Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-03-27

He Issues q Circular Condsmning, Use
Loss Strikes and BOyoOffs

POWDERLx KICKS.
He Issues Circular Condsmning. Uss
less btrikes and BOyootts.
ST. LOUIS, March % General Mas
ter Workman Powderly has issued {
secret circular TO the Noble Order Of Oh,
Knights Of Labor of America. which
has just been made public. Mr.. Pow.
derby instructs the Secretary of eacf
Assembly 70 call q full meeting anc
read before 1t the sentiments which fol
low:
The address opens with an order h
the assembly 70 cease Initiating new
mem hers until the relations Of capita
and labor shall become less strained
than ut the present time, and continues
''To attempt 20 win concessions or RainI
with our present raw, undisciplined
membership would be like hurting N
unorganized mob against . well drilled
regular army. 1t 10 not fair to the Older
assem blies to bring in new members,
pick mp their quarrels as soon Nc Or
gained, and have them expect pecuni-
airy aid from those who helped build the
order up for o noble purpose"
After dwelling at some length upon
the individuality Of taking In new
mem bers ut present, the address con-
tinues:
1--WE must not frltter away our
strength and miss the opportunity OF
present success In the struggle against
capital By rushing into useless strikes,
To the cardinal principles of the order
we must add neutrality-suspicious.. You
have had patience for years, and had
not the Knights Of Labor appeared
s1r fhA
ing. Your scales Of prices must stand
as they are for the present II you cannot
raise them by any other process than a
strike. You must submit to injustice
at the hands OF the employer in pa.
thence for q while longer. Bide well
your time.
Find out how much you are Justly
entitled to and then the tribunal OF
arbitration will settle the rest"
Mr.. Powderly then cautions the As.
emblies against receiving into their
ranks employers, and warns the knights
Of Labor that the politician 10 planning
night and day how to catch the X mis- hts
of Labor for the advantage OF himself
and party, and adds that 70 use the
name of the order In q political con tes,
Is criminal and must not occur again.
ment the circular says:
"Assem blies of the knights of Labor
must not strike for the eight-hour sys
tenn on May ], under the impression
that they are obeyiDg orders from head
quarters for such an order was not and
will not be given.
''Out Of the sixty millions Of people
In the United States and Canada our
order has possibly three millions. Car
we mould the sentiments OF the mil
lions In favor of the short hour plar
before May l? 1t is nonsense to think
Of it,"
After speaking of the qualities which
the officers and assem- blies should DOS
sess, and expecting the Knights 3.
elect men Of even temperament, Mr.
Powderly continues:
while i write q despatch 10 handed
me In which read these words: "They
discharged our brother and we struck
for you know our motto is IAN injury
TO one 10 the concern of all"
"Yes, an injury to one is the concern
OF all. But IL il not wise TO iDjure al
for the sake Of one. 1t would have beer
fay better to continue at work an(
properly investigate the matter, bring
ing 1t before every known tribunal, thar
TO have struck"
Speaking OF the relations between
the church and the knights Of Labor
Mr.. Powderiy sayt: ~ warn our mem
bsrs against III considered action. Til,
church will not interfere with us 81
long as we maintain the law. II tn,
law in wrong it Is our duty to change It
/ am ashamed TO meet with clergy mer
aud others 20 tell them our order A
composed of law-abidinR, intelligen
| citizens, while the next despatch bring
the news of some petty boycott O
strike"
In conclusion the Master Workman
| says: 81 write this circular TO lay be
FIRE the order the exact condition O
thiDgs. I am neither physically no
mentally capable of performing tn,
work required of me. / am willing Il
do my part, bnt not to be asked t,
| maintain q false position before tn,
world ANY longer. One of the tw,
! things must take place--either tn,
| local and district assem- blies OF tn,
order must obey its laws, or IL must b,
permitted to resign from q vocation
which obliges me to play one part be
| fore the public and another to on
members. l say TO the world that tn,
Knights of Labor do not approve OF OF
encourage the strike, and In one da,
dispatches come TO me from Troy, N
Y. Manchester, N. II 4, Chicago, III.
Cincinnati, Lynchburg, Va, Spring
field, Ohio, and Montreal, announcing
strikes. 1t ia impossible for humal
nature TO stand the strain any longer
must have the assistance Of the orde
or 10y most earnest efforts will fail
viii have 1t? II so, strikes must b
svOided: boycotts must be avoided.
| "Those who boast must be checked
by their assemblies. No move must b
made until the court of last resort ha,
been appealed TO. Threats of violenc
must not be made. Politicians must b
backed up or driven out. Obedience :
the laws of Knighthood must hav,
preference over those of any othe
order. II these things are done tn
next five years will witness the com
plete emancipation of mankind fror
the curse of monopoly. In our mem
bers we require secrecy. obedience, al
sistance, patience and courage. II wit
these aids you strengthen my hands,
will continue in the work. II you d
not desire to assist me In this way the
select man better qualified to ODE
your will, and will retire in his favor.
| "
An Exciting Moving.
Michael Lynch, for the last year pre-