The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-04-02
powoeRLv,s WARNING.

Tho Grand Master OF the knlghts Warns
the Order Against Strikes and Boycotts
HE Ii Ready to Resign.
ST. LOUIS, March 27.-A long, secret
circular issued by Grand Master Workman
POwderly and addressed to the order Of tho
knights of Labor has just been made pub
lie here.
Mr.. P0wderly opens by instructing tho
secretary Of each assembly to call full
meeting and read the circular before it. The
address then orders the assemblies to cease
initiating new members till the relations Of
capital and labor shall become less strained
than at the present time.
Mr.. P0wderiy then says: ITO attempt to
win concessions or gains with our present
raw. undisciplined membership would be like
hurting an unOrganized mob against we'll
drilled army. 1t Is not fair to the older as
semblies to bring In new members to pick
mp their Quarrels as soon rs organized 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 unadvsability Of TAX
ing in new members the address continues:
I've must not fritter away our
strength and miss an opportunity Of pres.
ent success in the struggle against capital
by rushing into useless strikes. To the
cardinal principles of the order we must
add anOther-patiencs You have had
patience for years, and had not the knights
OF Labor appeared upon the scene you
would still be waiting. Your scale of prices
must stand q. they are for the present"
Mr.. POwderly then cautions assemblies
against receiving employers into their ranks
and warns them that politicians are plan.
ming night and day low to catch the
Knights of Labor for the advantage Of
themselves and their parties and adds that
to use the name OF tlie order in political
contest is criminal and must not occur again.
Referring to the eight-hOur movement the
circular says: knights Of Labor must not
strike for the eight-hOur system on May l
under the impression they are Obeying or
dcrs from headquarters, for such All order
was not and will not be given. Out OF
&C. OOO, 900 people in the United States and
Canada our order has possibly 800, 900. Can
we mold the sentiments of the millions in
favor of the short hour plan before May L?
1t is nonsense To think of it."
After speaking of qualities which officers
Of assemblies should possess, and expecting
knights of Labor t. elect honest men Of
even temperament. Mr.. POwderIy continues {:
awhile l write, a dispatch IL handed to me
in which l read these words: They dis
charged our brother and we struck. You
know our motto is AN injury to one is the
concern of ALL" Yes-an injury to one is
the concern of all, but it is not wise to in
jure all for the sake of one. 1t would be
far better to continue at work and properly
investigate the matter, bringing it before
every known tribunal. than to have struck. !"
Speaking of the relations between the
church and the knights of Labor, Mr.. Pow
derly says. Il warn our members against
hasty, ill-cOnsideied action. The church
will not interfere with US so long as we
maintain the law. IL the law is WRONG, it
Is our duty to change it. am ashamed to
rleet with clergymen and others TO tell them
that our order is composed of law-abi,ln-,
intelligent men, while the next dispatch
brings the news of some petty boycott Vi
strike.
Il write this circular to lay before the
order the exact condition of things. l am
neither physically nor mentally capable of
performing the work required of me.
am willing to do my part, but must not be
asked to maintain Il false position before
the world any longer. One OF two things
, must take place: Either the local and dis
trict assemblies of the order must obey its
laws, or must be permitted to resign from
a position which obiiges me to play one
part before the pubic aud another to our
members. l say to the world that the Knights
of Labor do not approve OF or encourage
strikes, and in one day dispatches come
to me to come to Troy, n. Y, Manchester,
n H., Chicago, ILL.,, Cincinnati. o., Lynch
burg, Va, Springfield. o., and Montreal,
Canada. 1t is impossibl. for human nature
to stand the strains any longer. 1 must
have the assistance of the order, or my
most earnest efforts will fail. Will have
it? If so, strikes mus; be avoided; bOycotts
must be- avoided. Those who boast mist
be checked by their assemblies. No move
must be made until the couh of last Te-
sort la, been appealed to. Threats
of violence must not be made. Poll
t.cians must be flushed up or driven
out. Obedience to the laws OF kngllthOOd
must have preference over those of any
other order. If these things are done. the
next five years will witness the completes
CHARACTERIZATION of mankind from the curse Of
monOpOlv.'