Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-06-25

"
Powderly has issued another secret cir
cular to the Knights Of Labor, warning
them against what he considers a plot
to pack the General Assembly. to be
held In Richmond next October, with
politicians. Circular No. % is dated
Philadelphia, June 18th, and reads as
follows:
To the Order Everywhere, Greeting:
A member Of the order, employed
by a wealthy corporation, places the
following letter in my hands. 1t is
printed in circular form, and the pre-
sumption is that similar letters have
been placed 10 the hands of others ere
liable, trustworthy" men. The name
of the firm sending out this document
is withheld, in order to shield the men,
Der to whom it was sent. 1t is quite
evident that the sender of the dccu-
ment did not know that its recipient
was a knight Of Labor. The letter of
instruction reads:
[Confdential.l
DEAR SIR-You have been named
as a reliable, trustworthy man, in whom
confidence can be placed. You have it
in your power to confer a lasting ben
eft upon your employer, and, at the
same time, advance your own interests.
We wish you to know something con-
corning the secret workings of the
Knights Of Labor. You are urged to
Join that body and become thoroughly
informed upon the minutest details of
the management. If you can secure
an election as delegate to the annual
conclave Of the Supreme Assembly Of
that order, it will be gratifying to those
who furnish employment 20 you. If
while acting inlhe capacity OF delegate
you secure the passage of radical or
revolutionary legislation, we will not
regard it as being inimical to our liz
terests. If, af:er your admission to the
Knights of Labor, you succeed in in.
itiating the most prominent local poli-
ticians of your neighborhood, regard
less of party, we will feel that you are
working in the interest of your en-
ployers. We feel that having thrown
out these hints, you will at once place
yourself in communication with those
who will secure for you an election to
the association named. We have given
the keynote to future action, and will
expect a faithful performance of duty
on your part. Should you be dis
charged for any action you may take
in the labor movement, your time will
60 on. Respectfully yours, ---.
Failing in breaking up the order by
means OF Misrepresentation and ridl-
Guile, its enemies would now resort to
tie political trick of packing the next
General Assembly. Every effort must
be put forth to prevent the nefarious
scheme from being contaminated.
From now until the General Assembly
meets we must expect TO hear all man
ner of evil reports concerning the or
der, its members and officers, Every
thing that can be done to make tae
next General Assembly a failure will
be done. When Washington at Val
ley Forge gave the order, "Put none
but Americans on guard to night" the
roll call of his entire army would not
muster as many men as are to be found
in a district assembly of the Knights
OF Labor, and the interests they repre-
sented were not SO great. Let the
word go along the line, from district
assembly to the newest recruit, to put
none but Knights of Labor on guard
at the next General Assembly. Scan
well the charac .ers, the records and
the liabilities Of those who will go to
Richmond in Oct ober.
Send no politicians there.
end DO creatures of corporations
there.
Send no member there who would
stamp the impress of communism or
anarchy on the constitution of the
Knights Of Labor.
Send no members there who will not
pledge to vote for the best men for the
positions to be filled.
Send DO members there who will not
promise to do their part to enact Just
laws and to render obedience to them
when paased.
Send no members because of their
fine speech or orat)ry.
Remember that one or two shrewd
persons obeying such instructions as
are contained in the above letter, could
pack a Convention to elect representa-
tives to the General Assembly.
BE on your guard at every point;
make no mist4kes. Uninfuenced by
friendship or hatred, you will select
members of cool judgment and wise
counsel.
Remember that many d~ishonorable
person works at an honorable calling.
In selecting representatives, see to it
that the member is as honorable as the
calling.
Bear in mind that the question to be
discussed at the Richmond General
Assembly will be: Shall intelligent,
prudent action on the part of organized
labor manage the affairs of the worker.
or shall we allow the inanimate thing
called capital to regulate our affairs
for us?
Of npft1aa 11