Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-04-09
THE STRIKE.


Chairman Irons Ccnsured for Declaring
without Authority that tho lrese".
Trouble Will Spread Over the Entire
Country-A Proposition to BE Maoe ~
the Gould Managers-Mr. Powderiy Is
sues an Address Full of Sound Sense
New YORK, March 27.-The executive
board of the Knights OF Labor met last
night and issued a statement denying the
authority OF Chairman Irons, OF st. Louls,
to carry out his threat to extend the
strike. The statement says:
This strike has extended for enough and
must be settled where it is. y we are
in favor of settling this matter now and Will
submit this proposition to MI. Gould to'mor-
row: Let him appoint a committee or threes
we will appoint a similar committee; let these
gentlemen select a seventh; they to investi-
gate the whole affair and make recommended
lions and We will agree to abide by their de-
cision. We will not ask for the recognition OF
any man who has been guilty of any act of
violence to either individuals or property,
for we are not organized to either promote or
shield wr%ong-doing.
ST LOUIS, March 27.-Chairman Irons
said Yesterday morning, in answer to a
reporters question, that the strike would
soon be extended throughout the United
States. Not only would all railway en-
ployes be called out, but the order would
go out to all Knights of labor in the
country, regardless OF occupation. The
order OF the knights OF Labor had got to
be recognized. Mr.. Irons declined to say
when the general order to strike would be
given, but asserted that it would be very
soon if matters are not settled within u
few days.
r. N(..n1. ~ vvl,a IL
what authority there WAS for the state
ment OF Chairman Irons, of st. Louis, to
the effect that the strike would probably
extend throughout the United States and
include all the Knights OF Labor, regard
less OF occupation, Mr.. Powderly replied:
Mr.. Irons has no authority whatever to
mako such a statement. That order can only
come from the executive board. l mnv say
der being issued at present. Where knights
of Labor are on terms with their employ
crs Their agreements and contracts must
be going. on in any other part
of the country. Where no contract or agree.
ment exists between employer and employe
all differences must be settled through arbi-
trait on. This must and shall be the last strike
undertaken without full authority of the eX-
scu dt bonrd az after .n having mnde a t%horsugh
exhausted every possible means OF etfccting
& pcaceablc settlement.
P~OWDERLY'S CIRCULAR.
ST. LOUIS, March 27.-General Mas
ter Workman Powderly has issued a secret
circular to the "Noble Order OF the Knights
OF Labor of America, which has Just been
made public. Mr.. Powderly instructs the
secretary Of each assembly to call a full
meeting, and read before it the sentiments
which follow. The address opens with an
order to the assembly to cease iniating
,,np,1n,., ,,r4sl %bo no1o};>., &c ,,:4,
and labor shall become less strained than
at the present time, and continues:
To attempt to win concessions or gains with
our present raw undisciplincd membersh D
would be like hurting IN unorganiZed mob
aagainst q weli;drilled regular army: III not
members pick upthe!r quarrcls as soon as or
ganized, and have them expect pecuniary aid
from those who helped build the order up for
a noble purpose.
After dwelling at some length upon the
inadvisability OF taking in new members
at present, the address continues:
We must not frittcr away our strength and
miss the opportunity OF present success in the
struggle against capital by rushing into use
less strikes. To the cardinal principles of the
order we must add another, patience. You
have had patience for years, and had not the
x Km;eh Men Gf Label 13GI1 nappeared upon the scene
of prices must stand as they are for the pres
ent, II you can not RAISE them by any other
process tNun u Strlke. You must suomi to
injustice at the hands of the employer in pa
thence for Il while longer. Bide well FOUR
time.
Find out how much you are Justly entitled
to. and then the tribunal OF arbitration will
settle the rest.
Mr.. Powderly then cautions the assem-
les against receiving into their ranks
Employers, and warns the Knights of La
Dor that the politician is planning night
and day how to catch the Knights of La
Dor for the advantages OF himself and
party, and adds that to use the name OF the
order in q political contest is criminal
and must not occur again. Referring to
the eight-hour movement, the circular
says:
Assemblies of the Knights OF Labor must
not strike for the eight~hour system on May
!, under the impression that they are obey
order has not and will not be given. Out Of
the 60,0O0.0uO of people in the United States
ana G xn an,a on" tia order has possibly 3.o%o;0N.
IN favor of the short hour plan before May
II 1t is nonsense to think OF it.
After speaking of the qualities which tile
officers of assemblies should possess and
expecting the Knights to elect honest men
OF even temperament, Mr.. Powder!y con-
tinues:
While ! write a dispatch is handed to me in
NIL ) CuA tlltSc WOIuS. nGY OlECn0rVe0
our brother, and we struck. ror you know our
motto is: An injury to one is the concern of
a!i.' Yes, nn injury to one is tho concern Of
all, but 1T s not wise to iniure all for the sake
OF one. ltwould have been far better to con-
tinue at work. and properly investigate the
matter, bringing it before every known
tribunal than to have struck.
In conclusion the Master Workman saws:
l write this circular to lay before the order
the exact condition of things, ! am neither
physically nor mentally capable of perform
40 my part. but not to be asked to maintain u
une or Two things must take place. Either
the local and district assemblies OF the order
must obey its laws. Or must be permitted 10
resign from n vocation which oblipcs me to
pay one part before the publ and
another TO our members. SAY to the world
TINT the knights Of Labor do not approve or
encourage strikes: and in one day Il spatches
come to me from Troy. N. Y, Manchester. N.
r., Chicago, Cincinnati. Lynchburg, Va.
splingfield,O and Montreal, Can ~noun
strikes; 1t is impossible for human nature 10
stan the strain any longer 1 must have the
assistance OF the order or my most
earnest efforts will fail: Will i have
IT! II so. strikes must be avoided: how
colts must be avoided. Those who boast must
nc checked by their asscmbl es. No move
must be made until the court OF the last resort
mas been appealed to. Threats of violence
must not be made. Politicians must be hushed
up, Or driver out. Obedience to the avs of
knighthood must have preference over those
l M NJ Tft,nst r.lD 49,