The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1886-03-13
SENSIB: e TALK.
Master Workman POwderly
on the Current Strikes.
AN UNCALLED FOR
Exercise of a Dangerous Power---
Arbitration the Best Weapon
of the Workman.

Arbitration the Best Weapon
of the Workman.
PHILADELPHIA, March o.-In an in er.
view with Lrand Master Powderly, of the
knights OF Lab T, regarding tie present
strikes he was asked whether he did not
think that the increase In the number OF
strikes just now was owing to a knowledge
OF the Increase OF power by the organiza-
tions of labor, said: II doubt it; think
can speak for the general Executive B ard
when say do not think it is wise tn in
augurate SO many strikes unless it can be
shown that there is an extreme nece sity
for them. II many OF the men who are
striking would display a little more COM
mon sense and use little more patience
they would get all they are striking for and
save their time and money in the bargain
If they would exercise proper moderation
in their negotiations with their
employers and submit their claims,
firmly made and properly repre-
sented, to arbitration, am free to
sav that am re that nine out OF ten
cases which end in strikes could be as salts
factorily arranged without reSorting to
such an extreme and generally doubtful
exuedient. Iudeed. in the nine cases there
would he no necessity for strike. There
ia a feeling now that labor must be recOg-
nised by the employer-that the employer
must listen to his employees; and the time
has come when the shop man, mill owner,
and the manufacturer in every department
of trade is ready to listen to the demands
of his men and yield to them when those
demands are reasonable. Organization,
discipline, End a realization Of the right
and might in the case have brought about
this change, and these advances on the
Dart OF the employer should not be repulsed
by hasty and inconsiderate action on the
part of workingmen."
Arbitration then, and not strikes, is
the theory OF the order" said the re-
porter.
"Yes; arbit ration always when it is pos
sible-strIke only as last resort, but
when that point is reached strike hard,
strike in earnest and never surrender ex-
cept to just concessions. Why, this board
Gpointing to the members. who were listen.
ing] has, since the last OF January, settled
by arbitration, $50 cases which would
otherwise ha We resulted in strikes without
gaining single point by the strikers. The
Knights OF Labor and other labor organ
izations in sympathy with the plans, con-
stitute at the present time the most power
full organization of workingmen ever known
in the history Of the world. Its sire 9Th
is increasing every day, and it's int1u-
ence il felt every day in every branch
OF trade in this country. 1t is
dangerous to abuse this power
1t can always insist upon just detna nds.
for they areiuly considered and thoroughly
digested. 1t ca..not afford to fritter itself
away upon every little pretense OF wrong
hastily formulated and rig-headedly in
sisted upon. The growth OF the power Of
labor should be an occasion for Calm de-
liberation and muderation. WOrkinglnen
should he carefui to zee to it that they DO
not sap and undermine their strength by
extreme demands and an unreasonable
assumption Of Importance and power. 1t
IL. as some one has said before me. good
thing to have the power of giant, but it
IL an evil thing to use it like a giant. 1t
was disposition on the part OF the en-
plover to refuse to treat with his workmen
that made iab'r organization necessity.
Now that we have the power which comes
from orguniza tinn we must use that power
wisely and moderately. and DO careful that
we do not change position with the en-
ployer and refuse to treat with him exc pt
at the point OF Il pistol or by a strike
which is about the same thing. A
strike should be the last thing when
everything else has failed. and not an
every day expedient. When used as 8 .ch
it loses its power as it increases in fre-
quency. In old assemblies which are
familiar with our plans and purposes
strikes were inirequent. 1t is the new and
not yet fully informed organizations which,
upon sometimes insufficient and frequently
trivial causes made this final and desper-
ate appeal. As our organizations grow
there will be less strikes, because there will
be less necessity for them. Our power will
in time be greater than the men now think.
1t will last rs long as We use it wisely land
it will beso used) as power no less imp r
tant than the Constitution itself.
is a strike the last resort OF the knights
OF Labnr2" asked the reporter.
The Master Workman smiled. II see, y
said he. "what you are driving at. A
strike is bad thing but q boycott is worse
In it's results. A strike stops production
merely, while boycott kills 1t. A strike
OF week ,s only the loss of weeks bust
ness; a boycott OF a week can be the utter
ruin OF business itself. We have never
failed in boycott which has been ordered
by the general committee. Its effectiveness
s undoubted but it is an extreme power
which we use with caution
lis there not danger" said the reporter
'that your order may become involved II
politics and thus lose its power7"
II have no fear of that. the matters in
yolyed in the existence and works OF thu
Knights OF Labor are dearer to its nom
bers than matters Of partisan politics. W.
have, as you see, on this committee mem
bers OF the two old parties. We are not
politicians here. We have q method o
dealing with those who are as some hav'
entered our ranks to serve political ends
w turn them out. We have had no par
In politics, 1t is bread and butter. tn
rights OF the employed, the mutual and con
crete things OF every day life that constr
tute elements which do now and Away
will hold us together, and those ar
stronger than partisan political ties
That is why l don't fear the intrusion
OF politics. When people talk. as some
times they do, using the knights o
Labor as political engine. they utte
the most arrart nonsense. 1t is no
worth while to discuss the matter with sucl
a man; he is either liar or an empt.
headed fool" In conclusion Mr.. Fowder'.
said the Knights Of Labor as an organlza
ton had nothing to do with the sGrlKe y
the bituminous coal region. as the me-
were in q separate order. but he though
the day was near when all the labor organ
isations OF the country would be united un
der one general supervision and control
He will remain in Philadelphia with the Ger
eral Committre several d VS. unless calle
away, as he thinks ossible, to the Westt
arrange difficulties there.
"Hard'' Female.
Matte Law is the name OF a frall iemal q,