Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-05-07

S buI the condition
surrounding me in the workshop hay
not grown better Int worse 7, .....
10 me 6iat an organization that will a.
INTO the workshop and endeayor 70 eHec
d reform there is what is needed !, adj
diiIon to the association we now h,ro
ioat Iine OF argument was taken IN ano
continued some weeks. Fipolly
morton was made that that society b
disb'nded; and it was disbanded Tn,
'under OF knights of Labor was a mem.
Der OF It. He was Uriah s. Stcpb, ns
Is the men were leaving the room that
night be asked those present to remoin
ana hear what he had to say. He
sad that, if they would form sueb an
association as had been suggested - one
that would endeavor to effect rcforr,
IN the management of workshops, mine.
and foundries-they would en- lenyo
to Perfect it Six of the men remained
talked the matter over with him ana
agreed to meet again.
These seven men and two others met
to perfect the organization on Thanks.
giving evening, in 1869, and the nine
y
men drafted the first crude form Of a
constitution and manual for the gov
erment Of the association of the Knights
OF Labor No man was to know any
thing about it. 1t was to be secret in
all Its workings. The man who joined
1t was not permitted to mention the
name Of the association outside Of the
meeting room, nor was it spoken inside.
When written about it was to be refer
red to By stars. The idea was 10 bring
INTO the association every department of
productive industry. Tl-- ys@yNssious
was, says Mr. Powderly. thu 'sr-s1
utes of the organization toward the bet
tcring or change of the conditions sur
rounding employer and employee would
be made until everything connected with
the condition of things had been discuss
ell and thoroughly understood. The
reason for that was that a strike Of min
ers affected not only the miners them
selves, but the machines, the engineers.
the merch the clerks and every
body connected with industry in that
region. Mr. Powdorly says further:
In 1874 was asked, one evening
if would come with man and become
a member of club or association, the
name Of which he did no! mention. |
went with him and was initiated into the
order of the Knights of Labor Up o
that time | knew nothing Of it; but
when | saw in that meeting room loco
motive engineer, stationary engineer.
miner, laborcr, truckman, mem
bcrs of my own craft and others, | made
. up my mimi that that was an association
] which, Of all others, was calculated to
do good to the laboring man This
man (Stephens), who formed the first
local assembly, was afterward elected
Master Workman, and was Cat Reading)
elected to the position Of FIRST Grand
e Master Workman Of the Knights of La
, Dor The organization continued under
him for one year and nine months, when
his health failed, and when TIE conyen-
ton met at Chicago he sent letter of
e declination, declining to be again elected
aud suggested two names from which his
successor should be chosen. was elect
ed; aud from that time to the present
| have been the chief officer of the
e kuish Of Labor.
The organization was Intended to take
i not only the mlu who worked at the
bench or the mine, but every man who
toiled, by hand or brain, in any honest
occupation lawyers aud bankers,
however, were left out because they
!. were supposed to be fully capable of
taking care OF themselves OCCASIONAL
n y a preacher becomes amclnber There
is no reasoo in the organization of the
society why lie should not if he wishes
- But no liquor seller can become a mem
Der; and if members wife sets up a
!. s4!son, the husband is expelled from
! membership. Women were first admit.
ted in 1881 and the order believes that
Il, where th.y do equal work with men
!. they houli have equal pay. One as
>embly Of women has membership Of
or l,300 and there has never been wo.
= man suspended or expelled from mem.
j, bership No distinction is made Of col
~ Or sex, creed, or condition, although
,te the eo'ored members generally have as
n. senbics Of their own One assembly
i in New York has for president Roman
81 Catholic, for second officer prssbv.e.
ran and the third ofieer is Iludu.-l
Since March 1871 Mr.. Poudsrlv has
given his whole time to the interests #
Of the Order. and he regards himself =. .
" very hard working man. He d,a,.r.s
y. that there is nothing in the or,,Di, ION
., d. Inconsistent with obedience ,o he Be- law
Ii The membership extends to N ~ =.
d. aud include. n,ar'y I've t.nl Iva
thousand working people. -'-a''r