The Rugby gazette and east Tennessee news. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1884-188?, 1886-04-24
POWDERLYS APPEAL.
All Knights of Labor Called Upon TO PEI
cuniarily Assist the Southwest Strik-
ers-Tbe War Not on Capital
But on Jay Gould and
Monopoly.

ers-lbe war MOI on capital
But on Jay Gould and
Monopoly.
PHILADELPHIA, April 15.-General Mas
ter Workman Powderly, of the Knights of
Labor, to-day addressed the following cir
cular to members of the order:
Noble Order of Knights of Labor of Amer.
ca-To the Order Wherever Found-Greeting:
you nave al read of the great strike on the
Sould llnes or railway in the Southwest. Its
history is being written day by day Itmakes
but little difference now whether the men of
the southwest acted wisely or not. Lei us
pass that part of the affair over for it, too, has
passed INTO history. The General Executive
Board OF the Order attempted to settle the
trouble and restore harmony; agreements
were made by them with Jay Gould ESQ.
but when the Board reached ST. Louis Mr..
Hoxie would not treat with them. Not that
alone, but he positively refused to employ
knights of Labor, whether they had been act.
i've in the strike or not. 1t now becomes the
part OF every inan and woman in the order to
take up the fight of the Southwest and assist
them to the full extent of their means. They
have been idle 1or nearly two months.
Ihey nave had a most trying ordeal to 20
through and are in need of funds. 1t REQUIRES
no no eiioquence or rhetoric to plead the cause
of these suffering people. They require aid,
and 1t becomes our duty to extend that aid
as quickly as possible for us to do so. Send
every dollar you can spare to the general
secretary and treasurer, who will at once for
Ward II 10 the men at st. Louis for distIibu-
llon; hemember, the men out there do not
ask Tor charity. They do not ask at all. 1t
is your executive board that makes the ap-
peal in thCir behalf. He who gives
quickly gives double. Act ut once. Another
appeal may he sent to you and we ask of you
TO prepare for it now We must be Judged
by our actions in this matter. Do not pass
resolutions condemning capital, for we are
not lighting capital. Do not antagonize the
contest we have before us. Let us make
through monopoly. This battle against the
man who represents monopoly must be
| fought out manfuly. Watch his actions
| everywhere. Keep an eye on the doings
| of Congress-. Urge the commit.
Tee tnat ms been appointed to
40 its duty feaflessy Strengthen
their hands; give them every aid. In con.
every dollar you can at present raise to up
nold the men who are now out along the
| lines of the Southwest system of Gould's
| railway. DO not delay, and at the same time
make ready to bring the whole power ready
| to bear upon the man who wrecks railroads,
| homes. fortunes and lives in his greed for
| gold. Let us determine to have it go into his.
| tory that the men of 1886 struck as grand q
| blow for liberty as the men of 1176 The men
| OF li76 broke the power of monarchy and de-.
throned the king. The power which they
| Wrested from the hands of king was not SO
| great as that which is now held by one man
| VINO, through the corrupt use of money, has
Drought manufacturer and workman to ruin.
| The power OF the king has passed away. The
| power OF wealth is passing away, and it must
now be determined whether man shall rule
| or whether wealth shall rule.
| IT.. v. POwDERLY
| General Master Workman.