The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-26

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JOHN w. HAYES, member Of the general
executive committee of the Knights of Labor,
says Of the strike of the Third avenue surface
road employees that it was one Of those strikes
ordered by the district assembly without the
authorization Of the general executive COM
mittee. 1.-THE whole spirit and intention Of
the order of the Knights of Labor" he says,
'is opposed to the idea of strikes and boy
cotts which have arisen because of want of
laws within the order to prevent them" This
is the declaration of General Master Workman
Powderly as well, but strikes and boycotts
continue, to the harm of that organization.
The public's first intimation that anything is
wrong between men and the company employ
ing them is generally strike and boycott.
The knights, as a rule, are very quick on the
trigger, and will 60 out on strike on the
slightest provocation. On every hand it is
given out that the Knights do not believe in
strikes and abhor boycotts, but notwithstand-
ing this, they are matters of everyday occur
renee. If the Knights are so opposed to
them, how does it happen that they are 80
popular with themf 1t looks unreasonable
that a majority Of the Knights should oppose
striking and still resort to it on such slight
provocation, or SO quickly after stating their
grievances. And if there be the majority in
favor of such methods, as indicated by the
facts stated, it is difficult to see how the or
ganization is to get such laws as Mr. Hayes
and Mr.. Powderly seem to think will remedy
the matterk In the same conversation in
which Mr.. Hayes expressed himself on the
New York street railway strike, he is repre-
sented as saying that it is in view
Of the great succession of strikes and boy.
colts that the general executive committee
have just called special session of the General
Assembly, to meet in Cleveland on May %,
to take action on the questions brought up by
recent events of that sort. can endeavor
will be made, he says, ito prevent in the
future any such uprisings as are now in
progress without the authority Of the General
Assembly," It is to be hoped, for the good Of
the Knights, that something Of the kind will
be accomplished. AS the tide of affairs is
now running, that organization, which might
be of such vast good to the cause of labor, is
doing itself incalculable harm, and losing
friends daily. The Incorporate men in charge
Of the interests of certain assemblies are run
ming them into indefensible acts, and melting
them to the commission Of outrageous things
that cannot be apologized for. The end is
not far away. Such things cannot be kept
up, for they are radically opposed to- every
sentiment of fair play and individual liberty.
The, Knights will win only on conditions, and
thosaaOhditions are that they shall deserve
to win, and they will deserve to win when
they are ready to concede to other men the
same rights they ask for themselves. Uni
versal freedom is a good foundation to build
on. Nothing narrower will do. They may
appear to succeed for awhile, but the truth
will soon come to the top, and it will be found
that prescription and persecution will not sue
coed. The true friends of labor and of the
Knights of Labor would like to see that wis
dom prevail in all their councils and in all
their acts that alone can insure success. Ar
bitrary strikes will not do, and the infamous
boycott must be given up before they can
hope to achieve lasting results. Anything OPP
posed to the fullest freedom is intolerable in
this country and cannot be perpetuated.