The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-01
AIMS OF KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
What the Organization Has Done in the
Past and Proposes for the Future.
Indications Serious Contests Between Work.
men and Employers Strength and Prin-
ciples of the IIaborers' Secret Order.

not the mist winch nad oeen successfully con-
Quoted by the Organization, it served to fix pub
lie attention upon the Knights OF Labor more
than any previous labor contest had done. and
the notoriety then gained by the order has been
Greatly increased by the prolonged blockade of
the railroads embraced in what is known as the
Gould Southwestern system. Whatever alarm
may have been felt among the people at the
tendency Of capital to aggregate itself in vast
masses, and to dominate different trades by
combinations that amounted to monopoly-a
tendency which manifested itself within the last
year in the most emphatic manner-public opin-
ion now Is agitated lest the natural accompani-
ment of this qualification of capital and corpora
tions, namely, the organization of labor in
self-defense may not furnish as much cause for
solicitude. In view Of this state of affairs, it
is desirable that the aims and the acts of the
combined wage earners shall not be msrepre-
sented, and that, at the same time, the position
of capitalists who are studying the problems of
the existing industrial system should receive
proper consideration. Many of the thoughtful
leaders in the labor organizations confess 10 graf
ifcation that great iron capitalist like Andrew
Carnegie is believer in industrial reorganiza-
ton, and that the president of so great = rail
road as the New York Central freely comedies to
labor the right to organize, and recognizes the
reasonableness of negotiation between repre-
sentatives of the two organized interests-labor
and capital.
The indications are plentiful that there may
be some severe contests between employers and
employees throughout the spring and summer
before many branches of business can resume
their ordinary course under readjusted condi-
t0ns governing wages 1t was rumored recently
that strike was threatened by the telegraph
operators, but the rumors received prompt de-
NAL. The members of the Telegraph Brother
hood are joining the Knights of Labor order in
large numbers, but, unless there is reduction of
wages attempted, there does not seem to be any
prospect of trouble in this direction. 1t is
feared, however that strikes among the New
England mill-hands will occur unless wages are
advanced, but~in many cases in the last few
weeks the possibility of danger has been
averted by the voluntary action Of employers in
raising the pay Of their workers. Through the
soft or semi-bituminous coal regions of the
Middle States thousands of men are on strikes,
but the idleness of others has been prevented by
concessions granted by the employers. With
the formation of the anthracite coal combina-
ton the margin of an extension of trouble is less
ened, for with the ending of the ruinous rate
cutting which has been going on for some time,
it is believed that the trade will soon worl, its
elf into a shape where any reasonable demand
by the miners can be granted without the seri-
GUS loss that would result in case wages were
put up while the producers were selling their
product at cost or even under. In the great
cities numerous trade organizations are carry
ing strikes, and generally success has at
tended the efforts of the laborer to better his
condition. Agitation among the car-drivers of
the different cities is increasing. for the success
of this class of workers in New York has given
an important impetus to the union of the mon
elsewhere A favorable feature of the situation
is that in many kinds of business the profit of
the capitalist is so good or the prospect of early
reviving industry so favorable that the advances
asked by the laborer are readily granted. There
is much talk about general movement being
started by organized labor on May l to secure
the recognition of eight hours as days work.
AS far as can belearned however. it is not proba-
BILE that such step will be TAKEN exceptin few
trades that are favorably situated to make
strong contest.
In the various movements to secure higher
wages that are now disturbing many parts of
the country, the Knights of Labor are only tax
ing a hand directly in occasional instances.
Many of the strikes are being conducted by Ia
Dor unions, which confined to the workere
in particular trades The indirect assistance
given to them by the national organization of
laborers, of course, is an unknown quantity.
The credit that can be directly given to the
Knights as body in the strikes of recent years
is limited. AS yet they are only minority in
the great number of laborers belonging to some
sort of defensive organization throughout the
United States. The greatest success of the
Knights was the achievement Of the men EN-
ployed on the surface railroads of New York.
The success of the strike on the elevated rail
roads was due to the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Engineers. The telegraph operators were
beaten by the companies i'll the big strike of
1883, although subsequently the company gave
to the men about the same terms they had
asked when they quit work. One of the most
successful strikes carried on by the Knights was
that of the f1int-glass workers in Brooklyn and
New England about six months ago, and over a
year ago they won decided victory In bringing
to their terms the hat manufacturers of South
Norwalk, Conn. The latter strike was a failure
until the executive committee of the knights
ordered on the boycott, and as far west as
Minneapolis retailers felt the effect of the isola-
ton into which they were put until they re-
fused to handle the goods of the Connecticut
hatters. There is no doubt, however, that in
many instances the success of individual labor
unions has been largely furthered by the quiet
assistance rendered by the central organiza-
ton.
It is impossible to estimate closely the strength
of the order OF the Knights of Labor. Though
all the trades unions are not embraced 10 the or
der, there are thousands Of men belonging to
these separate bodies who are members of the
common brotherhood. Naturally the knights
desire to keep their strength unknown to out
siders, lest by knowledge of the full extent of
the power which would have to be met, capital
in some cases might feel justified in meeting
contest or in proonging its resistance to labors
demands. There are said to be about five thou
sand local assemblies OF the order in the coun-
try, and it is believed that modest estimate
would put the average membership at one hun
dred to each assembly. OF course many of the
local bodies number few members, but on the
other hand there are many which contain several
hundred on their rolls Not less than 500, 900
members may be credited to the order through
out the country; careful inquiries lead one to
place the present maximum membership at not
over 100000. The strength of the order, how
ever, is rapidly increasing; in fact admission of
first, because there is so much to be- done in
writing up the rolls of those recently organized
and second, because the order does not care to
weaken itself by admitting labor trades which
might tax the whole organization for support in
q possible contest over unreasonable demands
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and
tha A ma tod Irax and Ctaal.