Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-12-30
Gbe CarfaSter .1nteIliaenfgs.
LANCASTER. DECEMBER 80, iSss.
Keen the Track.

MI. lONueTly HAS idlelS NIlIteU Il lelltl
in which he declares that he will not again
address political meeting while he is the
head of the Knights of Labor. lie has
reached this determination because he finds
that he cannot sever himself from his oil.
cial position so as to speak as an individual,
as he undertook to do in the Henry George
canvass in New York.
Mr.. Powderly goes into long eXplaua-
tion of why he spoke for George; be
claims, among other things, that to have
failed to speak for him would have seemed
to be a desertion of tie working men ele-
ment, which George claimed to represent
and which would have been subject TO rid
icule if he had polled an inconsiderable
vote.
MIR. Powderly's explanation is not salts
factory or logical. He cannot defend his
active support of George as in harmony
with his present position that it is ineXpe-
dent for him, as the head Of his order, 10
make political addresses. The George
movement was a political one, and if it
was movement of the Knights Of Labor
it was proper for the head of the Knights
to sustain it. But it would make the
Knights political organization, to identify
il with the George canvass, and this is
what Mr.. Powderly says it is not. His ey.
planation that he supported George simply
as an individual, acquits the Knights of re-
sponsibility for his action and his reSOlu
tion never to do the like again relieves the
order from the danger of again being mis-
understood. Mr.. Powderly made a mis-
take, in speaking for George, as be pract-
cally confesses; and it would have been
better to say so explicitly.
Mr.. Powderly's dillicdlty rs leader seems
to be to keep on the track. When he takes
time for reflection he thinks right and
speaks right ; but he seems to be impulsiye
and to be moved away from his moorings
on proyocation. He has given utterance
TO opinions which have delighted the intel
ligsnt sentiment Of the country and made
IL glad that the labor element was SO wisely
led. He gives abundant good advice to his
league and is decided land firm in his dealing
with it. What he needs is TO always take
time to think before he acts, that his ac-
tion may be sure to correspond to his con-
yiction. He made a very great mistake in
dipping so suddenly and violently into
politics as he did when he spoke for George
in direct contradiction Of his previous
declarations against the advisability of the
Knights taking sides in politics; and let
ter written by him several years ago to a
Knight of Labor in New York city, and
published, shows that he did not then,
and presumably does not now, have any
sympathy with the 5ocialistic element
which supported George to a man, though
it is true that George does not support its
advanced ideas. Mr. powderly, however.
has found himself sustaining candi-
date who was likewise sustained by men
whom he has denounced rs " creatures who
stand up as champions of labor in the pres
ence of thousands of unthiHking men and
advocate the knife and bullet, and launt
the red flag. They are too vile to respect,
and too cowardly TO uphold the American
flag, sanctifed by the blood of patriots.
They disgrace it every time they 90 to the
polls and vote for monopoly and usury.
They arenot to be trusted for leaders. "
That is the way Mr.. Powdery talked
several years ago, and at the same time he
expressed his sorrow that the Knights Of
/ Labor sever found a fOothoId in New
York, for no good has ever come from
large cities, which are prolific of whisky
and wine" 1t would have been well if
he had thought of this before he hastened
over to New York to support the candi-
date of the element he thus dstrusted.
Mr.. Powderly's order needs a strong
and consistent leadership. 1t needs the
sympathy of the community; and its
leadership must be wise to secure it. It
needs the confidence Of the community.
and its leadership must be powerful to OBJ
tain it. Mr.. Powderly enjoys a large
measure of public confidence, and there
Is certainly no man in the order who
has more of it. The rules which be lays
down for its guidance are sound, and he
needs but to maintain them firmly to es-
tablish its power and to sustain himself.
But he must take care to avoid the bolt
ing which signifies weakness. lie must
ride steadily as he talks.