San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-04-15

was opposed to strikes, and that Is tn
reason why our general convention
never enacted any particular Legislation
for the government Of them. l also salt
that the occasion had never before Gale,
fer any interference from general Off
Ger, but that this strike would show tn,
necessity for the passage at our mex
convention of a law that would place tn,
subject of strikes under control Of tn,
General Executive Board OF the order
When on Monday, March %, you cent I,
me the letter marked personal" and a
the same time informed q representa-
tive of the press that you had done SO,
do not know, nor do question your mo
tive. felt 1t my duty to let the public
see the letter, which contained nothing
OF a personal nature whatever. There
are people who might be uncharitahle
enough to say that your intentisn was
to give the impression that there was
something between you and me which
would not bear the light Of the people d
scrutiny. | have had no such dealing
with such a man since this conflict be-
gan, nor any previous time, and am
willing to allow the fullest possible light
on my transactions. | have nothing TO
conceal.
You can settle this strike. Its longer con
act OF violence, every drop of blood that may
be shed from this time forth must be laid ut
your door. The Knights of Labor were not
founded to promote or shield wrOng.dOing and
to-day the order of Knights of Labor stands
between your property and ruin. We are
willing to absUlYe the men along your railways
from their allegiance 10 our order. We leave
that TO themselves. We will net allow any
claims which the order may have on them to
stand between them and restoration to their
former position. The order of the knights of
Labor asks no Lnan to remain a member II II is
not TO his interest TO do so. You may deal with
them as citizens IL you will. We will surren.
der our right To claim these men AS members II
they wish, but will not surrender our rights
To see this affair thoroughly investigated. You
have said the order of the Knights of Labor
was conspiracy and menace ! am willing,
AS the chief officer, 10 lay everything connec-
ted with the order bare to the world, IL you
Will, ON the other hand. lay open to the public
the means and methods whereby you have
piled up the wealth which you control, and al
low the tribunal or public opinion TO pass in
Judgment on the two, and say which Is the
conspiracy. do you accept the challenger
You have instructed your legal adviser to
proceed against every man connected with
the Knights of Labor for damage sustained
since the strike began. Two weeks ago ! said :
do not do this" To-day | say: Begin at
once. Lay claims for damages in every court
OF Jurisdiction where u Knight exists. Pro
coed at once, and in every State where you can
recover damages do 50, IL the law will sustain
you. Let the majesty of the law be yindicated.
are willing to face you before the law
and we will fight you with no
other weapon. For every violation Of
the law of the State or Nation, we will enter
suit against you, and in this crusade against
you, do not understand that we mean To perse-
cute: On the contrary, we wish to see the law
the law in your dealings, In the methods by
winch you have acquirer your immense for
tune, 1t is time that the many otfenses with
which you are charged should be refuted
You have remained silent under many dam
aging charges of injuring the State. We will
be your avengers. If you have been wrOnged,
we will let IL be known to the world through
the medium of the courts of Justice; and let
me say right here, that no money will buy u
verdict at the hands of these courts. There
are people who say the struggle is the begin
nlng OF II war between capital and labor. That
Is 1alSe. This certainly means war, but IL Is Il
war between legitimate capital, honest enter
prise and honest labor on the one hand and H.
legitimate wealth on the other hand This is II
war in which we court the fullest investigation
Of our acts. do you dare to do the sameY This
war means no further strike, no shedding Of
blood. Ii is Il war in which every business
man, every commercial man, every working
man VIII be inv tied to enlist. IL will not DC Il
war upon the innocent, and the battlefield up
on which 1t will be fought out will be before
the courts of law, and that which makes
law-public opinion. There will be no mObs I'm
this supreme hour to silence any mans Opin-
ion. NocOnverts will be made by physical
force. That flag which floats over the press
or mansion at the bidding of mob disgraces
both the victor and the victim, and under
such a flag as that we will not wage the battle.
But this battle of the people against monopoly
may as well be fought out now as 10 years
from now, and what field is so eminently proper
on which to fight it out as before the courts.
Let us know whether the laws were made to be
obeyed or not; and If they were not so
iran On then people must make laws
he be rich whether he be poor,
the poorest of poor. shall in the future shirk
the responsibility of his acts and shield him
self behind the courts. | do not write this let
ter to you either in spirit of anger or re-
yenge. For you, personally, | have no dislike.
believe that If allowed to follow your Owl
the strike ended ere this. Those who advise
you do not minge with the people; they do not
care for the people. You have been warned
that you life is in danger. Pay no attention to
such talk. No man who has the interest of his
country at heart would harm hair of your
head, but the system which reaches out on ali
sides, gathering in the millions of dollars into
the treasury and keeping them out of legiti
mate channels Of trade and commerce must
die, and the men whose money is invested In
the enterprises which stock gambling has
thrOttled must make common cause with those
who have been denied the right to earn enough
to provide the merest necessities of life for
home and family. when l say to you that
we will meet you in the courts, I do not
speak rashv, or ill-advisedly. | have taken
counsel from the best legal minds of the
United States. We are prepared to face you
before the courts and now await your action
In the matter. This is no threat. play no
game of bluff or chance Ispeak for 1900 or.
ganized men who are ready 10 pay out the last
farthing In order that justice may prevail.
You have IL in your power to make frienGs of
these men by acting the part of the man, by
taking this matter into your own hands; will
YOU do and end this strife in the interest Of
humanity and our common country? II IL
your duty. Brush aside every obstacle, assert
your authority and take the matter in your
hands. Settle every grievance, restore every
man to his place except those who have been
engaged in the destruction of property, or who
have broken the laws. Will you do this? You
can make rules and agreements with our men
which will forever preclude the possibility OF
such disastrous conflict as this has proved il
self To be. | remain very truly yours,
Il. V. POwDERLY,
Grand Master Workman knights of Labor.
Racordar's Court