
almost an objectionable blunder. But the mistake was
IL ade and an issue having been made against the
Knights of Labor so back of it, but must fight
it out TO the end.
These words appear to coincide with state
ments by Grand Master POwderly, who implied
that the contest could have been amicaby
settled had the men shown patience and judg-
ment. Is it not the greatest of mistakes 70 as
sert that defeat and enslay ement" must FOL
low if the men do not stick to a confessed
error and triumph in an unreasonable demand
Beyond all comparison, the grandest and most
far-reaching victory the organization could win
would be attained by prompt and voluntary Ie-
fusal to hold an unjust position or to insist
upon an unjust demand by immediate with
drawal from a false position taken through
error of some leaders. That would give the
organization the confidence of the public and OF
workers throughout the country. But either
success or failure in an unjust contention would
do the organization incalculable harm.