The Rugby gazette and east Tennessee news. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1884-188?, 1886-10-16
POWDERLY TALKS.

der--Why He Opposed the Railroad and
Eight. Hour Strikes. t
RICHMOND, Oct 6.--The only work trans.
acted in the National Assembly of Knights
OF Labor yesterday was the adoption of
The report OF the Committee on Credentials.
Mr.. Powderly's address has already been
made public. The Grand Master opens
MS address by saying that the lava OF the
order require the General Master Work.
man to submit at the general assembly a
report OF his official acts during the year,
but for him to do that would be impos.
sibIe, Tor the reason. among others, that
such a report would take at least four
weeks time to prepare. For inf ormatlon
as to details Of the Executive Boards &C.
lions the convention is referred to the
various reports to be presented, and the
Master Workman proceeds to consider
matters OF Importance and make such
suggestions as he deems necessary. The
address proceeds:
"if we are guided by the experience of the
past, anu act accordingly, we can place the
oroer upon footing so safe and sure that no
assaults from its enemies can injure It. ii
we are not guided by that experience and
CLOSE this general assembly without having
,mprOved on the past we will fail to properly
represent pus those who sent us here. The rapid
increase In organization since the Ham.
,lton session OF the general assembly has
peen most marvellous, 4,O6S assemblies
naving been organized. Thousands have been
r,nsacted toward the order through mere Gu
r,osity; others have come for purely selfish
MOVES, while the great bulk oil our new re-
cruits joined for the good they could do
QuIte Few have entered our order for the
purpose OF redressing existing wrongs, and
PEI neio rev waiting to learn any thing concerning
the duty OF the knights of the order, have
| plunged into rash and ll-considered strikes.
inc car.dr vers Of st Louis were organized
would would prom reoe, 80 OF the organizer that they
OF strike. Even before the receipt of
tneir charter they were on strike. Their pro.
SSet srnag were characterized BY such utter
weitknown agents of their employers had no
dihculty In securing the passage Of motions
OF violent character. 1t Is an established
t tHot mat men who were employed by detec.
sembly urging the men to deeds of violence
and that the property of the streetcar com.
panies be destroyed For these outrages the
or ,Je was IN no way responsible. g.
. Inc southwest strike began when the
ume and attention of the general officers
were taken up with other matters of vital i'm.
portanoe. No notice of the contemplated no.
, uSn was gwen 10 us. and we knew, nothing
natever concerning 1t or to the causes lead
ing 10 II until 1t had been in progress several
days. 1t has been asserted that condemned
s smC men sta while they were on strike. No
snrre svate s ever passed my lips. did not
was not reposed In the Execut We Board
70 give them chance to examine into grew
s ances complained Of. !. was only when the
United States that raised my voice in denial
dld that In defense Of the order and the |
country, and would do the same thing again,
un aGn similar circumstances .
Inc eght-hOur strike which took place |
May was not successful EXCEPT i'm cases |
where employers and employees were acting |
n harmony or where employers were willing !
t 70 anoPt the plan. In many cases the old sys
vved. cautioned our members against
ausning into this movement and am
nrm IN the belief that had !, not done
30 great loss would have been entai!ed
been accused of opposing the .eight-hour
movement No statement was ever turtle
from the truth. opposed the strike on May
, oecause me education which must always
precede intelligent action had not been given
40 .nose IN need of it. and because no
DEFINITE business.like plan for the in
ass ssn of tho movement had
90 still oppose it. A reduction Of the hours
Oh Iapor is necessity, and sooner or later
must be had, but we must not forget that in |
ad HS PAGES zee me tenhour plan has not been
aenintrOducton OF the eight hourplan Injured |
business. Millions of dollars worth of work
was lett undone because of ths uncertainty
~ ~ reg teegafd TO taking contracts The move was
o. mstances were not suitable. Before the
eight.hour plan Is adopted the Knights of
haDor ana the trade unions Of America must
TO-, nc asue tne Jeaiouses and their differences,
a v,ln, oe /
wnlcn must be gradual and such as will not
Inllct injury upon either employer or EN-.
pr Before short hour system that will be
rated the relation which the workman bears
10 me iabor'savinR machine must undergo
radical change. plan of ct-opera-
troll t 1beG msehina en- the workman may con
the present system
=. !. me question of child labor and education
ls tne most important that can come before
y "a now OF at any time. To make the neces. X
Rn educatlon. 1t should be a part OF every
assembly, duty TO ascertain the number Of
-, who 40 not attend school In its vicn.
70 remedy the evil. 1t is useless to labor fpr
inc establishment of Il cooperative system
When we lack the business training necessary
70 Operate It. ask thata special committee
pc appointed TO prepare plan for the better
Of the American YOUTH
""uioee oHeH reiers TO the trouble
with trades unions, which MIR. Powderly
'aid mas been exaggerated and distorted,
Shile admitting that there have been +,
auits on both sides. Herecommends that
n the future all matters OF dispute be-
'ween the Knights and other societies be
ubmitted to the executives of both
organizations for settlement, and, above ].
VII things, let speedy and impartial in.
,estIgation be made Mr.. Powderly .
men replies as follows to the crit
cisms OF which he has been made the sub.
ect. F,44ts..t WIZ {
IL have never during the seven years that
o aase served as General Master Workman
PERSONAL or public criticism or abuse. 1 have
naue u rule never TO speak In criticism, u
arsh or otherwise, of a man, except when I
c smee race to iaee with him have been
want or backbone and Of being too weak
lan 10 lead strong movement If, VIII lie +
olalng position such as no man liv.
" or oead ever held before, have displayed Y
iilloh men and women of nerve, OF back
one ana common sense have gathered | r.
a nndn tne standard which was placed in my
roved weak man why do SO many
trong men support meS By men Who
no not Knights OF Labor have been called
eak because ! dfscorntenanced violence q
ma nasty, ill.advised action l have no ex.
use 10 offer, for If this is an offense LET the |
e az assembly itself offer the apology. P
~ now speak as have never spoken to a l.
'ssl0n OF the general assembly before. Rem. .
'se1tatiyes have been instructed to vote for :
e 1or General Master Workman I feel
,mpi mented, but release every member
ON ms ohligation to vote for me- You are
ee TO vote for any other man you choose Is
10 II you act IN accordance with nv wishes dI
Du VIII se,ect another TO Ill my place. In | "