The Labor enquirer., 1886-06-05
II. ". PownERLY.
viewed by Reporter OF the Cleve-
Land "PIain DeaIer.n

Among the early callers on Powderly
Monday morning was Congressman Mar
tin a. Foran. "PowderIy and I have
been personal friends for years." said
Foran. ''I first heard of him when l
was president of the Coopers' union and
editor of the Coopers' Journal, the organ
of the organization. At that time John
Fehrenbatch was conducting the organ
for the machinists and blacksmif.ts of
the United States. There appeared from
time to time in the Machinlsts and
| Blacksmiths' Journal articles on the
labor question, showing deep and care
full thought and admirable judgment.
They arrested my attention. I asked
Fehrenbatch who the author was. He
told me they were from the pen of a
Scranton, Pennsylvania, machinist
named Terrence V. Powderly. From
that time on Powderly has steadily and
favorably risen into public prominence
as a conservative, conscientious, we'll
balanced labor agitator and reformer."
One of the best informed and most
communicative ofthe delegates Is Joseph
Buchanan. of Colorado, editor of the
| Denver ENQUIRER and an ex-member of
the executive board. Buchanan is a
spare, clean shawn young man, who
might easily be mistaken for Thespian.
MY paper is the State SOcialstic organ
of Colorado" said Buchanan. Il am a
Socialist, but not bomb thrower. Pm
Scientific Socialist I have radio u
ideas on the theory of government, but
have nothing but abhorrence for the
destruction of property and the taking
of human life as a means of putting that
theory of government into I.ractice. A
Socialist need not be laWless person
any more than a Baptist need be an out
law A man may be very radical in his
ideas and still very conservative in his
practices"
How is the order in the west ?"
"FIourishing, There are 10000
Knights of Labor in the state of Colo
RADIO, and 5000 in the city of Denver
alone"
What is the feeling of the order to-
ward its master workman 2"
"Powderly enjoys the respect and con-
fdence of the Knights everywhere. He
can continue at its head just as long as
be continues his present Use and judi
cious course"
Has Powderly any political ambi-
tiOns ?"
"If he has he holds them we'll in check.
[ think if he sought any office it would
be one of legislative character, such as
congress or the United States senate,
where he could be of some bsneft to the
ca use of labor. The great strain which
Powderly has been undergoing lately
has told plainly on his physical condi-
ton. | sat with him at the break fast
table Monday morning, and could not
help but mark the great difference 10
his appearance since last October"
What does the west think of Martin
Irons?"
Sentiment on Irons is divided in my
section. He probably fnds more favor
tbaro than =, ,,,Oot ,>orto Of tho cou0trv
Radical IDEAS and the men who repre-
sent them find more favor in the west
than in the east"
"Did you ever meet Irons ?"
Yes, once he impressed me as being
nothing above mediocrity. The promi-
nence he has attained isn't, due to the
man at all, but to the position he occu-
pied"
The Knights of Labor was found ed
seventeen years ago, in the city of Phil
adelphia, by seven men, mechanics and
artisans. Frederick Turner, the present
general secretary of the order, was one
of the seven. He was at that time work
ing at his trade as gold beater. He is
now serving his third term as general
secretary. He is a short, thick set, dark
complexioned man, with keen eve and
a small, dark moustache, and is "busl-
ness" every inch Of him. He wears a
gray business suit and light Derby hat
cleveland Plain Dealer.