The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-04-08
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
A Biography and Sketch Which VIII
Be Read with Interest at This
Junoture.

Terrence Vincent Powderly. authoritative
leader OF the knights of Labor organization
lsays the New York World. was born at Carbon
dale, Pa, JAN "a, 1s49. He went TO school for
six years, and when 10 years old went to work
as ~Sitch-tender for the Delaware q Hudson
Cat Company. wsen II he went into tho ma
chine shop OF the comp my He went to scran-
ton and found employment in the shops Of the
Delaware. Laokawanna d Western Railroad
In 1870 he Joined tho Machinists and Black
smiths National Union. He soon became fresi-
dent, and began 20 study the labor problem In
the shops by talking TO his fellow-workmen,
watching the endeavors and aims OF employers
and employees. In 1872 Mr. Powderly married
The trades-union was too narrow TO suit his
views. His father had been q day laborer, an4
he learned that no labor organization could
thrive until IL took In every class OF labortn8
men. The machinists did not take kindly to Mr.
Powderly's suggestion that they take In the
laborers, the carpenters, painters. and every
other trade. In November. 1874. friend invited
him enc evening TO come to a labor meeting He
went without any idea of what sort Of gather
ing il was. IL was Local Assembly No. 6depf the
Knights OF Labor, and he at once joined IL. He
found the men of all trades and all crafts. IL
was his idea OF a labor organization and he az
once entered heartily into itsSplans.
The Panic OF 1873 left Powderly without ON
ploynent. He went west into Ohio looking for
work, came back into Western PennsyIvania
and In Oil City found job. and was sent by the
Machinists and Blacksmiths Union OF that city
Qelegat3 G6neTHl
Louisville in September, 1874. Soon after he was
back in the employ of the Dickson Manufacture
ing Company Mt scranton. and it was ON this re.
turn that he Joined the Knights He soon induced
the entire union to join the Knights, and the
union was Qisbanded
In 1877 tft railroad strike took many from this
section. and about five thousand men went from
that district. Many Of them were in the order
Of Knights, and, when they pushed on into the
West, were instrumental In building up new
local assemblies. Up TO this time the Knights
OF Labor had no General Assembly, and many
of the lending Knights We're in correspondence
on the subject. M f Tuper; Secretary Of Dis
of Chicago; Charles III. Litchman, OF Marble
head, Mass and Mr. Thomas King. of Reading.
Pa, had been whiting one to another. and
the result call for the first General As
sembly at Reading in January, 1873.
constitution was adopted at this time. and
Uriah S. Stevens, the founder of the ORDER was
chosen Grand Master Workman. AT the ST.
Louis Convention, held in St Louis January,
1879, Mr.. Stevens was reelected and Mr. Pow
derby was chosen to the second position
General Worthy Foreman. The time of the
meeting of the General Assembly was changed
60 September, and in Sept smber. 1879. conven-
ton was held in Chicago, when Mr.. Stevens
sent n letter declining reelection as Grand or
General Master Workman, and suggesting Mr..
Powderly, in strong words Of praise. for the
position. That choice was made. and each sue
cessve September, at the general assemblies.
he was reelected.
He had continued to reside at Scranton and
in April, 1878, his ellow-workmen put his namo
In nomination for Mayor and elected him. His
first act was TO discharge the entire police force.
This he did because he feared that his enemies
would seek TO create disorder and possibly do
damage, and he wishei TO have by him men in
whom he could trust 10 rcpress any uprising
In 1880 Mayor Powderly was re-elect, d aud In
1882 again chosen on a Democratic ticket, but
the labor element showed los strength by giving
him majority in several strong Republican
districts.
Since his induction into the order Of knights
of Labor, Mr.. Powderly has given it his entire
attention and vast amount of study. He has
virtually recognized the order. He found it q
close, oath bound body, but at the Detroit Gen.
eral hssembly, in 1881. he urged the abolition
of oaths and the removal of the obligation OF
secrecy. Mr.. Powderly has filled the position
OF constant instructor for seven years, and has
not had asingle day of, not even whole Sum
day.
Mr.. Powderly in 1s7Awent somewhat into tho
study of law, and while Mayor of Scranton got a
very good legal training and habit He started
the Labor AdUocdte in Scranton during 1877. but
this publication. he said, died easily while
stood by its bedside"