The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-01
A SECRET CIRCULAR
sENT OUT FROM THE GENERAL
OFFICES
OF the knights of Labor, Urging
More Liberal Pecuniary Re
spOnses From Members.

PHILADELPHIA, IA, NOV6m DER 0U.-
The Press tomorrow will publish the
following important secret circular
Issued by the general officers of the
Knights OF Labor, with photo-itho-
graphic productions of the signatures
and seal of the order:
NOBLE 0RDHR OF THR K. OF L. OF AMERIoA, |
OFFICIAL CIRCULAR, No. 20.
ORFfCE OF TIE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
PHILADRLPHIA, Pa, November 10, 1886.
To all the Subordinate Assemblies of the
0rder-Greeting
Previous to the session Of thej Gen
eral Assembly at Richmond, an ap-
peal was issued to the order for funds
to assist victimized and locked out
members 10 various parts of the coun-
try. The response to that appeal was
not such as 1t should have been, and
only about 1000 was received there.
on. This, it ia manifest to every men,
Der, was insufficient to render the as
sisiance needed and desired. Many
thousand members were thrown upon
our hands by lockouts OF the employ
era, who acted in concert with the
avowed purpose of driving their EN-.
ployes out Of the order, thereby Grip
ling if not destroying its power and
usefulness.
The order Of the Knights of Labor
has reached the most critical period
in its history. II stands as a power
for good or for evil. But your general
officers, while they make no special
claim to superiority in purity OF mo.
tive, have sworn that the order shall
be made power for right and right
only; that the laws shall be rigidly
enforced and the members shall re-
Ceive the fullest protection of their
rights under the laws of our country
and our order.
Without any provocation, except
the exercise of the inherent right of
every free man to belong to any Or
ganis alton he pleases, not in conflict
with the laws OF the country, thou
sands oil our members, men and
women, without warning, have been
thrown out of employment. They
have gone to the door of the mill and
factory and to the mouth OF the mine,
where but yesterday they were en-
ployed, only to find staring them in
the face this un-Ohristian and I'M
American mandate: "You cannot re-
turn to work here until you sign a
contract to leave the Knights of La
Dor, and that you will never become
q member Of that or any other labor
organization"
Every man who has joined the
Knights OF Labor has pledged himself
to do his duty in the cause of man.
kind. No oath binds him to any act
contrary to the duty he owes 10 God
and his country. But something more
sacred even than an oath-his pledge
of honor-binds him to Loyalty defend
the principles Of truth, honor, justice
and citizenship. Two alternatives
present themselves unconditional
surrender or manly defense. Which
shall it be2 The locked out members
in their enforced idleness turn from
suffering wives and starving children
in pathetic appeal to you, General
Executive Boabd, to aid them in
maintaining their manhood and their
fidelity to the order. The General
Assembly instructed your General
Executive Board to give them all the
assistance in your power.
We can render that assistance only
in one way, and that through the CO.
operation OF the earnest and loyal
members of the order. Words ofsym-
pathy, however kind sad grateful,
will not supply the needs of those
locked out members. We must have
that which is more substantial. We
cannot supply Ii ourselves, therefore
frankly come to you.
Having all these circumstances in
mind, and deeply moved by sympathy
for those suffering members and those
dependent upon them, your General
Executive Board has unanimously re.
solved to levy an assessment Of %
cents ror member upon all local as
semblies Of the order, the same to be
paid under the following regulations:
All local assemblies that responded to
the appeal mentioned above will be
credited on this assessment with the
amount donated. All local assem-
blies who can are requested to remit
the full amount Of the assessment not
later than December 20, 1885. The
assessment in this case will be rs
csnte for each member as shown by
the reports 10 the General Secretary
Treasurer for the quarter ending octo-
Der l, 1885.
Locals preiering 10 pay the amount