Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-22
HISTORY OF THE KNIGHTS.
MI. POwder1y Eulightens the Strik,
Investigating COmmitsee.

HISTORY OF THE KNIGHTS.
Mr.. Powderly Enlightens the strike
Investigating Committee.
IT'S ORIGIN, OBJECTS AND aRowrH-HALr A
MILLION MEMBERS
Mr.. Powderly gave the following history of
the Knights OF Labor I'm closing his testimony
| before the House labor investigation committee
yesterday:
About eight months after the close of the
war the garment cutters OF Philadelphia organ
ized as the Garment Cutter society of Philadel-
1.-The Intention was TO pay to sick members
| weekly allowance and TO bury the dead. In
TACT, 1t was benevolent organization. They
continued 10 hold meetings for four years. At
the end OF that time, one night In October, 1869,
| they were discussing some measure when O
member said: we have been coming here now
our laws, our officers and so far as that Is con,
cerned, that is all right II am taken sick
VIII receive weekly allowance. and IL die I
will be cared Tor by our brothers, But the con-
| oltions surrounding me in the workshop have
not grown better, but worse. It seems to
me tuat an organization that will 60
| INTO the workshop and endeavor to effect a
| reform there is what is needed, In addition
Of argument was taken up and continued
| some weeks. Finally q motion was made that
that society be disbanded, and It was disbanded.
| Inc FOUNDER OF the Knights OF Labor was men,
Der OF IL. He was Uriah S. stephens. As the
men were leaving the room that night he asked
| tnose present TO remain and hear what he had
| to say. He said that II they would form such
an association rs had been suggested. one that
a Moura enoeavor 20 erect reform in the man.
| Lhey would endeavor TO perfect it. Six of the
men remained, talked the matter over with
men and two Others met TO perfect the organs
zation on Thanksgiving evening in 1859 and
constitution and a manual for the royernment
OF tue association OF the Knights OF Labor. No
man was TO know anything about It 1t was to
oe secret Ia all its workings. The man who
Joined 1t was not permitted to mention
tue name of the association outside OF the
When Gritten .b aSr was Il spoken Ss inside
by stars. The idea was to bring into
the association every department OF productive
OF the organization towards the lettering or
change OF the conditions surrou lding employer
ana empioye would be made until everything
been discussed and thoroughly understood
The reason for that was that q strike Of miners
affected the machinests, the engiueers. the
merchants, the clerks and everybody con nected
Will VIII Industry In that region; In 1874 was
member OF club or association the name of
winch was not mentioned. went, and was
Up TO that time knew nothing OF it; but when
saw In that meetingroom q locomotive en-
sineer. stationary engineera miner, alaborer,
Others, made up my mind that that was an as
ISOLATION which, Of all othero was calculated To
stephens, who formed the frst local assembly.
was atterwards elected master workman, and
at Reading elected TO the position OF first
grand master workman OF the Knights OF
Labor The organization continued under him
for one year and nine months, when his health
cagO he sent letter of declination decltnine To
be again elected, and suggesting two nafnes
from whom his successor should be chosen. 1
was elected, ana from that time to the present
! have been the chief officer OF the Knights of
Labor. The organization was intended 70 take
In not only the man who worked at the bench
or In the mine, but every man who toiIed' bv
hand or brain, In any honest occupation. We
left out one or two honest occupations-lawyer
ana bankers-becauSe we felt they were fully
capable oil taking care OF themselves
PREACHERS ADMITTED BUT NO SALOON KEEP.
ERS.
The chairman" How about preacherss"
Mr.. Powderly-"Once In . while we get one of
them. We will not take in q saloon keeper
Even If a members wife begins to sell LIQUOR.
we make him take divorce, not from his wife,
but from the organization"
The chairman-"I In other words. # IN a he.
nevOlent society for the protection of ali Kinds
OF people who toll, and Is entirely within the
Mr.; Powderly-"Yes, it is entirely within the
law"
Mr.. Parker What is the number of its pres
ent membership"
HALF A MILLION MEMBERs WITHOUT nrsrrrn
TON OF SEX, CREED OR COLOR.
Mr.. Powderly-"Our present membership does
not exceed 100000, although we have been
credited with 1--we millions."
the chairman" Are women members of the
orgaaization?"
Mr., Powderiy-"Y Yes. on an equal footing with
The 1s c h: were women nrss ad-
Mr.. Powderly-"In 1881. We claim that II
women perform equal work they should receive
with q membership OF ], 300, and from the dsy
OF the organization to the present day q single
They manage their affairs in such q way e. to
reflect credit on them and TO be q pattern for |
Mr.. Crain-"Do you make auy difference m In
the admission of colored men into the organiza-
Mr.. Powderly-"we make no distinction in |
regard to color, creed, sex or conditicn. We /
have one assembly In New York where the /
PRESIDENT is a Roman Catholic, the vice presi- /
the next position . Hindoo. Oolored men /
seldom enter into the assemblies OF white mem
are managing them very nicely"
NIB MT: Su Z, to low lately have you
Mr.. Powderiy-.Not since March, 1877"
been engaged as you are now?" =
SUPPORTING OF THE LAWS
Mr.. Powderly.-"Yes, principally. I work
harder now than ever did; sometimes is /
hours Q day."
Mr.. Mcdowell, upon being recalled and asked
as TO his connection with the Knights of Labor.
SAID tnAt ne nRo been connected with the or
ganiZatton about eight years; that he was q
machinist by trade, and that to-day he was al
the head Ut one of the largest machine works |
In the country.
The Chairman.-SThere Is nothing that you
know OF in the organization which Is tnconsis-
tent with obedience to law and with the al.
ministratton Of government"
Mr.. MISUNDERSTANDING whatever, On the
other hand. 1t is perfect supporter OF the law /
in every particular"
Mr.. Buchanan.-"Your observation Is that
the fairer treated, the better paid, and the more
contented the American wOrkingman Is, the
better citizen he makes?"
Mr.. McDOwell.-''That Is exactly truen
MIR. POwderley.-"One OF the things which q
member OF the organization promises to do Is
this: We shall with all our strength support
laws made TO harmonic with the Interests of i
labor and capital"
A Pleasant Remimisconoe.
THE COLOR PRESENTATION FROM WASHINGTON
10 THE SEVENTH REGIMENT.
To the Editor Of THE EVENING star
In your "reminiscences Of the visit Of the New
York Seventh Regiment to this city, contained
In the supplement Of TIE STAR, you mention /
the fact ofthe presentation Of stand of colou by
the city authorities OF Washington to the 9TH
New York regiment In 1850. As member Of |
the city councils OF that date from the old 9TH
ri NJ tt.o .v,.1xt