The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-24
THE WEAKNESS OF OReANIzAT1oN.


THE WEAKNESS OF ORGANIZATION.
At best the stability of the Knights of
Labor is questionable. 1t is likely to fall to
pieces by reason its very magnitude, and only
the very wisest management can save it from
dissolution. The better classes of laborers are
beginning to appreciate the fact, and it is a
fact, that they are called upon to sufferfor the
stupidity, and worse, Of men who are unable or
unwilling to care for themselves. It is an elee-
mosynary scheme on large scale for the bene-
fit of ne'er-do-wells. The man who can take
care of himself, and there are hundreds Of
thousands who can, and who will if left to
themselves, has little business obligating him
self to take upon himself the quarrels of
men who are chronic mafcontents. There is
many an honest man who has been thrown
out of work and whose family has been caused
to suffer for no fault of his own, and who would
not have been so thrown out of employment had
he been content to rely upon himself and not
ally his fortunes with those of men determined
not to be content and not to accept anything
in reason. These thoughts are now coming
to the front as the men have time to think,
and it would be bad time to
think Of putting such man as
Martin Irons at the head Of the organiza-
ton. Only the very wisest management will
hold the allegiance of the best men in the or
ganization, for it cannot be disguised that
many of them are tired of the way they have
been used to bolster up the fortunes of men
who will not take care of themselves Let it
once be given out that the malcontents are to
take the management into their own hands,
have given stability and character to the or
ganization. Without them the Knights of
Labor cannot hope to hold together, and it
would be the height of folly to try to in
crease its influence or membership. Relegate
the Powderlys to the background, and the
Knights of Labor will become thing of the
past within twelvemonth. There are men,
Of course, who would like to see Irons placed
in command so that something might be
done that would count" An examination will
disclose that they are of the class of men who
have caused all the trouble between employer
and employed These fellows held in check,
the more sensible Knights have thus far been
able to accomplish some good. Let it once be
understood that they are to ''run things" and
the end is at hand. If there be those who
would like to see the Knights of Labor con-
tinue to flourish, and who believe that it can
be perpetuated as an institution that will &C
complish great good for the workingmen, they
must awake to the fact that there are men
among them who are scheming to get control,
and whose control means destruction and hu-
initiation. The Knights of Labor have meas
urably succeeded thus far by reason of the
fact that, in the main, the organization has
shown conservative disposition. When this
is abandoned, there cannot be the least hope
of keeping the army Of honest workingmen
together The best men in it will be the first
to leave it, and then there will be nothing
left to give it character, without which it can
not stand.