The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-08

his evenings were passed IN reading. He earned
enough money TO buy a copy of Shakspeare's
works. and was very fond Of his achievement.
When he first entered the machine shop Pow
DERBY was set to work boring out holes in car
wheels. Notwithstanding his reading, he paid
close attention to his work, and was advanced
from time to time until he became master of the
trade.
In 1867 Miss Hannah Devers, his schoolmate
and sweetheart, left Carbonate with her parents
for Scranton. MY brother said Mr.. Powder
ly's youngest sister, at Carbondale yesterday, to
the Worlds correspondents, lis not very much
of a ladies' man. Oh. no, he is not a woman
hater, by any means" she added smiling, shut
he is not fond Of society"
Mr.. Powderly left Carbondale in 1860. Two
years before he joined the knights of Labor.
The order was then in its infancy in Carbon
dale, but soon gained quite a little local celebri-
ty by the intelligent manner in which he dis
cussed the future of the organization. On ar
irving at Scranton, Mr.. Powderly entered the ma
chine shops of the Delaware, L~ackawanna e.
Western Railroad Company. He received $3.50
smoked nor drank, and became one of the most
trusted employees about the shops. "Mr. Pow
DERBY was a quiet man In many ways" said MIR.
Gurrill to-day. He could talk well enough,
and no one ever saw him standing around the
street-corners, and | never saw him stop to
talk with any one on the street for
more than a minute until after he became
for Mayor. After he became Mayor
l was the only man he left on the old police
force of the city. Mr.. Powderly wanted it reor-
ganized. and better men appointed"
In 1874 Mr.. Powderly married his Carbonate
sweetheart BY thistime he had become one of
the leaders in the local labor ommitte of Scran-
ton, and was attracting attention to himself.
He became a member of the Columbia Literary
Society, where he made his first reputation as a
speaker. He also took a course at a commercial
college. After the term Mr.. Powderly resumed
his studies at home. He formed the, personal
acquaintance, in 1876, of Uriah Stephens. who
was then at the head of the Knights of Labor.
He used his influence in Mr.. Powderly's favor,
and heSwas made the head of the labor oreaniza-
ton in Scranton. During the strikes of 1877 he
urged peace and moderation, and his counsel at
that time, given in a quiet way. probably saved
thousands of dollarsiworth of property in Scrar-
ton,
Following the riots the labor organization
nominated a full county ticket at The fall cleo
tion. Mr.. Powderly was made a member of the
county committee. People endeavored to ridi-
cule them out of the contest, but the ticket was
elected by a large majority. The following
spring Mr.. Powderly was nominated by the La
Dor party for Mayor of Scranton, and he was
elected. The Republican press charged Pow
derby with being the candidate of the Molly Ma
CURES, and predicted, in the event of his cleo
ton, that the city would be turned over to that
lawless gang of ~rufians, but it only served to
arouse the sympathy of the people in his behalf.
The people of Carbonate Endorsed him strongly.
Mr.. Powderly made a most excellent and con-
Mayor. Two years later, Then he
was again nominated by the Labor party for
Mayor, his predecessor, McKune, came all the
way from Canada to take a hand in working for
his election. and the next time after that the
Democrats Endorsed his nomination. He could
have been elected again, but he declined.
Mr.. Powderly is now entering on his seventh
year as General Master Workman of the knights
of Labor. Mr.. Stephens died in 1873, and Mr..
Powderly. who held the position next in power,
that of General Worthy Foreman, became his
During his terms of Office the
knights of Labor have grown from a compare
lively insignificant gathering into an organiza-
ton of the greatest power ard Importance, with
a membership reaching far ND in the neighbor-
hood of the millions.
Mr.. Powderly's mother died about ten years
ago. Some idea of the size and extent of the
family can be learned from the fact that sixty
children and grandchildren were gathered at her
funeral. Mr.. Powderly. however, has no chill
dren. his father died during his first term as
Mayor. Most of the Scranton city officials went
to Carbondale to attend the funeral.
In spite of all his opportunities. Mr.. Powderly
is still a poor man. He lives in a very modest
cottage on the outskirts of Scranton, and it is
If the house, lot and furniture would
bring more than $500 if put up for sale. The
salary of his position is only 81. 800 a year, but
his travelling expenses are paid by the organiza-
ton. Mr.. Powderly does not appear to be
by his adyapcements. He has the same
kindly greeting for his friends as u%EH he was
an ordinary machinist. He is not without am
bition, but it is believed to be confined entirely
to the cause which he represents. He has been
urged to accept the nomination for Congress in
this district. and in his case it would be equiva-
lent to an election, but he has declined peremp-
torily.
His whole life has been consecrated to the
cause which he represents. If it does not go out
in the struggle he is now making against disease,
a great future unfolds itself before him.